Winter brings us Christmas, but it also comes with a lot of hassle for gearheads. Equipping snow tires, using chains, and driving cautiously in snowy regions are some things we have to deal with during winter. Perhaps that's why many car enthusiasts prefer the summer for pure driving joy. And that's why there have been many awesome summer cars in the market. And if you know anything about a summer car, or search for the best option in the used car market, you'd pretty much immediately get the Mazda MX-5 Miata as the answer. It's lightweight, convertible, has decent power, and is a blast to drive especially during twists and turns. That's essentially what a summer car is. The Miata is also abundantly available, reliable, and affordable to buy & maintain. That's why it's one of the most popular cars in the North American market. But, it's not a perfect car. Maybe someone doesn't personally like the Miata, wants extra power right off the bat, or wants something different from a Miata. Thankfully, we have lots of options to choose from. Oh, and these summer cars are all within the affordable budget range of $20,000, give or take a few bucks.

10 Honda Del Sol

honda_civic_del_sol_1993_
Via: Favcars

When it comes to the combination of popularity, affordability, and reliability, the Civic is up there with the best. But it's more like a daily sedan/hatchback than a summer car. But Honda has made quite a few types of vehicles on the Civic platform over the years.

red 1997 Honda del Sol quarter rear parked
Via Cars And Bids

One of them is the Del Sol. It's a targa top two-seater with a 127-hp 1.6-liter engine taken out of the Civic. It's not powerful enough on its own, but it's capable of bringing smiles per mile with a few tweaks. But there's a catch. There aren't many Del Sols floating around in the used car market though.

Related: Grab Yourself A Bargain JDM Car With This 1997 Honda Del Sol VTEC

9 Toyota MR-2 Spyder W30

MR2 Spyder - Front
Bring a Trailer

Think about a Lotus Elise, a great 2-seater that always gives a fun time. But the price of used examples is way over $30,000 and can reach as high as $70,000! Now think of the MR2 W30 as a low-budget version of the Elise. Although they have been around since 1984, you'll find mostly just the 2000–2007 W30 series below the $20,000 mark.

2001 Toyota MR2 Spyder
via cargurus.com

But they are good lightweight cars with a 138-hp 1.8-liter inline-4 as standard. There are cars in this list that are faster than the MR2 on a racetrack, but very few can be so joyous to drive on something like a mountain road.

Related: The New Toyota Sports EV Concept Could Be The Revival Of The MR2

8 Fiat 124 Spider

Abarth 124 Spider - Front
Via NetCarShow

In simple words, the Fiat 124 Spider is essentially a Miata with a Fiat badge on it. The Miata and 124 Spider share the same assembly line, platform, and many mechanical components. So reliability and the availability of parts won't be an issue at all.

Abarth 124 Spider - rear
Via NetCarShow

In a way, if you want a Miata that doesn't look like a Miata (let's be honest, the Fiat looks cool) then the 124 is an easy alternative without any major compromise.

Related: 10 Things You Need To Know Before Buying A Used Fiat 124 Spider

7 2015 Chevrolet Camaro

2015 Chevy Camaro z28 front view
Via Chevrolet

Technically, the Camaro is a muscle car, but the convertible version can be an affordable and dependable summer car if we choose the correct year and trim. The 2010-2015 5th gen Camaro has a good balance of modern and classic muscle car styling that holds up even today.

2015 Chevrolet Camero Z28 Rear
Via Chevrolet

Whether it's the V6-powered LT or the V8-powered SS trim, the Camaro has more than enough power and driving dynamics to justify its place in this list. We doubt you'll get a top-spec ZL1 in our budget without some serious issues, but thankfully, the lower trims do the job well.

6 2015 Ford Mustang

2015 Ford Mustang Convertible GT
Via Motor Authority

For every Camaro lover, there's a Mustang owner. These two cars have been rivals for longer than a lot of us have been alive. 2015 is one of the good years of a Mustang, and a great choice for affordable used examples. For people who dig the previous S197 generation more, the 2014 Mustang is also a safe bet.

Ford Mustang GT
Via CNET

Most 2015 Mustangs in our price range will be the V6 trims, which are among the most popular for people who aren't too serious about every last hp they get out of their car. Folks wanting to own a V8 Mustang will have better luck with the 5th generation 2014 Mustang GT Premium.

Related: Ford Mustang Vs Chevy Camaro: Who’s The Pony Car King?

5 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK 350

Mercedes SLK 350 - Front Quarter
Via Mecum Auctions

The Mercedes is like a wild card entry in this list because it's probably the oddest of the group here. The SLK class will probably be the most feature-rich car here, and the convertible layout makes it a good fit for a summer car. But there's a catch: It's not the sportiest of the bunch either.

2012-Mercedes-Benz-SLK350
Flickr

The Merc comes off as a civilized and sober (albeit, comparatively luxurious) product. The 302 hp V6 has plenty of power, so a well-tuned suspension mod can make it a great choice! But the manual option is only available in the 201 hp Inline-4 250 trim.

4 2005 Porsche Boxster

2001 Porsche Boxster Sports Car
Via: BringaTrailer

Finding a 2008 Boxster or newer under $20,000 will be difficult at the very least. And for the ones that fall in our range, the 2005 model is among the best ones. The original 986 Boxster is great, but the 2005 one looks great, has better performance, and a nicer interior.

2001 Porsche Boxster 5-Speed Sports Car
Via: BringaTrailer

And one of the main reasons to consider a Boxster is its sharp handling, which is available here in abundance. As dependable as the 911 is, the Boxsters have a reputation for being not so reliable. But the 2005 Boxster has been a good investment for the owners so far.

3 2014-15 BMW Z4

2014 BMW Z4 Convertible Sports Car
BMW

For a car that would later share the powertrain with the returning Toyota Supra, the Z4 is a great value-for-money convertible. Keep in mind, however, that an accident-free 2014-15 Z4 is bound to have around 100,000 miles on the odometer if it's got a $20,000 or lower price tag.

2015 BMW Z4 Convertible Sports Car
Via: Facebook

These can be a bit hard to find in our budget, but the end would justify the means here. Even the lowest-spec sDrive28i has a 240 hp 4-banger that's more than enough power to send it sideways. You also get a nice interior and an above-average reliability score.

Related: 10 Reasons Why Every Gearhead Should Own A BMW Z4

2 Honda S2000

2000 Honda S2000 Convertible
Mecm Auctions

We think the Honda S2000 is one of the best sports cars to ever exist. Again, you'll see more than 100,000 miles on the odometer of these cars, but that's alright as long as the owner hasn't skipped many scheduled maintenance days.

2000-Honda-S2000-Convertible-1
Mecum Auctions

The S2000 looks great, drives great, handles tunes and mods great, and even the stock 4-cylinder VTEC makes plenty of power to keep things lively. Kinda like the Supra, Skyline, and the RX-7, this one is slowly becoming the victim of its own success and its prices are increasing slowly but steadily.

Related: 10 Things You Need To Know Before Buying A Used Honda S2000

1 Nissan 370Z Roadster

2018-nissan-370z-roadster-review
via: Flickr

The 370Z Roadster is one of the finest cars Nissan has ever produced, and we're talking about the same company that gave us the Fairlady Z. Nissan developed the 370Z to serve the same purpose as the Miata, so you won't have to worry about handling or peppiness of its engine.

Red 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster
Nissan

One of the most common problems of the MX-5 is its crampy interior. The 370Z is bigger, more accommodating to taller people, and yet is somehow just as agile and nimble. The 3.7-liter V6 that makes 332 hp, manual transmission, and rear-wheel drivetrain make sure that the 370Z won't give a dull ride.