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Oh, first, welcome to the hobby.
I wonder if you are familiar with your local club, or with the storm chasers and SKYWARN people in the area yet. If you are, it would be a great help, because you want to be sure that if everyone is on 2 meters, then you should buy a 2 meter rig or at least one that has 2 meter on it. Most do, since it’s probably the most popular band. If your skywarn guys are using a repeater with 2 meter in and 220 out, then you should get one that has both bands. Our local Skywarn group used to have a 2/220 repeater, but have switched to a single band now.
I also like Yaesu, I have two mobile units, an FT-2200 I bought used almost 10 years ago, and my new FT-7800R. I also have an IC-T7H for a handheld.
Icoms are also good radios, and if there is any interest in D-Star, in your area, if you want to get into that at some time in the future, Icom is the only radios that will do it. Others will do Echolink and other VoIP modes, but if D-Star is what you want, as far as I can tell, Icom is still the only one in the game.
If you have a 2 meter skywarn group, the new Yaesu is high powered, rugged, according to the ads, and inexpensive mobile. Take a look at the product reviews on eham or QRZ or from the ARRL site. I haven’t seen a review for it yet.
Reviews for various radios I have seen mention that the ICOM cool blue display will wash out in bright sunlight. I haven’t tried the 7800 in the car yet, so I don’t know how that yellow orange, with black lettering will show up in bright sunlight.
Here are some links to the ARRL and also to various dealers with websites. AES is one of the older ones, Ham Station is local, so I lke it, Ham City is reasonable, I saved 40 bucks on the CHA 250B I just ordered, and HRO is one I’ve read about for years, but never purchased from.
73
and good luck on the exam
AB9BD
licensed since 1968
Skywarn is usually on repeaters in your area on 2 meters or 450 Mhz. repeaters. I would try just a Google on Skywarn….They are only active during bad weather….or possible monthly meetings.. Here is their web homepage: http://www.skywarn.org/