Tuscan been CAT C'd early in it's life - run a mile?
Discussion
Hi folks,
I'm looking at a Tuscan for sale at the moment with rather high mileage and complete gaps in early service history.
I'm not normally put off by either as I intend for the car to be extensively upgraded whilst in my tenure, engine rebuild/upgrades etc. and probably end up as a track car first & foremost. The price does seem to reflect the mileage but seems visually (from photos) at least to be in decent enough shape.
However what's got my goat is after a bit of digging via a HPI check it turns out the car was a Cat C a mere 3 months after being registered. This isn't mentioned in the advert (a bit naughty if you ask me!) but I'd never buy a car without HPI'ing it first anyway.
My question is what kind of accident would likely require a Cat C write off so early in a car's life - is it likely to have been utterly totaled and barely recogniseable as the car it once was, or could it possibly have been a case of the insurers not really knowing what to do with a car so bespoke and so new relatively early on? mid 2001 would have been the accident so still a fairly new model at that time.
I'll be going into this with eyes open (or just walking away entirely) but I wondered if anyone had experience of these cars being written off for fairly minor (relatively speaking) accidents when repairs could have been easily sorted.
Also is there any massive difference between cat C and cat D or are they used fairly interchangeably? I've seen Cat C's with barely any damage and Cat D's that were in pretty bad shape, but I have seen nothing of the TVR calibre to compare and contrast with.
Any help extremely welcome, thanks very much.
I'm looking at a Tuscan for sale at the moment with rather high mileage and complete gaps in early service history.
I'm not normally put off by either as I intend for the car to be extensively upgraded whilst in my tenure, engine rebuild/upgrades etc. and probably end up as a track car first & foremost. The price does seem to reflect the mileage but seems visually (from photos) at least to be in decent enough shape.
However what's got my goat is after a bit of digging via a HPI check it turns out the car was a Cat C a mere 3 months after being registered. This isn't mentioned in the advert (a bit naughty if you ask me!) but I'd never buy a car without HPI'ing it first anyway.
My question is what kind of accident would likely require a Cat C write off so early in a car's life - is it likely to have been utterly totaled and barely recogniseable as the car it once was, or could it possibly have been a case of the insurers not really knowing what to do with a car so bespoke and so new relatively early on? mid 2001 would have been the accident so still a fairly new model at that time.
I'll be going into this with eyes open (or just walking away entirely) but I wondered if anyone had experience of these cars being written off for fairly minor (relatively speaking) accidents when repairs could have been easily sorted.
Also is there any massive difference between cat C and cat D or are they used fairly interchangeably? I've seen Cat C's with barely any damage and Cat D's that were in pretty bad shape, but I have seen nothing of the TVR calibre to compare and contrast with.
Any help extremely welcome, thanks very much.
One of the reasons it may have been Cat C, is not just the damage to the car, but the "total" cost of getting it back on the road
Imagine, you've just bought a new Tuscan, 3 months into ownership some numpty runs into the back of it..... TVR dealer says 3 months to repair, not unusual with these cars...
Owner says I'm not driving a corsa for 3 months, I want an equivalent replacement........
Insurance co do the sums, and it's cheaper to write it off pay out the owner and sell the salvage....
Imagine, you've just bought a new Tuscan, 3 months into ownership some numpty runs into the back of it..... TVR dealer says 3 months to repair, not unusual with these cars...
Owner says I'm not driving a corsa for 3 months, I want an equivalent replacement........
Insurance co do the sums, and it's cheaper to write it off pay out the owner and sell the salvage....
Back at the time of damage many TVRs were written off, insurers had little or no ability to get reliable quotes or companies able to offer repair.
So a car with body only damage could easily be classed as a write off, your talking pre insurance price hikes and recession, so companies more relaxed over claims.
With the information you have quoted and to how you intend taking any car forward, if the price is low enough personally get it checked, looked over on a ramp for chassis damage, if all seems honest don't see an issue with an historical Cat label !
So a car with body only damage could easily be classed as a write off, your talking pre insurance price hikes and recession, so companies more relaxed over claims.
With the information you have quoted and to how you intend taking any car forward, if the price is low enough personally get it checked, looked over on a ramp for chassis damage, if all seems honest don't see an issue with an historical Cat label !
Thanks guys, valid points there - I guess only way to know is to go and have a look, it's absolutely miles away so only really want to make the trip once if possible...
The AA will not arrange an inspection on my behalf as it has previously been a Cat C - odd, surely those are the cars most in need of inspection!
I'm not particularly well versed in checking for signs of chassis damage - other than obviously bent bits that shouldn't be bent, are there more subtle signs I should be looking for?
The AA will not arrange an inspection on my behalf as it has previously been a Cat C - odd, surely those are the cars most in need of inspection!
I'm not particularly well versed in checking for signs of chassis damage - other than obviously bent bits that shouldn't be bent, are there more subtle signs I should be looking for?
It is, and thanks for your input, reassuring!
The undeclared Cat C has got my back up a bit and I'm wary, but it's looking like it would be worth the trip to find out.
The price I thought was about right for a car with that mileage/lack of history, but I'm not sure how I feel about the value now I've found out it's on the register.
The undeclared Cat C has got my back up a bit and I'm wary, but it's looking like it would be worth the trip to find out.
The price I thought was about right for a car with that mileage/lack of history, but I'm not sure how I feel about the value now I've found out it's on the register.
The problem with that car at that money is, if the engine goes tits up say 1000 miles into ownership, you're then into (realistically) 7-8k on a rebuild and associated costs. Once you've done that you'll then have a car which has set you back around 20k and has been to The moon and back making it harder to move on.
If reasonable cars were 30k it might make sense, but you can go out and have your pick of numerous cars at 20k and they won't be a cat C. Again making it difficult to shift.
If reasonable cars were 30k it might make sense, but you can go out and have your pick of numerous cars at 20k and they won't be a cat C. Again making it difficult to shift.
As the current owner. I am genuinely surprised to find out my Tuscan is a cat C. It was not told to when I bought it and I never did a hpi check. I've had the car 4 years and it's been to 2 very well known TVR specialists and it's never been raised that the car has had an accident.
If I had know that it was a cat C I would have advertised it as such.
If I had know that it was a cat C I would have advertised it as such.
Hi TheFarmer,
Apologies if my previous posts cast you in a dim light - I'll admit I hadn't thought of the possibility of you not knowing yourself it was Cat C - I'm sure it was an honest mistake and sorry you had to find out this way. I wasn't intentionally mud slinging, more trying to find out what could have made a car be written off so young.
As the other posters have mentioned, entirely possible it wasn't a major thing. If the car drives well now that's really all that matters!
Did the sale go as planned or are you still in posession?
Apologies if my previous posts cast you in a dim light - I'll admit I hadn't thought of the possibility of you not knowing yourself it was Cat C - I'm sure it was an honest mistake and sorry you had to find out this way. I wasn't intentionally mud slinging, more trying to find out what could have made a car be written off so young.
As the other posters have mentioned, entirely possible it wasn't a major thing. If the car drives well now that's really all that matters!
Did the sale go as planned or are you still in posession?
For the avoidance of any doubt i know both the owner and the car,the owner has a quality of being honest and having strong moral principles and if he was aware of the Tuscan being a Cat C he would have mentioned it
I too am taken back to be told (today) the Tuscan is a Cat C,the owner comes out with us and has been doing so for the past 4 years and i am staggered to see how the Tuscan be on a Cat C it drives well,all the panels line up (tvr standard) no discrepancy in paint,the Tuscan has been to two different specialist who have not mentioned the car has beed damaged to an extent that it could be listed as a Cat C
The reason behind the sale is Andy has bought a Tamora from a pistonhead member and has no need for the Tuscan
Hope this helps
I too am taken back to be told (today) the Tuscan is a Cat C,the owner comes out with us and has been doing so for the past 4 years and i am staggered to see how the Tuscan be on a Cat C it drives well,all the panels line up (tvr standard) no discrepancy in paint,the Tuscan has been to two different specialist who have not mentioned the car has beed damaged to an extent that it could be listed as a Cat C
The reason behind the sale is Andy has bought a Tamora from a pistonhead member and has no need for the Tuscan
Hope this helps
All,
I did not take offence for any of the comments on this topic and to me they are all very fair as well as supportive.
It's a hell of a shock to find out it's a Cat C!!! The repair must be excellent because until about 2pm today I have had no knowledge of this fact. Like I say 2 very well known and respected TVR specialists have looked after my Tuscan and never raised this issue.
The sale is going ahead to a top bloke. The car is off to Toronto in Canada! Yes for real.
In the past 4 years it been a great car and I've done 28,500 miles. I regularly go out with a group for a Sunday blast and it will be missed.
I've got a Tamora to replace the Tuscan and so far it's brilliant!
Cheers Andrew
I did not take offence for any of the comments on this topic and to me they are all very fair as well as supportive.
It's a hell of a shock to find out it's a Cat C!!! The repair must be excellent because until about 2pm today I have had no knowledge of this fact. Like I say 2 very well known and respected TVR specialists have looked after my Tuscan and never raised this issue.
The sale is going ahead to a top bloke. The car is off to Toronto in Canada! Yes for real.
In the past 4 years it been a great car and I've done 28,500 miles. I regularly go out with a group for a Sunday blast and it will be missed.
I've got a Tamora to replace the Tuscan and so far it's brilliant!
Cheers Andrew
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