Bought a Cat-D - problems.

[Colvette]

Hey all,

Last week, I bought a Cat-D, which had been stolen and recovered, but had sustained some damage on the near-side rear of the car.

I checked this out, saw the repairs by pulling up the carpets in the boot etc, and was happy with what I saw. The car drives straight (even at excessive leptons) isn't wobbly, doesn't look like it's wearing tyres unevenly and there are no vibrations.

When I was parking the car the other day, though, I bumped up over a kerb to reach the parking space. This was at VERY low speed (sub 10mph), and I heard a creak (sounded like suspension - not especially concerning).

This morning, I've come out to the car and discovered 2 cracks in the paint around the repaired area (where the NS rear panel meets the roof mount, and slightly further down toward the rear light), and the wheel-arch trim has come away from near the back door.

Obviously I'm thinking the worst here. Does this sound like a twisted chassis, given that everything else is OK, or is it more likely to be just a shonky bit of body-repair and paintwork near the repaired area?

[triggerh4ppy]

Being a cat D I think it may be safe to assume the chassis has not been repaired so its most likely just a bad paint/body repair.

But either try find out the history of the repair or see if you can get your car on a ramp to have a proper look.

[kiethton]

Nobody can really say without seeing the car, what are the panel gaps like?

The creak may be something as simple as a slightly bent shock absorber and the cracks could be related to thick/poor filler and the recent sun etc.

[The Moose]

When was it repaired? Where was it repaired?

[Colvette]

The original repair was done in 2010, and the guy who I bought it from has owned it for the 3 years since. When I put him under pressure about it this morning, he said that he'd recently had that section repainted because there was some cracking which the paint shop said was 'because there was smoothed filler' there.

Movements in the body causing this kind of thing freak me out. If it's likely to be just a stty panel repair job, I'm happy with that, and I can sort it (or get the seller to sort it considering I paid for a repaired cat-d), but I'm just keen to ensure it's not because the car is as bent as a nine-bob note. It drives brilliantly, which is why I thought it was fine...

Oh yeah - panel gaps look all good to me. Was one of the first things I checked...

[kiethton]

Colvette said:

Oh yeah - panel gaps look all good to me. Was one of the first things I checked...

That's always the first port of call really, glad they check out.

How did you buy the car, garage/private seller? If the latter I'm surprised they're being so accommodating really

[Colvette]

Private seller. I was very clear that I was only buying the car if it was solid, and would come back if there was an issue in the near future. I'd call 4 days of ownership 'the near future'

I don't want to get rid of the car (I LOVE it!), but I'm keen to understand what's going on here. As I said, if it's just a stty repair, I know enough bodyshops to get that sorted out without too much of an issue.

[marting]

Colvette said:

Private seller. I was very clear that I was only buying the car if it was solid, and would come back if there was an issue in the near future. I'd call 4 days of ownership 'the near future'

Good luck with making any headway via the seller. Its a private sale, you don't have a leg to stand on unless its falsely advertised.

[HorneyMX5]

You need it looked at by a pro. See if you can get a local bodyshop to give it the once over.

[SMcP114]

Colvette said:

Private seller. I was very clear that I was only buying the car if it was solid, and would come back if there was an issue in the near future. I'd call 4 days of ownership 'the near future'

It would probably have been a better idea to make sure you were satisfied with the car before you bought it, as it's now your car. I have no idea why you think the previous owner should be sorting this for you, especially since you bought it knowing it had been damaged in the past.

[wolves_wanderer]

SMcP114 said:

Colvette said:

Private seller. I was very clear that I was only buying the car if it was solid, and would come back if there was an issue in the near future. I'd call 4 days of ownership 'the near future'

It would probably have been a better idea to make sure you were satisfied with the car before you bought it, as it's now your car. I have no idea why you think the previous owner should be sorting this for you, especially since you bought it knowing it had been damaged in the past.

Exactly. Buying privately you need to be sure you are absolutely happy before you buy otherwise, as we always advise people who have purchasers coming back, it isn't their problem any more.

[PompeyPaul]

marting said:

Good luck with making any headway via the seller. Its a private sale, you don't have a leg to stand on unless its falsely advertised.

This

[rallycross]

Colvette said:

Private seller. I was very clear that I was only buying the car if it was solid, and would come back if there was an issue in the near future. I'd call 4 days of ownership 'the near future'

I don't want to get rid of the car (I LOVE it!), but I'm keen to understand what's going on here. As I said, if it's just a stty repair, I know enough bodyshops to get that sorted out without too much of an issue.

This attitude really stinks, you buy a cat D privately but you think the previous owner will somehow be liable for future problems, get real FFS. Cat D cars are cheaper than non cat D cars for this exact reason, things are likely to not be as good as a non cat D, you bought it knowing its cat D, suck it up.

[gsr121]

This kind of reminds me of the recent/current Volkswagen advert where the guy opts to buy the cheaper parachute from the bargain bin...

Hope you get it sorted though, not a great position to be in. As others have suggested, really needs to be looked at by a bodyshop.

G.

[GreatPretender]

PompeyPaul said:

marting said:

Good luck with making any headway via the seller. Its a private sale, you don't have a leg to stand on unless its falsely advertised.

This

It surprises me, that in this day and age, some people still don't understand the concept of caveat emptor.

[Colvette]

Yup, I understand all that - I did before I bought it. This isn't really about who pays to fix it, it's more about what's wrong with the car...

I'm planning on keeping it for the duration (I've wanted one of these for years), but I need to get it to a point where this is possible as opposed to being broken.

[SMcP114]

Take it to a bodyshop. No one on a forum can diagnose it without seeing the car.

[Colvette]

rallycross said:

This attitude really stinks, you buy a cat D privately but you think the previous owner will somehow be liable for future problems, get real FFS. Cat D cars are cheaper than non cat D cars for this exact reason, things are likely to not be as good as a non cat D, you bought it knowing its cat D, suck it up.

Helpful. Read the point of the thread and stop being an ahole.

[iva cosworth]

What car is it ?

[Cupramax]

Colvette said:

Yup, I understand all that - I did before I bought it. This isn't really about who pays to fix it, it's more about what's wrong with the car...

You clearly dont or you wouldnt have said this

Colvette said:

Private seller. I was very clear that I was only buying the car if it was solid, and would come back if there was an issue in the near future. I'd call 4 days of ownership 'the near future'