Corey, welcome to the club! Researching here and asking questions is one of the best things you can do before buying a 150/152. This is a unique group of some of the nicest people around. You can count on some very informed answers to your questions mixed in with some answers that will make you laugh so hard that you might choke on your beer. You are already ahead of the game by joining this club first.
I was more than half way through flight training when I bought my 150 and it set me back a little because it is completely different than the Katana I had been training in. That being said, I reccommend to anyone who is thinking of getting a pilot's license that they should take a few lessons and study some of the reading material first. Then if you are sure that it is what you want to do, then by all means buy your trainer. If you buy a good plane, it shouldn't cost any more than renting. The convenience of having your own plane and not having to worry about the schedule once you are signed of to solo is a huge advantage. Of course there is the fun of owning your own airplane
I'm honestly not sure if I'd have finished training if I hadn't bought the plane. There also was more than one scary experience with rentals that most likely wouldn't have happend if it were privately owned.
One last thing. DO NOT buy a plane without a pre-buy inspection from an uninterested mechanic. I nearly did this and would have had to spend thousands of dollars after the purchase. That particular plane had been flying around in an un-airworthy condition. I honestly believe that the owner had no idea that the problems were there.
