As a newbie to all this, I would never recommend you buy a new car. We've seen a LOT of Speedsters bought new and gotten home only for the buyer to find that their significant other took one ride and then decided they didn't like it at all or the car was not what the buyer thought it was, either, so the car sat for maybe a year and then turns up for sale as a used vehicle with under 1,000 miles on it. Owning and driving one of these cars is NOT like owning/driving a Mazda Miata. They are much more like 60-year-old cars with newer, but the same, technology mechanicals underneath.
Cars turn up on here quite often, and they also appear on Craigslist so try waiting for something to pop up. @Troy Sloan on here also flips some very nice cars and is within a visit from where you are.
There are a BUNCH of owners in the LA area and a lot of them are on here so getting some help with someone to take a look at a car with you is very possible. You've already asked, so if you get some responses trade contact info and see what you can find as a team.
Good luck in your search!
Gordon - The Speedstah Guy from Massachusetts