Finance/Cat S

[Tomm3]

Hi, I've been looking for a new 2 seat convertible for the last few weeks after selling the Tvr.
I actually bought an 05 Boxster and had it booked in for a new Ims bearing etc but returned the car with no hassle after 10 days because of several issues.
I've now found 2 cars I like, one is Cat S but looks to have been repaired perfectly and the other car, couldn't believe it when the seller told me, has £6000 owing on finance.
Neither problem I feel is particularly daunting if handled properly, am I thinking straight? Would many people go for either situation?

[Earthdweller]

Buying cars that are on finance is no problem

You speak to the finance company .. Pay them the outstanding amount to clear and pay the balance to the seller

Cat S .. due diligence I’d certainly want to know what damage it had and how/where it was repaired .. and it would need to be 25% ( at least ) cheaper than a Non cat car for me

Don’t fall for the “ oh it was only a bumper” etc

[littlebasher]

Tomm3 said:

I've now found 2 cars I like, one is Cat S but looks to have been repaired perfectly

And herein lies the problem, i've seen plenty of Cat C and D's that looked fine, but beauty as they say, is only skin deep

Some right horror shows hidden behind bumpers and bolt on panels

[Tomm3]

Ok thanks, I'll be looking for lots of evidence on the repairs.

[Tomm3]

Hi I'm struggling to find any clarification on insurance companies charging extra for Cat S.
My current policy accepts the new reg in the online change quote and policy stays the same. Fair enough its the same car basically but I'd expect a prompt from the database?
Anyone here paid extra for a Cat S?

[SuperPav]

I don't think my insurance has ever asked whether a car was previously a write-off or not....

[TheAngryDog]

SuperPav said:

I don't think my insurance has ever asked whether a car was previously a write-off or not....

Mine do.

Cat S is structural isn't it? So could be bent chassis legs etc. Personal I'd give a Cat S car a very wide berth unless it was very cheap and the damage had been repaired spot on with photo's and measurements. Insurance companies do not like paying out twice on a car, so if you over pay for one, you could find that your pay out (should you need to claim) may be less than what you paid.

[nickv]

Insurers wont mention anything about your car unless you wanted to make a claim

Then they will devalue the vehicles value, in repairability costs and overall value

TBH you would think the policy should be cheaper than a car with no history as the payout value would be less

But they are happy to take you at full policy value ...........

Cat S can mean serious chassis damage or it can mean no more than a damaged sill or rear panel.

[Pupbelly]

littlebasher said:

And herein lies the problem, i've seen plenty of Cat C and D's that looked fine, but beauty as they say, is only skin deep

Some right horror shows hidden behind bumpers and bolt on panels

Agreed. With simple bolt on panels, and lots of plastics it is very easy to hide a multitude of sins. I would want to see the before photos ideally of what made the car a Cat S. Some look truly awful and are heavily mangled, others are not so bad. Still a risk though, and future valuations are always going to be met with a frown.

[rigga]

Out of the two choices you've stated, all things being equal, mileage, overall condition etc, I'd choose the finance version every time.

[mat205125]

littlebasher said:

Tomm3 said:

I've now found 2 cars I like, one is Cat S but looks to have been repaired perfectly

And herein lies the problem, i've seen plenty of Cat C and D's that looked fine, but beauty as they say, is only skin deep

Some right horror shows hidden behind bumpers and bolt on panels

This!

Getting a car to look cosmetically good, and even have good panel gaps, is a lot simpler and cheaper than replacing every clip, inner panel, loom piece and bracket that might have encountered some unplanned force.

I'd want it up on a ramp to have a good poke about to see what's straight and what's not before parting with any meaningful amount of cash .... if it's a £2k car for a bargain £1200 then just go for it!

[Tomm3]

Absolutely no qualms re condition/repair, it's immaculate.
I've actually given up on it now though, just too many unknowns, what will it be worth in 5yrs, is it on ins database yet etc. Tbh if I was a bit more knowledgeable about the Cat S thing, as in not getting caught with a big renewal next year, I'd just get the car and enjoy it. Nobody seems to have solid info on owning one.
The higher car tax smarts a bit too, but I'd live with that too.
I'll keep looking.......

[Trevor555]

Tomm3 said:

Absolutely no qualms re condition/repair, it's immaculate.
I've actually given up on it now though, just too many unknowns, what will it be worth in 5yrs, is it on ins database yet etc. Tbh if I was a bit more knowledgeable about the Cat S thing, as in not getting caught with a big renewal next year, I'd just get the car and enjoy it. Nobody seems to have solid info on owning one.
The higher car tax smarts a bit too, but I'd live with that too.
I'll keep looking.......

It might look immaculate.

But the real test is braking hard at 70mph to see if it's bent/straight.

[Tomm3]

Finally decided which to go for.....neither!
I was actually going for the Boxster Cat S, but there were just too many hurdles. The insurance was fine to change but nobody at the ins company could say how the renewal would go so I could have been faced with a drastic increase on a car that I couldn't resell. No-one has put an offer on it yet and it is probably the best Gen 1 Boxster out there so not an easy sell.
I'm having my new, to me, car delivered Sunday. Not even sat in it, I must like living dangerously, but am very excited. I've seen people on here do this and thought ok, bit dodgy, but I'm glad I have now.