Not a great day

[nrick]

Started to think about buying a new car and a discovery decided that it would try to mount mine by reversing into it. Needs a bit of paint but the question is

Should I just do what is needed - Car is a cat c that I bought to race/track and do up. That was 5 years ago and I haven't done any of it
Or should I see it as a sign from above and respray the whole car nightfire, the repair was ok but not great and they didn't get the Rosso Pearl right.

Is it worth putting money into a Cat C car?

[so roll me further bitch]

Paint it night fire red like mine

[gruffalo]

Cat C is only a financial write off.

I never have understood the stigma of a Cat C car. If the repair is done well the car can be made better than new and it should be priced on its condition not its history.

So i would say if you can repair the car to good as new and enjoy it.

Edited by gruffalo on Saturday 4th July 09:20

[Walford]

Cat C or D is a joke on speed six cars, basically, anything that doesent start after the fender bender is cat D

[nrick]

Never really bothered me that it was a Cat C, had the car for 5 years and has only needed a clutch. I have always known it needs a respray as they didn't do it right when they repaired it. I am thinking nightfire red as the closest to Rosso Pearl. The question is do I bother or use it as is?

[topcat1]

Have you got to pay for the repair then- surely the Disco owner has to pay??

[nrick]

Yep, no problem for the repair, but if it is having the service bonnet repainted, I'd have the stonechips done, and then you need to blend the wings and then you are half way to painting the car? So he'll take the repair off the price of the respray and it would be done properly ......

[topcat1]

Cool, if you find a decent body shop that the owner or insurance company is happy to use you may be able to get a good price on a full respray like you said, definitely a good time to try at least.

[matt-man]

I've never understood the stigma cat c,d carry, its totally unjustified and hyped by people who have no idea. Same reason people say tvrs are unreliable, absolute rubbish as long as they are looked after like they need to be. They are bullet proof in comparison to Italian products!

Back to the thread, I would definitely take that opportunity with both hands!

[Speed 3]

I do understand the nervousness in the general populus about these Cats. Unless you have very strong evidence of the remedial work you can't be sure all the potential damage has been rectified. Impact damage of any form can have latent effects that only come to light several months or years later. A guy that worked for me thought he had grabbed a bargain nearly new C class coupe after a "minor" front ender. Two years later he was regretting it severely with a voided Merc warranty when it needed a gearbox rebuild, various plumbing remedies and another respray to deal with rust spots.

Back to the same question for TVR's though, non-monocoque brings it's own issues. If the chassis is properly inspected and Geo'd it should be fine, bodywork is always going to be spectacular even in a a minor shunt, but its easily remediable. Sounds like the OP got it discounted in the first place to suit his needs but now the dilemma is how much more to sink in. For me it would depend on how much evidence there is of the original smash and who/how the rebuild was done. If a well respected TVR guru (trade or PH) gave a written opinion on it then I'd say spend the money and enjoy it for a little while longer.

[nrick]

My issues have got bigger as I have agreed to purchase a Mk3 Convertible, so do I ditch the mk1 or repair it up to a good standard and keep it hidden from the wife. I would have the time to renovate it to a high standard, or just sell it as I have an offer. Would I always regret it, the car has been really good and I have had it for 5 years.

What would a Mk1 fully sorted with a rebuild and fresh paint fetch as a Cat C? I would do a body off restoration on the chassis and sort any problems (only a few like LEDs in the indicators)

[J J]

The more you talk the more people will remember and will drag all this up if you come to sell in the future.

You have made the decision to by a new Tuscan make your own decision about the old one, only you can make this choice.

Sounds like your more afraid of the wife, maybe you should let her decide, whats more precious a car or your bol***ks ? ?

[nevm3]

My argument with cat markings is when you buy a car that has a c or d marker on it you know what your buying,what about all the non recorded write offs that have been bodged back together? Would you look for not so obvious signs of damage on non cat car? Cat marked cars should be judged on condition alone?

[Walford]

nevm3 said:

My argument with cat markings is when you buy a car that has a c or d marker on it you know what your buying,what about all the non recorded write offs that have been bodged back together? Would you look for not so obvious signs of damage on non cat car? Cat marked cars should be judged on condition alone?

A lot of the issues with cat cars in general do not apply to TVR,s

for example when a new normal car is built the steel panels are welded together, then the shell is coated with the corrosion resistants and then painted

if the car is repaired its almost imposable to reinstate this