my advice from my experience is to start with the most basic and once you've got your head around the steam dials then jump into the glass..but do a few x-country flights in the basic first because its way too easy to just become complacent and use the Ground Speed info given instead of working it out, use the Direct To feature and use the Engine Lean Assist instead of learning, hearing and feeling the a/c's response to mixture changes.
i started in a piper warrior and moved onto the C172SP with G1000 after about 3 x-country flights.
the C172SPs are very nice though i must admit..especially for night flying!
