After a year stuck inside, a lot of people want to get out and enjoy life once again. That’s understandable and it brings us to our question of the day, what’s the best summer toy?

Since we’re assuming this will be a second vehicle, we’ll be looking at a handful of affordable options and many of them are convertibles.

In a sure sign of an impending midlife crisis, I’m a big fan of the 2002–2005 Ford Thunderbird. It’s retro styling is undeniably appealing and the two-seat layout is perfect for a night of summer cruising.

While the drop top is rear-wheel drive, the model isn’t exactly an athlete as its 4.0-liter V8 engine has modest outputs ranging from 252 hp (188 kW / 255 PS) to 280 hp (209 kW / 284 PS). On the bright side, the T-bird comes well equipped and you can get one with less than 100,000 miles (160,934 km) for around $15,000 (£10,895 / €12,657).

QOTD: Show Us What You’d Buy With $10,000

If you’re looking for a roadster, the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky are interesting alternatives to the ever popular Mazda MX-5 Miata. The Saturn features an upscale design and you can pick up a 2007 Sky Red Line with 46,045 miles (74,102 km) for $15,000 (£10,895 / €12,657).

While this particular car has a five-speed automatic, it’s notable for featuring a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that develops 260 hp (194 kW / 264 PS) and 260 lb-ft (353 Nm) of torque. This enables the drop top to hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in just 5.5 seconds.

If you’re more into muscle cars, there are plenty of Camaros and Mustangs to choose from. However, you can get a nearly decade old Dodge Challenger on the cheap and most people won’t be able to tell it dates back to the Obama era.

That’s the case with this 2013 Challenger SXT, which has only been driven 29,865 miles (48,063 km) and is going for $17,995 (£13,065 / €15,185). Of course, you’ll be making some compromises as it has a plasticky interior and a 3.6-liter V6 developing 305 hp (227 kW / 309 PS).

Those are just some of the options, but let us know what you’d buy in the comments below.