Ask around Centex about a good used model. If nothing is available, I think the Tower Trainer is a good choice.

My first instructor actually had me do a loop on the first or second flight, and an aileron roll a few flights later. We mostly practiced flying the pattern and and not 'over controlling' for a good while but he wanted to throw in a couple of easy things to make it more interesting. I think he also wanted me to know that the plane was not going to instantly crash if I did get it upside down.

He eventually taught me: Immelman, Split-S, and Cuban 8. The trainer did not do them as smoothly as his pattern plane but it did them.

I have tried to use RealFlight but it just does not work for me. Many people consider it a great tool but having the entire lanscape and horizon on a 19 inch monitor does not give me a perspective that I can deal with.