There is always the Subaru BRZ Limited. With a 6 speed automatic, just at your $30,000 price tag. Has rear seats, 200 HP and leather interior.
review
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2013-subaru-brz-limited-road-test-review-tuning-made-easy-page-2
Awesome car!!! But I've given up trying to sway power hounds over towards vehicles with handling. If somebody wants horsepower, they aren't going to be swayed towards something that handles supremely well. Just look at this culture, where the purest sportscar for the common person, the Miata, is considered a chick car.
The thing is, learning to corner is an artform. I'm lucky(?) that north of the rust belt, I get plenty of quality time to slide my automobile and play with the limits of adhesion when the white slippery stuff hits. However, you need to commit yourself to learning that. I actually reached a point where I could drift my MR2 around corners while holding a normal conversation with a white-knuckled passenger. And I always feared a cop seeing me, being convinced I was out of control, when in fact, my years of autocross racing and other automotive pursuits meant that I was just as much in control as when my tires are firmly planted. But that's a choice of learning a skill. And it's not an easy or cheap one to get good at.
If somebody just wants to hammer the throttle, more power to them. I understand. Given that I ride motorcycles on the street, I don't like the thought of dragging a knee around unknown corners. I have a muscle bike. It's straight line fun... and handles well enough. But if I got into track days, I'd sell my CBR1100XX and buy something like an SV650 or an R6 in a heartbeat.
Handling machines are cool. But most people will never get to enjoy them as much as they can enjoy an extra 100hp... unless they take it to a track. Different tools for different jobs. For the enthusiast, powerful cars make a lot of sense here in the US. Miatas, MR2's, that BRZ, other handling machines, are oddballs for real driving geeks.. they really aren't best for the mainstream enthusiast.