The Depreciation Cliff
A new car loses 20-30% of its value in year one, and 40-50% over three years. A $45,000 new car may be worth $25,000-27,000 after just 3 years. Buying that same car at 3 years old means someone else absorbed $18,000-20,000 in depreciation.
When New Makes Sense
If you want the latest safety tech, a specific configuration not available used, manufacturer warranty peace of mind, or you plan to keep the car for 7+ years (amortising the depreciation hit).
When Used Makes Sense
Almost always, financially. A 2-3 year old car with 30,000-50,000km offers 90% of the new car experience at 50-60% of the price. Remaining warranty often transfers to the new owner.
The NORTH Motor Sweet Spot
We specialise in vehicles 1-5 years old with low kilometres. Our inventory offers the best value zone: modern enough for current safety standards and technology, but past the steepest depreciation curve. Every vehicle is quality-inspected and comes with our confidence guarantee.