Military Car Sales - The Choice Between New and Pre-Owned for Service Personnel

By Stephen Thornton

While buying, owning and driving a brand new car is a great experience, the sad truth is that some vehicles suffer high rates of depreciation in the first year that can often tarnish the joy of ownership. Despite the fact that purchasing a new car from a specialist in forces car sales can mitigate this to quite a large degree, as they can negotiate special prices for military personnel from car makers over and above those available to the general public, the fact remains that it often makes better economic sense to buy a relatively new car that has depreciated in price and offers better value-for-money.

Consider some of the benefits:

The manufacturer's warranty will be transferred to you. Most new cars have at least a 3- year warranty, many have 5-years or more and these longer warranties are increasingly popular as cars become more reliable and makers become more confident in providing them. This reassurance is especially important for military personnel who may be based overseas away from home and don't want their families to experience any problems with car maintenance issues while they are away.

Car makers often provide new-car rebates at certain times of the year, or discounts when they are trying to shift old models before the introduction of new ranges. These drive the prices of used cars down.

The optional equipment, exterior and interior finishes specified at great cost by the original owner are often undervalued on the used car marketplace.

Many pre-owned cars that come up for sale are ex-company leased, or private leased cars that have been returned for some reason. They are generally well maintained and looked after. Many will have been subject to mileage limitations, so high mileage should not be an issue.

To shift used cars quickly and without fuss, dealers will have given their vehicles a comprehensive inspection and a thorough clean inside and out. Apart from the mileage shown on the odometer, there is often very little visual difference between a new and pre-owned car and the driving experience should be pretty much the same.

Any problems that a new car owner may have had with their new car will generally have been fixed by the time they come to trade it in, allowing you to simply buy, drive and enjoy it.

Older used cars may not come with many of the benefits listed above and while their initial cost may be lower, the costs of maintenance and repairs can add up considerably within a few years.

Some car makers vehicles maintain high resale values over many years allowing you to reduce the overall cost of ownership.

Careful study of motoring magazines that publish used car guides will help you choose a make and model that's right for you. When you've shortlisted your favourite models and specifications, then ask your car dealer - preferably one that understands the needs of the military - to match your wish list with their stock.

Steve Thornton is Managing Director of Forces Cars Direct a specialist vehicle dealer in Lincoln, UK that manage Military Car Sales for new and used car purchases for members of the UK Armed Forces, Diplomats and the UK Police along with car finance and insurance.

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