[onewhippedpuppy]

Here's a different suggestion, how about renting to get your license and building a kit plane in the meantime?
http://www.lancair-kits.com/
Lancair is just one of many, but I just think they have some of the most beautiful modern singles out there. Awesome performance numbers too. Their kits start at about what a 1960 182 costs. Their kits are in more major components than many, as the major structure of the plane is composite. I haven't ever flown one, and am not yet a pilot, this is just my un-informed opinion, but I'd sure love to build one. Not positive, but doesn't the FAA allow you to get a maintenance certificate for a homebuilt, that allows you to do much of the work on it?