If you can comfortably afford both the plane and necessary gear and a flight simulator the I'd say go for it. If you can't then get the plane and gear.

One of my pet peeves is the guy that comes to field with the most expensive radio engine and no flight gear what so ever. Then proceeds to walk up and down the pitts borrowing the essentials.

Before anybody flames me I'm not talking about the average beginner I'm talking about the beginner with the with the 400.00 radio and 200.00 engine mounted in his trainer that then crys poor when asked why they don't go out and get there own hot shot and spare props etc...