For shear fun and grin factor its going to be hard to find a liz replacement, all the other cars on your list might be fun but i'm not sure you will get the same thrill that a liz gives you.
For 30k your into an exige S but your still stuck with the same issues as the elise, its going to be a balance between what you need most.
Keep the Liz for now at least IMO.:)

Kryten

Is that you from Dono? Surely it can't be 5 years ok we were there? Guess it could be tho.....

If its not you, sorry.....

Skip.

Hmmm, lots to think about.

911 is quite appealing from a 'always wanted one' point of view.

M3 suggestions: if I was getting another saloon type car then it would probably be a subaru!

Maserati is interesting (though weren't the older ones pretty unreliable?)

Getting 'another' car as well as the Elise isn't an option as it would just mean the Elise got used less.

Yep, certainly is! Doesn't seem like five years though, I remember that lap like it was yesterday...

Consider the following, same sort of motoring ethos as an Elise (light weight/striped out, great handling, suitable for the odd track day or two) and should be drivable for the other half plus kids while having the ability to hump and dump a few servers!!

Porsche 968 ClubSport
Mazda RX7 RS
Renault Clio Cup/Trophy
Integra TypeR (DC2 or DC5)
Focus RS
Renault Megane R26

For a bit more comfort and luxury (not to mention expense, upto £30k):

Aston Martin DB7
BMW M Coupe
BMW 645Ci
Jag XKR Coupe
Porsche 996 Carrera

How about a Fiat Coupe? You'd get a low mileage example from the final production run with change to spare.

Just an update - been and looked at a 996 Carrera and plonked the kids in the back, they do actually fit pretty well. Just not sure for the amount of miles I do I can really justify the cost (the word TURBO keeps springing to mind). Oh, and the kids want the convertible one...

Was going to have a drive this week but it just never happened - hopefully have a go in the next couple of weeks!

M3 Cab is the way forward. ;)

Swapped my Elise plus daily driver for one and had exactly same thoughts re 996.