>>1089643In any situation buying new is always best, but if you have to buy something second hand make it wings not motors.
As for wing lifespan goes the detriment to this is abrasion, moisture, UV, packing and storage. Assuming the owner has taken care of this then it all depends on how many hours it has as well as length of ownership. This is all information which is critical in knowing whether or not to purchase second hand.
The factory lifespan IIRC is 300 hours give or take, in fact it is also highly recommended that after a year of usage you get the glider checked by dealer or instructor if they have the means necessary of doing so.
The reason why buying second hand wings isn't as sketchy as you would expect is because of the vast differences in wing classes. Most if not all people start out on an A wing, a smarter choice would be a B for longevity of interest, but still A rated wings are usually the first purchase.
Once you get to grips with PPG you will naturally want to graduate the class list, most A/B wings aren't being sold because they're defective or 'on their way out' but because people want to fund a C or D. Once you get to that level of experience you may find that you never take out your beginner wing therefore it's better to resell then let it sit unused.
Back in the day technical innovation and performance was the main reason for switching out, so you would trade out before any wing deterioration would become prevalent. Now however it seems that we are reaching a plateau on how far it can be pushed so longevity is now more of an issue than before.
Finally at this point it really depends on the manufacturer, Ozone for example is one of the best in terms of quality, reliability and longevity.
So again whilst motors can't really be trusted, a wing is more forgiving. Ascertain the hours, total time of ownership, if it's ever been serviced and reasons for selling. If they're evolving through wing class it's a safer bet than say 'gathers dust'
