Insurance write-off, but not Cat C or D?

clivech

I'm thinking of buying an old Toyota Prius for my partner to learn on. It's less than £1000, so I don't expect too much! (And that is the expected price for a car this age with 100k miles.) But the vehicle report says it's a write-off. The owner says it had a "reportable accident", but is not Cat C or D. Is that possible? There is clearly some damage repair to the rear end, but it seems to have been done ok (at least they undersealed it!). Should I just say "what the heck" and buy it, or run a mile? It drives nicely and the engine etc. all check out ok, and it has a year's MoT.

Herzlos

Sounds like it's had an accident but wasn't reported. Presumably so you can fix it or report it.

Rolandtheroadie

There's been a slight change in write off lettering. Cat S (old cat C) and cat N (old cat D).
Was it written off recently? Is it showing S or N?

clivech

All I got from the report was that it had been written off. Didn't say how recently. It didn't give a category on the report. The owner said he thought it was Cat S, but I had never heard of it. And there is nothing on his ad: he just says it had a "reportable accident". Where could I find out if it's a Cat S or N?

Svein_Forkbeard

Assume Cat C and price accordingly.

Rolandtheroadie

clivech wrote: »

All I got from the report was that it had been written off. Didn't say how recently. It didn't give a category on the report. The owner said he thought it was Cat S, but I had never heard of it. And there is nothing on his ad: he just says it had a "reportable accident". Where could I find out if it's a Cat S or N?

No idea to be honest, but the report says write off, the owner thinks Cat S, I'd go with it being a Cat S (old Cat C) and, as Svein says, price accordingly.

Ectophile

Is the underseal there to finish off a good repair or to hide a bad one?

The best cowboy mechanic "trick" I have heard of is to hide where you have done a lousy job at welding and have produced a nasty blobby mess. Pop down the local DIY store and buy a tube of silicone sealant. Run a nice bead of sealant along to hide the horrid mess. Then apply a thick coat of underseal so nobody can see what you've done.