The best first airplane for a new pilot IMO is the fixed gear Cessna 182. Fast enough to be useful for cross countries, carries a big load, passengers like the roomy cabin and it is the best IFR trainer ever made. They are also easy to maintain and you won't have any trouble getting insurance.
Get a few hundred hours under you belt and you will know what you really want. At that point it will be easy to sell the C 182 as they are always in demand.
Before buying anything I would first talk to an insurance broker. I think you will find insurance on a high performance retractable for a brand new non instrumented rated private pilot expensive and with lots of conditions.