BC,
For $35K you should be able to find a pretty nice and well built car right now. As stated above it is a buyers market. Just ask Ernie. All the above advise is good and if you have a chance to go look at and ride in some, do so by all means. And if you stay in the 375 to 400 horse range, you should be ok as a new driver if you take it easy until you get used to the quirks of the car. The B/B guys are just on an ego trip as they can't begin to use that 690 horsepower in a light car like the Cobra.
Ron