Want cheap, get a stock Springfield. At 450 or so, its a bargain compared to cheaper stuff like AO or chuck daly that is cheaper ot start with until you factor in the pain and suffering of shooting unreliable crap. My secondhand Springfield was not reliable when it can to me, but with 2 new springs, a little silver solder for the plunger tube and some time with some 2400 grit sandpaper everthing was much better. Gun now belongs to resident troublemaker, one Yankytrash. How is that thing doing? Speaking of which, his Norinco has been quite nice for what he's got in it, don't see many for sale though.
Now, Chuck Daly. I've heard how they have gotten better, but I had one and I don't see inferior metalwork, inferior metal, and piss poor assembly changing overnight. Maybe the assembly, not the other too. Therefore, I got two words to say about Chuck. One of 'em is Chuck and the other one rhymes.
Sistemas, I have one, want two, BUT! This isn't a starter gun. I got mine so I would have something to build, I want to do all the machine work, learn how to checker, etc. Eventually I envision a nice Hardchromed 11.43mm Limited-10 racegun. It's not a starter gun though, because never before have I felt a 16lb 1911 trigger, and with that hammer the size of Rhode Island those things have, never have I bled so from hammerbite.