The rule of thumb most operators miss
If you're spending more than 50% of the replacement cost on repairs in a single year, the machine has already made the decision for you.
But the headline number hides the real cost: downtime.
The three numbers you need
- Annual repair spend (last 12 months, not including scheduled servicing)
- Days out of service (for unplanned repairs)
- Replacement cost financed (monthly repayment on new or near-new kit)
If (1 + 2-as-lost-revenue) > (3 × 12), you're losing money keeping the old machine on.
What most operators get wrong
They compare repair cost to purchase price, not to finance repayment.
A $180k excavator might cost $3,200/month financed. If your current machine is costing you $4,500/month in repairs and downtime, you're already paying for the new one — you're just not getting it.
When to call us
When the maths starts to shift. Don't wait for the next breakdown to force the decision. Contract-aligned finance takes 24-48 hours for approvals in the Fast segment ($30-100k) and up to a week for Scale ($350k+).