WHEN buying a used car, having a clear idea of your budget is the best way to ensure you get the vehicle you need at the price you can afford.
Crunching the numbers before you start searching ensures you’ve got the confidence that you can afford the car of your dreams. (Or the sensible family saloon you really should be buying.)
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Model: Vauxhall Astra
Cash used to be king when buying a used car, but today, finance is the UK’s preferred way to buy a new motor. You can spread the costs over a longer period and access better rates than a credit card or some personal loans.
Sun Motors is full of low-cost, low-mileage cars to suit every budget. You’ll find everything from low-mileage city cars to the latest sports cars, and everything in between.
Whether you’re paying cash or using our low-cost credit finance, here’s what your budget will stretch to on Sun Motors.
(Representative APR 12.9%)
How can I check my used car buying budget?
There are several ways to buy a new car, including paying cash, using a credit card, or arranging finance.
If you’re paying cash, you’ll need the money to hand. We’re not able to see your bank account (thankfully), but a quick check of your savings should provide all the numbers you need.
Most of us use some form of financing to purchase a new car.
Credit cards are a convenient choice, but if you don’t qualify for a 0% deal, interest rates can have a huge impact on your income..
PCP and HP are popular ways to pay for a new car, and Sun Motors makes it simple to check what you can borrow.
Find Your Next Car by What You Can Actually Afford
Sun Motors has created the UK’s First Finance-First Marketplace
*Finance Powered by DSG Finance who are a Credit Broker Not A Lender. Representative 12.9%. Your rate may differ depending on individual circumstances
You can check in less than 60 seconds if you are eligible for financing, and then search for your dream used car within your monthly budget.
Here’s how…
- Soft credit check, with no impact on your score
- 60-second decision, get a real finance decision in less than a minute
- Instant match, only see cars that fit your real budget
- AI-powered help, get tailored advice, suggestions, and instant answers from an AI advisor called Theo
Find out what you can afford in just 60 seconds here.
Simply add some details about you, your address, and finances, and our finance provider will do a soft credit search and tell you the total amount you can borrow.
In less than a minute, you’ll get details of the total amount you can borrow, a personalised interest rate, and monthly repayments.
(Representative APR 12.9%)
Armed with this information, you can use Sun Motors’ intelligent search function so you’ll only see cars you can afford.
Don’t worry, there’s no pressure to use Sun Motors’ finance. It’s there if you need it, even if you’ve been refused credit before.
Find out what cars are available from £2,500 to 20K
We’ve scoured Sun Motors to bring you our expert choice of the best cars between £2.5 and £20k.
All of the cars here are available from Sun Motors dealers, which means they’ve been independently checked, verified, and serviced so they’re ready for the road.
All of the cars here can be purchased with cash or financed with Sun Motors. It’s your money and your choice.
Up to £2,500
Finance Representative Example – Personal Contract Purchase
Fixed Rate of Interest 6.715%, 47 Monthly Payments,£95.09, Total Amount Payable £8834.23, Amount of Credit £4995, Optional Final Payment £2365, Duration of Agreement 48 Months, Annual Mileage Limit 10,000 Miles, Deposit £2000, APR (Representative) 12.9%, Total Cash Price £6995
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Model: Vauxhall Astra
Our favourite budget car is this classic Vauxhall Astra 1.6i SRi. It’s not fast or fashionable, but it’s a low-mileage family car that will do the job for a good few years yet. At less than £2.5k, you’re getting a 9-year-old car with the sporty SRi trim. Love this.
Other great cars under £2.5k
- 2015 Fiat 500 1.2 Pop – £2,000
- Hyundai I20 1.2 Active – £2,489
- Dacia Sandero 1.0 SCe Access
Up to £5,000
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Model: Ford Focus
We’re loving the ever-reliable Ford Focus 1.0T EcoBoost Titanium at £4,795. For less than £110 per month you could be driving this fabulous five-door family runaround. The turbocharged three-cylinder engine is quick enough, but you’ll get good economy from the Euro-6 powertrain.
Other great cars under £5k
- 2015 Renault Twizy Technic
- 2016 Toyota Aygo 1.0 VVT-i x
- 2017 Nissan Juke N-CONNECTA DIG-T
Up to £10,000
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Model: Audi A3
We’re going for the AUDI A3 2.0 TDI S line Saloon. Why? Look at it. Fast, practical, fun, functional, and affordable. It’s all these things and more, and less than £230 per month.
OK, so it’s a diesel which is less popular than it once was, but if you’re looking for a sporty and sensible mile-muncher, this is our choice.
Other great cars under £10k
- 2016 Mercedes-Benz C Class 1.6 C200d SE G-Tronic+
- Citroen C3 Aircross 1.2 PureTech Flair SUV
- Kia Picanto 1.2L Petrol GT-Line Hatchback
Up to £15,000
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Model: Volkswagen ID.3
Now we’ve got some budget to use, we’re going to spend it on the 2021 Volkswagen ID.3 150Kw Life Pro Performance. This is a very capable EV that’s a great intro to electric driving at an attractive price. You’ll get 200 miles per charge, a top speed of 99mph, and some fantastic in-car entertainment. The cash you save on petrol can contribute to the £259 monthly payment.
Other great cars under £15k
- 2022 (22) Ford Puma ST-LINE X MHEV
- 2019 MINI Hatch 5-Door Hatch Cooper S Sport
- Mercedes-Benz A-Class 1.3 A200 AMG Line
Up to £20,000
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Model: SEAT Leon
This nearly new Seat Leon 5dr 1.5 TSI Evo (130ps) FR Sport is cheaper than the VW Golf, and we reckon it offers better value. You’ll get the super-fast 130hp engine, which is as fast as you need.
Inside and outside, the FR trim is absolute quality, and all for around £400 per month. That’s a massive saving off the new price for this extra-hot-hatch.
Other great cars under £20k
- Mercedes-Benz GLE 3L Diesel 350 D 4matic Amg Line Auto
- 2019 BMW 3 SERIES 2.0 320i M Sport Saloon
- Audi A3 1.0 TFSI 30 Sport Sportback
Sun Motors: Buy your next vehicle today
If you’re part of the 3.3 million Brits looking to buy a used vehicle this year, Sun Motors is an ideal place to start
*If you click on a link in this boxout we will earn affiliate revenue
Sun Motors is a seamless, straightforward, transparent platform that ranks by customer searches, not payments. It offers innovative financing and concierge services, ensuring a simple, fair car-buying experience.
Enjoy:
- A choice of fuel type whether it’s petrol, diesel, electric or hybrid
- A range of models from convertible, estate, saloon and many more
- A range of top brands such as Ford, Volkswagen, Toyota and BMW
- Financing options
- Trusted dealers
Used car buying FAQs:
Buying on finance vs outright benefits
We’re going to keep this short and sweet. If you’ve got significant cash in hand, then it’s a great way to pay for a new car. You avoid paying interest and can buy the car you want immediately.
But buying a car will leave a big hole in your savings.
The majority of us will use finance to spread the cost over several years. Buying a car is a lot of money and a big commitment, and credit provides a convenient way to break it down into monthly payments.
In the past, cash was king as it gave you the ability to haggle down the price. But in 2025, who wants cash?
What to look out for when buying a used car
When buying privately, there are loads of things you should check (which we’ve covered in this used car checklist).
One of the best reasons to buy from Sun Motors is that every dealer has been thoroughly vetted, and every vehicle they sell has been carefully inspected to ensure it’s honest, reliable, and in roadworthy condition.
You can lift the bonnet, take it for a test drive, and kick the tires, but unless you’re a pro, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to learn much. Buying a used car is about trust, and you can trust Sun Motors.
How simple is buying a car on Sun Motors?
Very easy.
Ok, we’ll go on. The intelligent, AI-powered search means you can search based on your make, model, budget, monthly repayments, and more.
(Representative APR 12.9%)
When you find the car you want, connect with a dealer, arrange finance (or transfer the cash), and the car is yours.
And if you’re buying with Sun Motors finance, that can all be arranged, signed, and done in less than 24 hours. That’s faster than most main dealers.
Buying a used car? Check out Sun Motors and find your next vehicle today. Whether you’re looking for automatic, manual or electric, use Sun Motors to decide on your next model.
Motor Genius Group Ltd t/a Sun Motors is an Appointed Representative (FRN 960504) of The Compliance Guys Ltd who is authorised and regulated by the FCA (FRN 941360). We are a credit broker not a lender. We work with a select group of lenders and will receive commission. The full details of how the commission arrangements work will be provided before you proceed with any arrangement. Finance subject to status and income. Terms and Conditions apply. The advice we provide is not impartial due to our commercial relationships with lenders. ICO number [ZB640135]
