Advice on buying a car?

[Jake91]

Hi,

Firstly it's great to join piston heads - this is my first post so please go easy

I'm looking at buying a car this coming weekend. I went to view it last Saturday. The car is a 2005 Mk2 MG ZR 1.4. The car is immaculate, 4 new party worn tyres just been put on and it's been out through an MOT.

However, and it is a big however, it's had 6 owners and It's a cat C write off.

Now I've heard mixed reviews back on this - some people are telling me not to touch it with a barge pole and others are saying it's fine.

The car was written off on the basis that it's repair cost would be more than the original claimed value of the car. I checked it's history it was written off on 2011 and repaired and put back on the road in 2012. The current owner has said he has owned the car for the past year and a half. The V5 states it has been VIC checked and generally seems to be legal and in check.

I'm torn - any advice?

Thanks

[Howard-]

MG ZR, part-worn tyres deliberately fitted, and an insurance writeoff.

Unless it's about £200, I can't think of anything worse!

Avoid like the plague.

[Pebbles167]

Go elsewhere. MG's can be had for peanuts. Even the quick ones, so why bother with this example?

EDIT: As the previous poster said, why would you want an MG ZR 1.4 anyway. Is insurance an issue for you?

[wemorgan]

What's so good about this Cat-C car that you can't find in a non-Cat C/D car?
I hope it's very cheap, because if you ever want to sell it, it will have to be cheap.
Cat-C + MG = undesirable. IMHO

[conkerman]

Hi and welcome.

Depends on the following.

1, Is it really, really cheap?

2, Are you savvy enough to spot a bodged repair?

The fact that a set of part worns is ringing alarm bells, as you can't really assess the wear patterns on the tyres properly.

I'm going for avoid unless its so cheap that you can afford to throw away. Rovers are dirt cheap anyway.

[mnkiboy]

a) These cars are not that expensive at that age are they? How much money are you saving by buying a cat C? A couple of hundred at most, I would guess. Doesn't seem worth the gamble, when you could pick up a non-crash repaired one.

b) What are new part worn tyres? They're either new, or part worn. Say's something about the seller that they weren't willing to put decent tyres on the car. What else have they scrimped on?

Unless it's an utter bargain, I probably wouldn't touch a cat C.

[Ali Chappussy]

Hi Jake

Welcome to PH.

My advice, for what it's worth, is avoid it like the plague!!

[bga]

Unless is it much cheaper than similar then I would look elsewhere. Any future buyer will have the same concerns as you.

If they fitted part-worn's then there is a good chance they have scrimped on maintenance (I am only judging by my own standards when I used to fit part-worn tyres).

[amusingduck]

Jake91 said:

4 new party worn tyres

Jake91 said:

6 owners

Jake91 said:

cat C write off

Why bother?

[Jake91]

I guess I never looked at the tyres in that light before.

As for repair I had a decent look under the car there doesn't seem to be any damage so far as I can see at all, inside the car is immaculate and he has the certificates for the past three MOTs. All of it just seems to indicate that it's been well looked after. Plus the VIC and MOT surely give it some merit as to the fact it's road worthy?

Insurance is a problem in the respect that I'm a first time driver so a 1.4 is my limit really.

As for price it's tagged at a grand.

I drove the car, seems to be fine too.

I mean in not going to sit here and argue with everyone at all it seems that the verdict is not to touch it. I just don't seem to et why of it's had an MOT and a VIC is still not a worthwhile purchase?

Thanks.

[Pebbles167]

Get a Golf MK 4 1.4. Much more sensible buy.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

Or perhaps a Leon?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

Loads more options to be had for under £1k. Insurance will be cheap too.

Jake91 said:

I just don't seem to et why of it's had an MOT and a VIC is still not a worthwhile purchase?

Just because its declared "safe" and "fixed" doesn't mean its as good as new. There is a good chance it will never feel right again, rust could set in where the damage was, body panels could not be genuine and perish, future buyers will be put off etc.. Loads of reasons.

Without trying to be patronising, its obvious you are new to motoring.

Edited by Pebbles167 on Thursday 24th April 12:15

Edited by Pebbles167 on Thursday 24th April 12:17

[750turbo]

Jake91 said:

H......

I'm torn - any advice?

Thanks

Oh yes, BEWARE

http://sniffpetrol.com/2014/04/10/more-ask-a-total...

[BorkFactor]

For £1k you will easily find a much better one, not worth the hassle IMO.

It may well be fine, but it is not cheap enough to warrant taking a punt.

[roystinho]

If you get an actual response saying that it seems like a good idea I'd be very surprised. Because it's not. Avoid avoid avoid.

[SMcP114]

A 12 year old MG ZR would be written off in a strong gust of wind so it's unlikely it will have sustained significant damage at that age. Parts aren't expensive either.

A VIC is only an identity check and is irrelevant to the condition of the car.

Personally part worn tyres don't bother me. If you like the car and it comes in under a grand, buy it.

[hotchy]

I remember my pal got a mg zr 1.4 for his first car, sold it a week later as he never checked insurance was 5k. Remember to check your insurance before buying.

[jamieduff1981]

Pebbles167 said:

Jake91 said:

I guess I never looked at the tyres in that light before.

As for repair I had a decent look under the car there doesn't seem to be any damage so far as I can see at all, inside the car is immaculate and he has the certificates for the past three MOTs. All of it just seems to indicate that it's been well looked after. Plus the VIC and MOT surely give it some merit as to the fact it's road worthy?

Insurance is a problem in the respect that I'm a first time driver so a 1.4 is my limit really.

As for price it's tagged at a grand.

I drove the car, seems to be fine too.

I mean in not going to sit here and argue with everyone at all it seems that the verdict is not to touch it. I just don't seem to et why of it's had an MOT and a VIC is still not a worthwhile purchase?

Thanks.

Get a Golf MK 4 1.4. Much more sensible buy.

Except ZRs are good fun to drive and Mk4 Golfs are anything but.

That said, if the part worns are premium brands and you can establish what the Cat C damage actually was and it's overall in good condition it may seem like a nice car. A grand is still steep for a ZR105 though. In your position, I'd want to know what the damage actually was. It doesn't take much to achieve Cat C status on cars so low valued as ZRs.

Fun cars. The ZR160 is obviously better. It's a gamble and you'd best know what you're doing. Is it even a 105+ or just a boggo free-insurance-for-over21s ZR105?

[C.A.R.]

Run a mile.

[wemorgan]

I feel I'm going to really enjoy this thread.

[Jake91]

hotchy said:

I remember my pal got a mg zr 1.4 for his first car, sold it a week later as he never checked insurance was 5k. Remember to check your insurance before buying.

Insurance is 1800 for the year - Not bad for a first time driver.