The 370z certainly feels older now, but I honestly really enjoyed mine while I had it. It was quite easy to modify. That's certainly within your price range and obviously comes in both transmissions. Subaru STi hatch would still be high on my list if I were shopping now, comes in right around 20k (and actually is easily usable year round). But for a pure summer car I'd probably still be going for an early 2000's Carrera with higher miles, a la
https://www.kijijiautos.ca/cars/pors.../#vip=16812979
See if you weren't such a blasphemer with your heretical disregard for V8 manuals, I'd tell you to get one of these.
https://www.kijijiautos.ca/cars/audi.../#vip=16611938