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48 Phonebox Magazine | July 2025WHAT%u2019S YOUR BUDGET?A car is, for most people, the biggest single purchase they make after their home. It needs thought and care before taking the plunge and signing up for your next set of wheels.Getting a new-to-you or used car should be an exciting and enjoyable time, so you don%u2019t want to ruin all the fun by realising you have paid more than you wanted for your vehicle. Setting a budget %u2013 and sticking to it %u2013 is the sensible and right way to go about buying a car, and setting yourself a spending limit is the right thing to do. More cars are bought in the UK in the %u00a35,000-%u00a320,000 bracket than any other range, which shows that motorists are prepared to pay good money for their next car. A few cars are bought at the %u2018lower%u2019 end, such as %u00a31000 or less, while other buyers will be preparing to splash out %u00a330,000 to %u00a350,000 on a car, but these transactions are less common.So, what sort of car is available for every budget? Here Phonebox Motoring sets out vehicle choices available for each fi scal level. Size of price tag does not correspond with size of car, and there are big, small and medium models available across all price brackets. The same goes for fuel types %u2013 petrol, diesel and electric are not constrained by cost. Whatever you have in the coffers, there%u2019s something out there for you.Even if you%u2019re looking at the lower end of the price spectrum, five grand is still a serious amount of money to be playing with, so make sure the car you%u2019re considering is in good condition, and you are aware of any potential problems that might show up in the future. As the car%u2019s cost rises, you can, of course, expect more for your money, including full service history, higher specifi cation model and superb condition inside and out. Buying a car can be a significant investment, which requires thorough research and careful consideration. So, what%u2019s available for your budget?Phonebox Motoringwith Tom Johnston