Another vote for the M3
I have a 3 Series BMW and it is hands down the best Sedan I have ever owned.

Thanks for the M3 suggestion -- I thought it would be the leading contender but it's good to have people with far more experience than I confirm that. I have a friend who has a 335i hardtop and he took me out in it, it was a lot of fun.

Ironically, my wife _loves_ the Boxster and wants me to get one. But I'm trying to balance the tradeoff: I get the Boxster and enjoy it mostly alone, or I get something like a 911 or maybe an M3 and enjoy it together with my wife and young son.

http://goodstuffauto.com/inventory/9751/9751.htm

This might work for you.

I test drove an E46 M3 a couple months ago-I loved it. I seriously considered trading the Box for it as it would be a much more "practical" every day driver. Alas, they couldn't offer enough on my trade to make it worthwhile. It doesn't handle like a Box, but few cars do...but it's a rocket. If I drove an M3 and had never driven a Box, I would be perfectly happy with the Beemer. But nothing feels like the Box when you're railing through the twisties.

I also would say M3 or RX8, but if you have some more money to spend, there's always that car, which - I believe - outperforms the Boxster, the Carrera AND the M3: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrari_612_Scaglietti :)

The Infiniti G37 convertible should hit showrooms soon. Check it out if you're unfamiliar with the G series -- to be completely honest, I find them more fun to drive than the 3 series.

I had a 3 series convertible and the amount of buffeting with the top down was unbearable at speeds over 40. The only way to reduce it was a big, ugly windstop that made the rear seats unusable. I stick by my earlier statement that there are no 4 seat drop tops that work as sports cars.

not "in love" but I certainly like it a lot.
If I had the money I'd get one

Sure. At highway speeds all four seaters are a "Wind Tunnel" in the back seats. When driving at speed the top goes up or the rear passengers can simply don those cool looking leather aviator helmets and goggles. :cheers:

I've been looking for a 2+2 coupe, but not a convertible. Here's my input based on cars I've driven and sat in:

Audi TT - useless back seat unless you're a quadruple amputee

Mitsubishi 3000GT - better back seat, but still uncomfortable for anyone over 5' 4"

Porsche 911 - Back seat is a total joke

Infiniti sports coupe - same joke

Jaguar XK8 - still the same joke

G35/G37 - very usable back seat, new drop top is coming soon, this one may be a great option

BMW M6 - rear seat's very uncomfortable, useless for adults

Mazda RX8 - very disappointed, completely anemic engine, did not wear well used

Maserati Coupe/GranSport/GranTurismo - Back seat is a little piece of heaven, fits grown adults very nicely and very luxuriously, no drop top option with 4 seats though.

Based on my personal experience I'd say you're looking at either the upcoming G37 drop top or a BMW 3 series/M3 with drop top. The Audi A4/S4 may be an option too, but I personally don't care for them much for the money. For sportiness you'd probably be better off with the G37 or BMW over the Audis.

There are other options if you want to go to FWD, the ones I listed are all RWD or AWD and sportier.

Kirk

Don't laugh till you have driven one, but a Volvo C-70 is not a bad car and is a bit of a hoot to drive. No it is not a Boxster, but then again nothing else is. My wife drives a C-70 and it really is a nice car. Ed

Panamera doesn't do a thing for me. Something Taurus-esque about the looks that turns me off.

I ended up getting a CPO'ed base 911. Not quite as involving for me as a Boxster, but still pretty impressive; I've been quite happy. I wanted to thank everybody again for the feedback.

Glad that you made a good choice. I would have voted for a 3 series convertible too though. I currently have a 335XI as well. I think that or the M3 in a convertible would be an excellent compromise.

It's really difficult to have a mid engine and 4 usable seats all in one car, in fact I'm not sure if it's ever been done, the closest in the 911 but thats rear engined.

I think depending on your price range, the BMW M3 (new or used) cabrio or the Audi RS4 Cabrio is the way to go. They don't have nearly the sportiness of a Boxster, but if you must have 4 seats this is the way to go.

Now if you can manage without a convertible top, there are a few more choices, the RX8 or the completely crazy Mitsubishi Evo are really good handlers as far as sports cars go.