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The Irish Sun
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
The UK's best-selling used cars under £5k: Our expert picks the best low-cost motors, including Europe's best seller
DESPITE the used car market hotting up, there are still bargains to be had. It's possible to get a reliable family run around, city car or even SUV for less than £5k – but only if you know what you're buying. Advertisement 4 At this end of the market, cash is still king. A One of the benefits of buying a car outright is that there's no interest and no monthly payments. Paying with cash can give you a stronger position to attempt to negotiate a better deal. Sometimes, you can even drive away with the car on the day. But what's the best used car to buy for under £5,000? In this article, the auto experts at Advertisement READ MORE MOTORS NEWS You'll also find some hints and tips to help you buy the perfect second-hand car and avoid being left with a pup. 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 Best used cars 2025: from low-cost convertibles to durable family saloons Here, our experts have selected three of the best-value used cars in 2025. Dacia Sandero This 2014 Dacia Sandero is currently for sale at £4,296 The Dacia Sandero is Advertisement The Sandero is a small car designed and built by parent company Renault using tried and tested components. Most read in Motors Despite being one of the cheapest new cars on the market, the Sandero is more reliable than a comparatively priced Ford or Mazda, says You can pick up a low-mileage Dacia Sandero for less than £5,000 on SEAT Leon This 2015 SEAT Leon cashes in at £4,495 on Sun Motors Advertisement The SEAT Leon is basically a VW Golf, only cheaper, with some models sharing the same chassis. If you're looking for a sporty hatchback, the FR (Formula Racing) specification SEAT Leon is the equivalent of a Golf GTI – but at a much lower price. Despite being built by the same company, SEAT is more reliable than a VW (although neither performs that well in this Despite its sporty looks, automotive bloggers Advertisement You can pick up a Mazda MX-5 This timeless chic model is available on Sun Motors for £3,499 The Mazda MX-5 remains today what it's always been: a stylish, sporty and affordable convertible car. The MX-5 is still winning prizes, with the 2023 model named best value sportscar at the Advertisement Older models are just as reliable and fun, but as with any convertible, ensure you test the roof mechanism before buying, as it can be expensive to repair or replace. It's not exactly cheap, but £10,000 will get you a Buying a used car? Find cars for under £200 on Sun Motors Best used cars of 2024 Here are the top five best used cars under five grand in 2024: Advertisement Toyota Auris Hybrid Honda CR-V Mini Convertible Skoda Octavia Audi TT The best-used car deals of 2024 are a mixed bag, with small city cars like the Toyota Auris rubbing shoulders with family classics like the Skoda Octavia and sport favourite the Audi TT. You'll notice that all these cars are established models, with cars like the Mini on sale since 2000 and the Audi TT since 1998. This matters because manufacturers will have ironed out any problems with the early models. Old doesn't mean ugly. We reckon the Mini, Audi TT and Honda CR-V are all as stylish today as they were when they were launched. OK, while the family favourite Skoda Octavia won't win any fashion awards, it won't look out of place at the supermarket or school gates. Advertisement Running costs, too, are an issue as prices at the pump continue to rise. As well as impressive fuel economy, essentials like road tax, servicing and spares for popular cars like the Mini and Honda CR-V won't break the bank, either. Mini Convertible This Mini Convertible is currently on sale for £2,496 Advertisement One excellent option for sunny days can be had from as little as £1,500 for versions from 2009-15. Mini took one of the most iconic cars of all time, chopped its block off and somehow made it even better to drive. Skoda Octavia 4 Skoda Octavia Credit: Getty Find a used car with Sun Motors Advertisement The Octavia is a real Swiss Army Knife of a motor, an ideal all-rounder, it combines a spacious interior with a "gutsy" engine and miserly fuel economy - making it an ideal family car. It's also based on the same platform as the beloved VW Golf, while adding a little bit more room in the back seats and boot. The model also matches the price of the Mini, with 2004-13 models starting at £1,500 even though it's a fair bit larger. Audi TT This Audi TT is a visual representation of the timelessness of the model - it is currently for sale for £3,750 Advertisement Ideal for the kind of person who's after a champagne lifestyle on limited funds, with models from between 2006 and 2014 starting at £2,500 the TT offers a top-notch sports car package at a bargain rate. The car, named for the Toyota Auris Hybrid 4 Toyota Auris Hybrid Credit: Alamy Find a used car with Sun Motors Advertisement The main plus of the Auris is its phenomenally low running costs despite being a very decent size compared to most hatchbacks. The All the while, you pay zero Models from between 2010 and 2012 are usually well within the budget, starting from £4,500. Advertisement Honda CR-V 4 Honda CR-V Credit: Getty Find a used car with Sun Motors Honda is famed for the reliability of its SUVs in particular. Building on the legacy of the legendary Land Cruiser, the CR-V provides a lot of space for very little cost as well as four-wheel drive. Advertisement The rear seats can even slide down to add extra boot space, making it a perfect choice for pet owners. And with 2006-12 examples starting from as little as £3,500 it's a great Benefits of buying a used car Here are the five reasons why you could be better off buying a used car: Lower price = better value: When you buy a used car, you can push your pounds as far as you can, getting better value than buying a new car. You can find models with bigger engines, sporty trims and better specifications. Cheaper insurance: You'll typically pay less to insure a used car compared to a new one. cheaper to insure. The exact premium you pay will depend on you, your location and details of any points on your license or previous accidents, but it should be lower. Reliability: Older cars that have been cared for can be as reliable as new ones. When buying, check out service history and to understand how the car has been cared for. Lower depreciation: A new car will lose up to 40% of its value in the first year, warns the Dealmaking potential: New car dealers don't like to haggle anymore, but in the used car market there are still deals to be done. You're often in the strongest position if you're a cash buyer. Benefits of buying a car outright vs financing Here are some of the reasons why it can be better to buy a cheaper used vehicle outright than using finance to buy a new model: Advertisement Cash means control: It's easy to get carried away with financing deals and end up spending more than you planned. When you buy a car with cash or cleared funds, you're less likely to blow the budget. No monthly payments: We can't predict the future, but if you've got a finance agreement, you make your monthly payments, whatever happens in your life. Buying a car outright can give you control and confidence in your personal finances. Freedom to change: When you own your car outright, you can sell it whenever you want. If you and your family need something bigger, smaller, faster or slower, you can sell your current car and buy a new one without any penalties or problems. Some people worry they'll be left on their own if a vehicle develops a fault. Before you start your search, learn some of the . The good news is that when you buy a used car you're covered by the , which gives you some protection if the car develops a fault.
The Irish Sun
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Thieves stole my £50k Range Rover & drove it to AFRICA – & to make it worse I'd left treasured item inside
A DRIVER has tracked his car stolen from outside his home — as it was spirited 6,849 miles away to Tanzania. Jimmy Munday, 44, had hidden an Apple AirTag in the £50,000 Range Rover. 3 Jimmy Munday tracked his car stolen from outside his home — as it was spirited 6,849 miles away to Tanzania 3 Jimmy was able to track the £50k motor after hiding an Apple AirTag in it Credit: Getty But after it was pinched from his driveway he watched helplessly as it headed off across the globe. His frustration was made worse as he had left his favourite hat on the back seat. It is now in Tanzania where he can see it is driven to and from the same place each day. He said: 'I often wonder who's driving it and if they are also wearing my favourite hat I left in the back seat. Size 9.' Range Rovers and other high-end motors are increasingly being stolen to order for buyers in Kenya, READ MORE MOTORS NEWS Married dad Jimmy's 4x4 was stolen from Chelmsford, Essex, a few months ago and was soon being driven across Europe. Jimmy's tracker showed it was shipped over the Mediterranean and through the Suez Canal. It was then driven across Africa — through IT consultant Jimmy's pals have teased him about his stolen car — even writing a plot for a screenplay, imagining a hidden stash of illegal pills in the car and gangsters on his trail. Most read in Motors One wrote: 'But it's not just the car Jimmy wants back. Inside it? His favourite hat, left resting on the back seat.' Watch moment car thief boy, 9, sneaks into uninsured £135k PORSCHE to go on daring joyride - but it doesn't end well 3 The car was tracked going through the Suez Canal before ending up in Tanzania Credit: Reuters
The Irish Sun
25-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
‘Offensive' number plates banned by DVLA revealed – including ‘pro-Brexit' and ‘Nazi' registrations
THE DVLA has banned hundreds of number plates it deems to be too offensive — including pro-Brexit ones such as EU75 OUT as well as AU75 WTZ. Ahead of the '75' reg launch on September 1, the agency released a list of 436 not allowed. 1 Pro-Brexit number plates such as EU75 OUT have been banned Motorists caught driving with them could be fined up to £1,000 and given a failed MOT. To avoid provocative references to political issues such as EU membership, plates such as EU75 OUT, EU75 SHT, EU75 WAR and EU75 YES are barred. To avoid encouraging criminal behaviour, the combinations LE75 KLL (Let's kill), as well as MU75 DER (Murder) are also on the banned list. The plates AU75 WTS and AU75 WTZ are also outlawed as they could be seen as a reference to the Nazis' Auschwitz concentration camp in READ MORE MOTORS NEWS Also banned are the rude combinations BA75 TRD, BA75 SHT and SH75 TTY. Last September, private number plates seller RegTransfers also reported that 210 specific character combinations would be censored. Its chief executive Mark Trimbee said: 'These bans ensure that number plates on the road aren't ones that could be translated into something inflammatory, offensive, insulting, obscene or otherwise problematic.' He added: 'There are almost always some, however, that might take a bit of deciphering but the DVLA has to err on the side of caution.' Most read in Motors People are just realising the hidden meaning behind the letters on car number plates
