I know that you may have the experience (I did my first solo drive at 11 in a VW) and the abilities to handle a 300hp car but... Your level of testosterone is near its peak and peer pressure leveling but still high and that means trouble. It's time to prove you're a man and the car, drugs and alcohol are some ways to prove it. No, I’m not telling that you do drugs or alcohol but the car….with this you will do your part as anyone that want to learn. You will test your car limits and that’s when troubles begin because your limits probably will be lower than the car and your father knows that and he don’t want to be responsible or an instrument of your death. He knows because he probably did his own share of stupid thing with a car (I did 70mph in a Toyota in my neighborhood). So if he decided to buy a 25k car is that you deserve it (my older daughter got a 25k car ‘cause she earned studying hard and do not did alcohol and drugs) so go for a car that has looks and the possibility to upgrade later. Good luck!
PS My 16-year-old (almost 17) son will still depend of his two legs and his mother for transportation