Need a quick, sporty and functional vehicle for under $35k.. where should I look?

How about a Chrysler 300C? It's big, good looking, comfortable and even Germans say it's fast and handles reasonably. I would recommend the 5.3 V8 over the smaller V6. The V6 in combination with the old 5-speed transmission is not ideal because it gets confused easily. Or you can wait for the new 8-speed which offers better fuel economy and handles the small engine better.