Hi Flying Mechanic,
Not sure about best deals, but I use MS 2000 with a Microsoft Sidewinder force feedback joystick. Very good. Not 100% realistic by a long way, but if you want to practice instrument flying it should be fine.
FWyg.
PS. MS Flightsim 2004 has just come out.
http://www.microsoft.com/games/fligh...or/default.asp