Buy a Cat D car - any advice

scheming_gypsy

you don't, but as far as I'm aware (and could be wrong), it won't be allowed back on the road if the structural integrity has been damaged.. so a cat D will be repairable and safe.

barbiedoll

Even if this wasn't a Cat D, I still wouldn't buy it. I'd never buy a car with tinted rear windows, it just screams "boy racer"! :eek:

scheming_gypsy

barbiedoll wrote: »

Even if this wasn't a Cat D, I still wouldn't buy it. I'd never buy a car with tinted rear windows, it just screams "boy racer"! :eek:

or 'new car with security windows' :eek:

OddballJamie

barbiedoll wrote: »

Even if this wasn't a Cat D, I still wouldn't buy it. I'd never buy a car with tinted rear windows, it just screams "boy racer"! :eek:

It's getting more and more frequent on the higher spec cars, most of the Ford Titanium models have tinted rear glass.

Unfortunately this car is not one and why on earth did they paint the wheels black and green?

OddballJamie

deanos wrote: »

Yes some have very small damage but how do you know if you didn't do the repair ?

I try to work off the value of the car, I know a mechanic who's main work comes from doing up Cat Ds for a local garage to sell. He seems to think in general if the repair is over 50% of the cars value it's written off. Although he mainly has small cheapish cars in. Although I remember him having a mint A Class in with a dented drivers door that was written off, cost him less than £100 to get it sorted.

goonarmy

deanos wrote: »

Yes some have very small damage but how do you know if you didn't do the repair ?

You could say that for any 2nd hand car. At least this has been recorded and graded.

techspec

My Cat C gave me years of trouble free motoring.

Less than half the cost of same year car too.

I'd only buy if savings were MASSIVE though.

paddedjohn

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vauxhall-Opel-Corsa-1-4i-16v-a-c-2009MY-Design-/161118994341?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item258370bfa5

The above car is similar money to the cat d you are looking at OP, it does have high mileage but is a 1.4, 4 door design which is far better than the 2 door 1.2sxi and is not an ex damaged repairable.

deanos

i would also get some insurance quotes apparently some company's wont touch them so could cost you more in insurance premiums

Hintza

This why I buy mine as salvage, I can choose the level of damage that I am happy with and pay accordingly, I then have my tame body repair shop fix it up.

One of the main problems for me and the insurance company is damage that is not apparent when repairs are costed up.

For example the Panda needed a new gearbox a month after it was back on the road. The Cherokee need a N/S rear half shaft (been hit O/S front). Both of these were not in the initial pricing but I try and leave enough slack to cover the extras.

TBH the Panda ended up costing me a lot more than I would really have been prepared to pay but once you start you have to finish and it has been fine for the last 6 years.