Cat D Griff - would you touch one ?
Discussion
So I went to look at a rather smart 96 Griff last night and liked it. Up for 11995 on 25k miles. But, of course given the price, the catch is that it had water damage early in its life to the extent that it was a Cat D write off.
Initially I wasn't too bothered as the car seemed fine...but as the evening wore on I began to worry about it. What do you guys think ?
Initially I wasn't too bothered as the car seemed fine...but as the evening wore on I began to worry about it. What do you guys think ?
Water damage for a Cat D. I presume it must have been a flood victim at some point in its life???
I know a few Cat D owners who purchased following crashes, the TVR bodyshells being very expensive to repair so even a minor shunt can be enough to warrant a write off. The reapirs to theirs have bben carried out faultlessly and as long as you know exactly what was done and by whom I wouldn't be too worried as long as the price was right.
Flooded cars though can offer a whole host of other problems, quite often the electrics never fully dry out so unless al looms etc have been replaced I'd be very wary unless you want to risk electrical gremlins all the time.
I know a few Cat D owners who purchased following crashes, the TVR bodyshells being very expensive to repair so even a minor shunt can be enough to warrant a write off. The reapirs to theirs have bben carried out faultlessly and as long as you know exactly what was done and by whom I wouldn't be too worried as long as the price was right.
Flooded cars though can offer a whole host of other problems, quite often the electrics never fully dry out so unless al looms etc have been replaced I'd be very wary unless you want to risk electrical gremlins all the time.
I ran a Cat C Chim for a few years and it was great. The Cat listing got me into a much newer car than I could have otherwise justified - selling at the end is the only worry, you limit your market immediately as some people simply won't touch them, the others will want it cheap. You obviously balance this by paying the right price (i.e. low) when you buy and just having to do the same when you sell. I think the general rule seems to be it knocks off about a 3rd but obviously this is very general - always worth a cheeky offer 
If it's repaired right it should be as good as an equivalent non-cat D car. You suffer the 'stigma' of a cat D, which may be a problem come resale - as you are now discovering!! As mentioned, the market adjustment for this is in the price. Thing is, there are a fair few 500s at that price, and '96 is only 2 or 3 years into 500 production. It's not a 'late' car.
If you plan to hold on to it for years, then cat D may matter less.
If you're planning on a quick sale after the summer, or putting a lot of time money and effort into a full on restoration, you might be better off with a 'clean' car.
On the water damage thing, to write the car off it may have ingested water into the engine necessitating a rebuild - not necessarily electrical problems. If it was electrical and it was a few years ago I wouldn't worry too much about problems resurfacing. If you're particularly keen for reasons of colour/condition/whatever, try and look into the repairs or who did them.
And if you buy it, come over to the Griffith forum!
If you plan to hold on to it for years, then cat D may matter less.
If you're planning on a quick sale after the summer, or putting a lot of time money and effort into a full on restoration, you might be better off with a 'clean' car.
On the water damage thing, to write the car off it may have ingested water into the engine necessitating a rebuild - not necessarily electrical problems. If it was electrical and it was a few years ago I wouldn't worry too much about problems resurfacing. If you're particularly keen for reasons of colour/condition/whatever, try and look into the repairs or who did them.
And if you buy it, come over to the Griffith forum!
I certainly will come over to the forum. Hope it's not too long. Many thanks everyone. I'm a bit nervous of going for it to be honest. Because of the resale issue. Never easy even with a cracking example.
The poor guy who traded it in didn't have a clue it was Cat D even though he'd done an HPI report. When he went back to them with a complaint they claim it's not their fault as he only supplied the Reg ! A bit tough I think. The dealer checked using the chassis number as well with Experion...and it came up as Cat D. A good lesson to us all I think.
Think I'll wait for a clean one. If anyone knows of a good one up to 12,500k do let me know !
Cheers all
The poor guy who traded it in didn't have a clue it was Cat D even though he'd done an HPI report. When he went back to them with a complaint they claim it's not their fault as he only supplied the Reg ! A bit tough I think. The dealer checked using the chassis number as well with Experion...and it came up as Cat D. A good lesson to us all I think.
Think I'll wait for a clean one. If anyone knows of a good one up to 12,500k do let me know !
Cheers all
JAPES said:
a rather smart 96 Griff ... it had water damage early in its life
Given that its 10 years old, where exactly does that put "early"?
I mean, if its been running fine for, say, 8 years I wouldn't be too worried about damp-related problems suddenly rearing their ugly head now!
TVRs, Louts and other GRP cars are notorious for beoming write offs very eaisely especially now as the prices and value of them are dropping. As it was said above, if the damage occurred after 2 years and the car has been running for 8 then it's fine. Personally if a car was CAT D or C it wouldn't put me off, I would be a little cautious and want to see reports and check the work myself but it can be a great way to get a good car at a cheaper price. I have seen some cars that were clean on the HPI but on closer inspection very obvious that they had suffered pretty bad damage which hadn't been declared.
IMHO you're always better off with a private sale. But if you're looking at trading it in before you've bought it you need to look at whether youreally want a car, and how badly? Are you willing to part with more cash? Most TVRs have had a repair here and there, many owners have had a knock and been greeted with the sight of filler. Have the car checked out thouroughly, have a drive. Check all the electrics. If it all checks out then I can't see any reason why not. Obviously if you buy it cheap, then it will have a knock on when/if you come to sell it. But what are you buying the car for? Driving it and enjoyment or investment for the future? (As an investment cars suck.)
You're right about reasons for buying it. It's as a second/fun/ocasional commute/dream car. Got to exorcise the Griff demon I've had living with me since I saw my first one in '92 parked outside HHC in Leeds(RIP). Cherry Pearl and magnolia. I thought it was the most beautiful car I had ever seen.
I've had to reduce the amount I can put into a Griff...weddings, extensions, the usual. Just spoken to Offord and they would take one as part ex. Just wouldn't 'jump at it'.
It will be RAC checked and 6 month warrantied ( not woth much I know but at least it's something...).
I've had to reduce the amount I can put into a Griff...weddings, extensions, the usual. Just spoken to Offord and they would take one as part ex. Just wouldn't 'jump at it'.
It will be RAC checked and 6 month warrantied ( not woth much I know but at least it's something...).
I am repairing mine which was I think cat C . Although it had a lot of damage it is usually the massive labour costs involved that tip it over the edge into a cat D or C. Many cars have had accidents that had repair costs of 20K+ when the cars were nearly new, these would not be listed. As the value of the Griffs decrease a 10K accident would "write off" a Griff worth 15K. Using this logic a Griff on C or D could be as good a buy as an unlisted car that has been involved in a major accident earlier in its life. Happy hunting, John.
Quinny said:
Mine was involved in a major accident early in its life and late in its life
They're just cars made from parts, you get more parts and bolt em back together
They're just cars made from parts, you get more parts and bolt em back together
Having seen your car before and after its second accident, I'd say it was better now than it was before. If yours was for sale, I for one would not hesitate to buy it, and I'm sure there are a few on here that would agree with me.
[quote=JAPES
Think I'll wait for a clean one. If anyone knows of a good one up to 12,500k do let me know !
Cheers all[/quote]
As if by magic:
www.pistonheads.com/sales/83545.htm
Think I'll wait for a clean one. If anyone knows of a good one up to 12,500k do let me know !
Cheers all[/quote]
As if by magic:
www.pistonheads.com/sales/83545.htm
I'm concerned that the guy who traded it in didn't know it was a Cat D( at least that's what the dealer says ! ). The person he bought it if off must have been in the dark as well...or did he lie about it. Did the person he bought it off not know either ? How far back does it go...and if it's been passed aound as a sound example for years, who lied in the first place ?
Hmmmm
Hmmmm
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