Spencer (I hope that I got it right),

I think that Jetmech is right. Larger airplanes do fly better and it might be cheaper in the long run to buy the larger plane now, rather than spend money on a smaller one only to be wanting a bigger one. Keep in mind that if it does not work out, you can always sell the plane or at the very worst keep it. Unless you are interested in 3D flying, there isn't anything else that a pattern plane cannot do better than a regular sport plane.

Just a suggestion,

Teo