Buying a 'Damaged Repairable' - Pitfalls?

motorguy

I think unless you can do most of the work yourself, then theres little to be saved (certainly over buying one previously repaired, at least)

The easiest repaired cars generally never get as far as being advertised - they're snapped up by regular customers for repair and resale or by a friend of someone working there.

Also the cars are often overpriced by optimistic breakers yards.

You might "get lucky" and save a few £, but its always reliant on getting all the parts you need used - which is harder than you think as most impacts are frontal or rear so those parts get snapped up first from breakers.

Also air bags being out can be problematic and expensive to replace - and theres always some damage you wont have accounted for that costs extra £££s.

System

There are bargains out there but they tend to be limited to older cars which are stolen recovered and typically just need a set of locks and/or wheels. Anything with accident damage you want to avoid unless you have mechanical experience or can take someone who does but beware merely being a mechanic for X number of years doesn't mean they're automatically qualified to find hidden damage.