CAT D

[pipston]

hi,

thinking of buying a CAT D car...the guy on the phone said it has had its front bumper replaced, so only very light damage. is there any way to check this is true prior to purchasing?

ive read online cars being registered CAT D for a damaged headlight - so if thats the case it wouldnt bother me in the slightest! structural damage is another thing hence i am inclined to check thoroughly before parting with my hard earned for a lemon...

any help appreciated thanks

[skard]

If it was serious enough to get a CAT D then be wary, I say.
Personal opinion on damage is subjective and often underestimted, especially when selling a car.

If there are no before and after pictures of the damage/repair then beware. Remember being CAT D should make it substantially cheaper, and also that works against you when you sell it on.

[dan930]

+2 on this...ask for pics of the damage...there must be a reason why it's cat D...not just a damaged bumper...

[pipston]

looks like ill be walking away from that one then! thanks guys.

[garrardrj]

Cat D means that the insurance company has deemed it to be beyond economical repair , each insurer has slightly different rules and also is effected by what sort of car it is and what market there is for the damaged car . As i have said on here and other forums many times , CAT D is ok if you do your homework . If you intend to keep the car for 5/6 years plus i would think it would be ok to buy a CAT D if the price was right . CAT D cars will also have an adverse effect on your insurance , it may well increase the premium and also makes any claim thereafter difficult . Several insurers will not quote on them either . A CAT D is worth around 75% max of a cars value if it hadn't been CAT D . Also CAT C and D's are quite often sold as such when infact they are cloned stolen cars to the CAT C/D's identity , a good cloned car you will never identify it as such , unless you have many years  experience.

Now that the costs of repairs are ever increasing there will be more and more Cat D's about and the best was to buy a CAT D is to buy the wreck yourself and do it up yourself , done that a few times 

[MC71]

IMO, walk away (quickly). It's ok if your buying a cheap sh*tter for 6 months but don't go spending real money on one.

This one "may" be a great car with hardly any damage (apart from some cosmetic bits) BUT one day your going to warn to sell it and you'll either have to wait ages to Beatrix of it or you'll get next to nothing for it as no one will want it.

 

[aarondsg]

Can be a hit and miss
Some cars can be worst than others
My mate has a insurance company offer him a payout for his car and give it back to him instead of repairing it and that was categorised and wasn't bad damage at all
Then my mates 335i got wrapped around a lamp post and was bent once repaired didn't line up and was only cat d!

[dan930]

IMO, walk away (quickly). It's ok if your buying a cheap sh*tter for 6 months but don't go spending real money on one.

This one "may" be a great car with hardly any damage (apart from some cosmetic bits) BUT one day your going to warn to sell it and you'll either have to wait ages to Beatrix of it or you'll get next to nothing for it as no one will want it.

 

If you do decide to buy it,factor in when it comes to sell the car..u b getting peanuts for it mate