came across this video and found it quite interesting.

https://youtu.be/xZgz1vKjggw

he does a lot of really usefull video,s , it,s amazing what he finds out just by checking the VIN number...buyer beware and all that

yeah watched quite a few of his, put me right off buying any damaged repairables

Ive bought five Cat C cars over the years, and the current 2008 Mondeo that I bought in 2009, is still going strong, and no need to change it yet

however, there are things that I look out for, yet im no expert,

I only buy panel damaged cars not severe rear or front ended ones

I only go for mainstream cars, like Mondeo's Focus's etc, as spares are everywhere in breakers or fleebay, were as prestige car spares are not, and one XJ Jag I was looking at a couple of years ago, I would only be able to buy brand new parts, as not one breaker had two nearside doors complete, in stock, £1000 each from Jaguar !!!!

I didn't buy the Jag

Imho your never going to make money out of Writeoff cars unless you can turn them round in a week, but you can save a fortune on having a new car on the drive, that owes you not a lot of cash, but for me, I buy a 5k car, as in my Mondeo, that was a year old when I got it, I spent 1k fixing and painting it,
The car has cost me 6k plus servicing etc, and is still worth 2-3k now

steve