RE: Can I get away with a low wing?
HANGAR 9 PTS P-51 trainer is an excellent low wing trainer. Very stable an very forgiving with all the training aids in place accept for the speed brakes. Remove before flight.
You will want a good instructor to work with for what ever plane you purchase. All that knowledge you learned while researching will quickly go out the window once you get a bird in the air. Thats why its critical to have an instructor until you get your horns wet!
With the Hangar 9 PTS system you get one plane that once the training aids are removed becomes a nice second sports plane. Good luck