The UAD 1176 plug is the shit... there's been many occasions where I use it over the real thing!!
I would also reccomend the Neve bundle, & their newly-released SSL emulations - the 4K Bus Compressor & Channelstrip...
...funny thing is 9 times outta 10 I prefer the UAD version of the SSL Bus Comp over SSL's offering on the Duende platform...
You can get a used UAD-1 off Ebay for dirt cheap & demo all their plugs...
From there if everything is good, you could get a UAD-2 quad & beast to the fullest!!