Meh. Just buy the game an a pad preowned. My pad was $10, and after nearly two years it's only just now starting to die. Just make sure you get a namebrand pad, cause I can't vouch for any of the generic ones.
That, or if you (or someone that will buy for you!) can afford an Ignition Pad, I'd say go for that, but it's probably best that you make certain you like the game that much first, cause it's NOT cheap. ($100 on average)