Moving on from GR86 what is more passenger friendly but still fun!

For the last 2 years and change I have been daily driving a GR86. I love it, but I am not driving as much as I used to anymore. I started working from home and now most of my driving is don't when my wife and I go out on dates, sometimes we just drive around for an hour or two, sometimes we are going somewhere specific and often we take the car a few hours away.

But, she hates being a passenger in the car. It's too close to the ground, you feel the road too much, she says it hurts her back. So we often take her Jeep, and I hate driving that.

So, I decided to move on and get something passenger friendly. Ideally still a manual? Price matters, but my company will pay for up to about 700 (anything above is on me) a month in a car payment so I have some wiggle room price wise and the 86 is pristine so I should have money down.

What is the suggestion? She has asked we test an M4, but I really would like to stick with a manual. Maybe not though. What are ideas? Fun to drive, but long distance not back roads and easy on the passenger? 2 door is ok. We don't need the back seat.