Buying Cat C or D car- Help/ Advice

philipo51617

Hi

Am looking to buy a used car, possibly Corsa/ Fiesta or something similar. Looking to pay around £5000 for one around 4 years old.

Many of the cars coming up on Auto trader etc are either Cat C or D repaired. Any one had any experience of purchasing car with Cat C or D damage??

One car has sustained damage to rear bumper, repainted to a factory finish and will come with 12 months MOT, whislt another had damage to drivers door and the o/s quarter.

Any help/ advice welcome.

cheers

jimjames

philipo51617 wrote: »

Hi

Many of the cars coming up on Auto trader etc are either Cat C or D repaired. Any one had any experience of purchasing car with Cat C or D damage??


cheers

Not sure what criteria you are using to search on Autotrader but I've never found many of the cars coming up to be Cat C or D repaired.

Personally I wouldn't touch but obviously there are some people prepared to take the risk for the lower purchase price - but when you sell you'll have the same problem.

Read the thread below for someone having problems with a repaired car.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4908990

visidigi

jimjames wrote: »

Not sure what criteria you are using to search on Autotrader but I've never found many of the cars coming up to be Cat C or D repaired.

If its cheap for what it is and its not a scam add you will find Cat d hidden in the description somewhere - there are loads on AT.

InsideInsurance

The issue is that once its obvious that a car is a total loss the garage/ insurer stop checking whats wrong with it. For a low value car it doesnt take that much to get past that level and so parts probably havent been removed to check for further damage behind etc.

I would consider a Cat D, possibly a C, but it'd have to be dirt cheap to reflect both the mark against its history and the risk of there being further damage.

You'll have problems selling it afterwards so really only worth it for a car you intend to run into the ground or will be willing to accept a token amount for in a trade in

Netwizard

Corsa / Fiesta are not rare cars. 5k will get a good example which isn't a write off. On that basis, I'd avoid any CAT D/Cs

philipo51617

Thanks for the help, the car would generally be run into the ground so not too worried about any sell on value, most important thing would be it lasting me a good few years.

Having looked at link to other thread and fact that not all checks may e carried out on car by garage, I may continue my search for a little longer.
Thansk

Hintza

Sign up to copart and buy it as salvage and have it repaired that way you can assess the damage yourself.

I for one don't like when the air bags have gone off as they can be expensive.

For example:-

http://www.copart.co.uk/c2/homeSearch.html?_eventId=getLot&execution=e8s2&lotId=34320733&returnPage=SEARCH_RESULTS

Not much wrong with that wing and a door to replace. Front bumper looks ok or repairable. Factor in a bit in case of front suspension damage (looks ok though) buy it for less than £1,000 and spend £1,000 on it. My only comment, I would prefer it a couple of years younger.

philipo51617

Seems a good website if know what your looking at, but more or less zero knowledge on cars this end!!

Hintza

philipo51617 wrote: »

Seems a good website if know what your looking at, but more or less zero knowledge on cars this end!!

Do you have any friends in a bodyshop? They could help you.

philipo51617

No, it's probably only industry which haven't got covered with friends or family, ha!!!

spacey2012

The risk is this, the structural shell of the car is designed to crumple ONCE.
Who ever is sitting in the car if it is hit again is likely to be killed as the car is nowhere near as strong second time round.
Some think this risk is worth a few quid, some think it is not.