Not really looking for a new car as I'll be having a new co car next year, but I've just found a rather cheap car which would be a nice bit
of fun for a while.
Its a CAT D apparently (although not showing as one on freevehiclecheck).
So, given the fact that its about 1/2 the price it should be (its circa £3k), I can't quite get my head around it.
Surely it must have only been superficial/cosmetic damage to be a CAT D, so why so cheap....
Hm..
Seems it had a new back bumper, rear light, repair to boot lid and rear quarter.
Its been in use since Feb this year after the repair.
Very tempting.....
A mate of mine works in a place that gets Transco gas van write offs in. He told me of a transit that came in with so much non structural panel damage it would have been easier to reshell it rather than repair the damage but it was still a cat D, but you see others as cat C without much wrong.
Cat D's do vary depending on the car and the assessor. I have seen alot of cat d's needing little more than a bumper wing and headlight. If
you were to have that done at a dealer say on a BM then it may be £3K with all the paint and new trim bits etc as they will replace anything that is
slightly damaged with new. Therefore they will get written off.
I have also seen alot needing sills, chassis legs, roofs etc that are also Cat d's but need welding etc. I would say that you should do the
normal checks on the car. The fact that it is advertised as Cat D means that at least they are been honest. I would ask them to show you what has been
done. Look for poor paint, poor filler and check under the boot carpet and good look around the engine bay especially chassis legs.
There is less risk in buying that than buying a straight one from a private buyer that then turns out to have been bent. At least it's half
price.
Steve
Cat D means that the cost of the repairs were less than the market value of the vehicle but it was written off for other reasons - maybe car hire
costs etc. Cat C means that the repairs cost more than the value of the car, but that the car was repairable.
Means the damage which would create a Cat D on a newish car would maybe make it a Cat C in later life.
Can't be bothered to buy it, so here it is for all to see....
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190061424568
I think thats a bargain.
andyps is spot on..
Cat D as stated is the repair costs were less than the value of the car, but when the salvage value (or hire car costs) of the car is added to the
repair costs, the repair is deemed uneconimic. A repair may also be 'bridged' where the repairs would be considered a bad idea (I recently
has a car in that needed a big repair on the quarter, but the head gasket was blown, unbeknown to the owner - safer to kill it as the owner may try
and blame the repairer for the mechanical failure).
look at the feedback,car has been sold once already
quote:
Originally posted by theconrodkid
look at the feedback,car has been sold once already