The Real Comparison Is Cost Per Reliable Hour
Sticker prices mislead. A used machine at half the price that works 70% of available hours costs more per productive hour than a new one at 95% — before you count recovery trucks, penalty clauses and a foreman's wasted mornings. Model five years honestly: purchase or finance, fuel, servicing, wear parts, downtime risk and resale. Then decide.
When New Wins Clearly
New machines win on utilisation-critical work: infrastructure possessions, quarry faces and any programme with penalty clauses. Warranty cover, the latest fuel efficiency and telematics from day one, plus resale values that hold while hours stay low, make new iron the rational choice when downtime is measured in thousands per hour.
When Used Makes Sense
Used machines shine as second units, backup cover and low-hour specialist tools — telehandlers for fit-out, rollers for patching, compactors that work two days a week. Buy on condition, not hours: service history with oil sampling, straight booms, tight pins and an undercarriage above 60% matter more than the odometer.
The Third Option Contractors Forget
Long-term hire sits between the two: fixed monthly cost, servicing and breakdown cover included, no capital tied up and a swap when scope changes. Many of our customers hire the core fleet and own only the attachments — flexibility where it counts, ownership where it pays.
A Decision Framework
- Above 1,200 hours a year on critical path? Buy new or hire long-term
- Backup or seasonal use under 500 hours? Quality used is ideal
- Uncertain pipeline? Hire and convert to programme rates later