Cat D cars

smudge_don

smudge_don

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Would you buy one?

Cat D is apparently one that has been written off but fully repaired, checked, and put back onto the road.

What are people's thoughts on them? My Corsa was a Cat D and i never had any problems with it...
 
Depend on the type of car. If it's just a billy basic run about car then I would probably say yes, but something a little special I wouldn't bother I think.

Do the repairs come with any sort of warranty?
 
6 month warranty as standard with the option to extend it for 6 months up to 3 years
 
I've had 3 in the past, never had a problem with any of them. Only thing is, if your a perefectionist, you will notice slight differences in panel fitment/paint etc which could be annoying. The 3 I had were all repaired to a high standard and I would suggest checking if the damage marrys up to the replaced panels. Most sellers lie about the true extent of the damage. There are so many cars on ebay "Cat D but only needed headlight and wing" Most of the time thats rubbish and all sorts of bits have been replaced. I looked at a Cat D Lupo once that only had the front bumper replaced, when I got there it had a full respray and the rear tailgate was red underneath the silver paint! Looked like it had a front and rear but he forgot to tell me!

I wouldnt touch a cat C though, they have normally been involved in something nasty!
 
Cheers Lee, i suppose each one is different! Just gotta make sure you have a good old snoot around the car to make sure things are OK i guess
 
Ask them to get it inspoected and get it on a condition alert - that way you know its been inspected and repaired to a good standard! the inspection costs around £200 ans is very thorough and that way, you know the car will be right.
 
kaz219 said:
Ask them to get it inspoected and get it on a condition alert - that way you know its been inspected and repaired to a good standard! the inspection costs around £200 ans is very thorough and that way, you know the car will be right.
Click to expand...

Is that where you get the RAC/AA to do a full check over the vehicle?
 
smudge_don said:
Is that where you get the RAC/AA to do a full check over the vehicle?
Click to expand...

No, its some guys from the DVLA check it.

" If it is on the \'VCAR\' register, the thing to do is to have the quality of the rebuild checked by Autolign (01604 859424) or Popplewells Alignment (01992 561571). This costs around £200, and if the car passes, you can then apply to have the car taken off the VCAR register and put onto the \'repaired\' register. This is what a responsible dealer would do. If you put the car through an auction you will have to fill in a box stating whether or not the car is on the VCAR register, the auctioneer will read this out at the time of sale and the bidding will allow for it. "

Im sure companys local to you will do it but i seen oit on that wrecks to riches with that pug 106 which was a cat c or d, they put it on a condition alert which means its had some work done but its sound as they've checked everything!
 
So what do you recommend Kaz? I do the research myself and get it sorted or ask the dealer to do it?
 
Cat C can still just be an acumalation of damage that costs more than the value of the car. I would deffo check first. Our A3 was Cat C, not because it had a bad smash as such it was just a lot of panels were marked and therfore "needed" replacing.

If the price is right, it's worth looking whichever IMHO
 
smudge_don said:
So what do you recommend Kaz? I do the research myself and get it sorted or ask the dealer to do it?
Click to expand...

I stay away from Cat C or Ds but thats just me but if i were to buy one, Id have to know what the damage was before hand nd providing there is proof there was just panel damage, Id buy it on a CAT D or even CAT C depending upon the cars value - for the A3 wouldnt go over a CAT D as CAT C would have been extensive damage but bangers get CAT C'd all the time as a mate found out in a calvalier which he scraped the corner on and it just needed a bumper and spray.

But, if it seems to have more than panel damage, id have to have it inspected as my mate had a sierra which had a bent chassis and always use to eat tyres and "crab" when driving.

Its only £200ish and it could save you buying a badly repaired shed...You have to consider the safety aspect of it too as i wouldn't let a loved one in a car i werent too sure about.
 
kaz219 said:
I stay away from Cat C or Ds but thats just me but if i were to buy one, Id have to know what the damage was before hand nd providing there is proof there was just panel damage, Id buy it on a CAT D or even CAT C depending upon the cars value - for the A3 wouldnt go over a CAT D as CAT C would have been extensive damage but bangers get CAT C'd all the time as a mate found out in a calvalier which he scraped the corner on and it just needed a bumper and spray.

But, if it seems to have more than panel damage, id have to have it inspected as my mate had a sierra which had a bent chassis and always use to eat tyres and "crab" when driving.

Its only £200ish and it could save you buying a badly repaired shed...You have to consider the safety aspect of it too as i wouldn't let a loved one in a car i werent too sure about.
Click to expand...

Yeah i understand what you're saying about the safety issue, that's my main worry to be honest!

How do you go about getting it inspected? Or do i ask the dealer to do it and just pay the extra £200?
 
I got the RAC to inspect a motor I nearly bought (not a Cat D though). Glad I did as it saved me from what would only of been a world of pain.

Worth doing on any car you're looking to buy IMO.
 
My father bought a sierra in the late 80's which he didn't know was a damage repaired, for gods sake get as many checks done on the car as possible as i had an accident in the sierra and had serious back injurys that took years to mend, Basicaly the car was twisted and it just broke away on a wet corner taking a front wing off with a lamppost, But the main problem was the telegraph pole next to the lamppost that put the engine through the dashboard!

Funny thing was i was only 18 and was on my way back from Manchester Airport, I had to wait two weeks to tell my father that his car was a complete rightoff! (again)







:think:
 
The biggest problem with Cat C/D`s is that most people think they are worth much more than they really are.

Insurance companies will only pay around 60% of market value for a written off car that has already been written of and paid out on as a `total loss`. So if its cheap enough and its been repaired properly then then a Cat D car may not be as bad and idea as it sounds.

Good luck.

Paul
 
I've owned 3 of the same model and year civics (don't ask why!) out of all three, the best by far was the cat d.

That doesn't mean all cat d's will be better, but like anything, it all depends on how it's been looked after previously.
 
As already said get the car checked properly and if its been repaired to a high standard buy it. Kaz and Lee both gave you good information sellers will lie whats been damaged and been replaced. And i'd 100% get the car inspected.
 
If your buying a cat c-d like mentioned check what the accident damage was in the first place or the story behind it,as for people wanting too much for them that depends because it should work out equal in the long run ie: the car is cheaper in the first place,dont insure it to top value so insurance should be as much with some companies,plus also if there a honest seller they normally tell people and the price should suit its the people who dont tell then try to sell them at top mark when its got a history thats an issue,all a lot of cars need now days to get wrote off is airbags deployed damage and paint work so with labour rates etc on the top the car cops it also same with engine damage where any average joe would buy a second hand engine the insurance wont then there is labour for swapping everything over and how long that process takes because they all have times to work to
 
Why you wanting to buy a different one sumudge, different engine?
 
It is important to get a good deal when buying a Cat D as you will probably get considerably less for the car when you come to sell it (the buyer will have the same questions as you have now).

It is amazing how many sellers try to sell Cat C/D cars without declaring them. When I was looking to buy, the first 4 cars I HPI checked had been written off (2 of them twice!) - so I suppose if you get a seller that states from the outset the car is a Cat C/D they could well be genuine.
 
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