Ex-Govt, or pre-owned Government Cars, have many advantages over your usual used auto found at dealers lots and in local classifieds.
The first factor is that Ex-Govt vehicles are normally sold at auction.
This means you only pay what you want to pay. If you get outbid you just go back next week or bid on your 2nd choice vehicle. No pressure selling from a dealer who follows you around the lot trying to find out how much money you can spend!
When trying to buy a car you found advertised in the local classifieds there is only one to chose from. That's it! When you get to meet the owner it often becomes apparent they believe their pride and joy is worth a fortune. Emotions can run high and owners sometimes get agitated when you try to explain it's not worth the money they want for it. This can result in you leaving empty handed to keep searching.
The second factor is the issue of maintenance. The dealer is not going to tell you those noises are the early warning of a problem. Rather they will be showing you how good the in car entertainment system is, hoping to drown out any suspicious sounds.
The private seller is getting rid of their auto for a reason. They most likely will not tell you the whole truth either. They just want the money and for the impending trouble to be someone else's.
Government agencies and Federal departments own their vehicles from new. This means they have the warranty to fall back on if problems occur. They also have a responsibility to the taxpayer to maintain all the assets they have and this includes their fleet of vehicles. Some Govt agencies even have their own service people who resolve any problems immediately. Compare this with the private owner who needs next months paycheck before getting any repairs done but still needs to use the car. Often this can make a problem worse.
It is probably becoming clear why I always buy my cars at Ex-Govt Car Auctions. Late models, good pricing, good selection, and reasonably sound mechanically.
