cat C damage, is the dealer pulling my leg.

[koolchris99]

called up a garage about a 1.9 tdi, seat ibiza, tidy 70k on the clock.

The garage was a body shop so i presume it had some damage on it, which the dealer said it did. CAT C

now he said it had damage to the roof from someone jumping on it, (i.e. no mechanical damamge)

is this what they all say?

Cheers

Chris

Edited by koolchris99 on Tuesday 25th October 16:40

[IrrElephant]

I shouldn't think so. If he wanted to lie, surely he'd just say it had a small scuff on the front bumper??

[mobile chicane22]

Pre and as the repair was done pics if not walk away unless the price is very good

[koolchris99]

no pics pre the repair,

It has a CAT C marker, i just cant see roof damamge being more than the 2000 for the car to trigger an insurance write off.

[daz3210]

On the register is it not recorded what the damage was?

Or ask for previous keeper details and contact them and ask them if you can.

[Cupramax]

Hardly a rare car, any doubt just walk...

[mobile chicane22]

no pics thats rare with most bodyshops today sepecialy as digi cameras are buttons

[5lab]

ask for the details of the last owner to ring him up and ask?

A smashed windscreen (£500), new roof panel (dunno, £500?) welding into place (£500) and painting (£1000) and I could see how the value got that high?

[koolchris99]

5lab said:

ask for the details of the last owner to ring him up and ask?

A smashed windscreen (£500), new roof panel (dunno, £500?) welding into place (£500) and painting (£1000) and I could see how the value got that high?

good idea. its a good price, 20% discount to what the others are trading at. and resale not a problem as am going to run it into the ground.

[Chris71]

koolchris99 said:

5lab said:

ask for the details of the last owner to ring him up and ask?

A smashed windscreen (£500), new roof panel (dunno, £500?) welding into place (£500) and painting (£1000) and I could see how the value got that high?

good idea. its a good price, 20% discount to what the others are trading at. and resale not a problem as am going to run it into the ground.

I thought the going rate for a Cat C was rather less than 80% of normal price? I'd always had it down as more like 50 or 60.

I've bought a couple of Cat Ds in the past (one unknowingly) but I'd agree with the comments above; unless it's a very rare car or a conspicuously good deal with a record of the work that was done I'd walk away. There are too many unmolested Seats out there to take a punt on a repaired example unless there are some serious incentives to do so.

[koolchris99]

sorry, its 2500, next cheapest similar car is 4000. so 60% ish..

[Deva Link]

koolchris99 said:

no pics pre the repair,

It has a CAT C marker, i just cant see roof damamge being more than the 2000 for the car to trigger an insurance write off.

is the car for sale for £2K?

I thought they wrote cars off once the repair bill was more than 50%?

How are they going to repair it anyway, new roof panel (surely not) or just pop the dents out (will probably look terrible)?

[koolchris99]

might as well go and look at it, be very detailed with my inspection and no loss if its a dog.

[Dog Star]

I can easily see a roof panel going to 2000, and then some.

Don't forget there's all the labour relating to head lining etc. Definitely an expensive repair.

[koolchris99]

I'm not fussed about the cosmetics, it's going to be used as a countryside work horse and will be covered in mud and hedge row scratches in no time. and never ever washed

I'm worried about the mechanical aspect.

[woody2846]

If the dealer is being honest I can't see any reason why they wouldn't give you the previous owners address. You would get it on the log book anyway if you decided to purchase the car. Have they got any internal invoices or bills to back up what they are saying?

[tr7v8]

Dog Star said:

I can easily see a roof panel going to 2000, and then some.

Don't forget there's all the labour relating to head lining etc. Definitely an expensive repair.

Easily 2k + I parked my company Astra under the A329M link road stairs years ago & the bill for that was £1600 and they popped the car out & drove it back to the garage. Cosmetically to do the repair properly is very difficult as well, big smooth area, easily seen makes it hard to make invisible.

[koolchris99]

they have the internal invoices to back up their story yes

VAG 1.9 should have cam belt at 60k I presume?

[sebhaque]

Isn't Cat C also stolen/recovered? May have been written off for that but had very minimal, easily repairable damage?

Just throwing it out there, I'm probably wrong.

[Chris71]

koolchris99 said:

I'm not fussed about the cosmetics, it's going to be used as a countryside work horse and will be covered in mud and hedge row scratches in no time. and never ever washed

I'm worried about the mechanical aspect.

The problem isn't that (IMHO). It comes if you ever want to sell the car on.

You're clearly open minded to a recovered write-off, but not everyone is. That's fine if you're utterly convinced it will finish its days with you, but bear in mind that cars take a big hit in value if they're ex-register and morally (if not legally?) you should declare it to any future owners.

Edited by Chris71 on Tuesday 25th October 17:39