viewed a 323 nearly parted with cash but then found out its a cat.d
Discussion
As title.says really, drove 60+ miles one way to view an old but unusual BMW 323 in a bronzy orange colour which is on eBay at the mo.
First impressions were good, little tlc needed but nothing too bad. Engine sounded sweet as a nut.
Long story short... Seller couldn't come up with the v5 so I said I'd leave it, he was pushing for a deposit reminding me what a bargain it is. I left without parting with any deposit, saying that I didn't want to do a deal without the v5.
I drove half a mile, stopped, and regretted what ihad done, so I thought I'd double check that the car was ok and go back to buy it. Chucked the no plate into hpi and in big red writing insurance write off.
But here is my burning question, I'm going to using it for motorsport events, as well as a daily hack mobile. Would it not be wise to get a cat d car as its cheaper and if all goes wrong then I've not lost any thing? Insurance isn't too expensive, its just resell factor the a paper work trail which is really effected...
Dunno kind of regretting not getting it. :-/
Am I mad or wise?
First impressions were good, little tlc needed but nothing too bad. Engine sounded sweet as a nut.
Long story short... Seller couldn't come up with the v5 so I said I'd leave it, he was pushing for a deposit reminding me what a bargain it is. I left without parting with any deposit, saying that I didn't want to do a deal without the v5.
I drove half a mile, stopped, and regretted what ihad done, so I thought I'd double check that the car was ok and go back to buy it. Chucked the no plate into hpi and in big red writing insurance write off.
But here is my burning question, I'm going to using it for motorsport events, as well as a daily hack mobile. Would it not be wise to get a cat d car as its cheaper and if all goes wrong then I've not lost any thing? Insurance isn't too expensive, its just resell factor the a paper work trail which is really effected...
Dunno kind of regretting not getting it. :-/
Am I mad or wise?
On a cheap car its not an issue...
The first viewing of my very first car turned out to be a cat C. Inspected car, test drove and all was well. Discussed price, as a very last second check I ran a text HPI and it came up cat C. I walked away as the car wasn't worth what he was asking now I knew it was a cat C, and it would have been very hard to sell on.
The guy was rich too, huge house, nice Merc on the drive and selling a 1.2 Punto that was a little over 3years old at the time.
The first viewing of my very first car turned out to be a cat C. Inspected car, test drove and all was well. Discussed price, as a very last second check I ran a text HPI and it came up cat C. I walked away as the car wasn't worth what he was asking now I knew it was a cat C, and it would have been very hard to sell on.
The guy was rich too, huge house, nice Merc on the drive and selling a 1.2 Punto that was a little over 3years old at the time.
Backtobasics said:
If he didn't tell you its cat d then I bet that's the tip of the iceberg. Plenty more out there.
Sounds daft but he genuinely might not know. If its going to be used properly and get some good abuse as a track hack. Phone him up, use it as a bargaining tool to try get some serious cash off. Use said cash for brakes, suspension, cage and bucket seat. And get it on track
I've owned a couple of Cat D cars. One I was aware of - a TVR S3 that was one of the best cars I've owned and that I'd buy back in a heartbeat. The other - a Peugeot 205 GTi - I didn't find out until after I'd bought it and that was a rather problematic car that I lost quite a bit of money on.
As mentioned above, the seller of this one might not know. And if not, that raises a question: Just how special is this particular example? If it's a rare 323 4x4 Turbo it might be worth pursuing for an adjusted price, but if it's just like any other 323 than I'd wait for one for the next fish in the sea.
Cheap cars (and sometimes even quite expensive ones) can be declared Cat D for ludicrously simple things. Sometimes you end up with a mechanically pristine car that's been resprayed for cosmetic damage and costs you 20 per cent less than a normal dog-eared example as a result!
As mentioned above, the seller of this one might not know. And if not, that raises a question: Just how special is this particular example? If it's a rare 323 4x4 Turbo it might be worth pursuing for an adjusted price, but if it's just like any other 323 than I'd wait for one for the next fish in the sea.
Cheap cars (and sometimes even quite expensive ones) can be declared Cat D for ludicrously simple things. Sometimes you end up with a mechanically pristine car that's been resprayed for cosmetic damage and costs you 20 per cent less than a normal dog-eared example as a result!
motorbreath said:
Hmm I really am starting to think twice now. I know its only a paper trail, I think it was only.the door which was damaged, so its not a massive problem.
I think ill sleep on it, if I can get another 300 quid off then I'd be quite pleased :-)
Thanks all for your advice :-)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1999-BMW-323I-BRONZE-NEW-MOT-/261114636719?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3ccba529afI think ill sleep on it, if I can get another 300 quid off then I'd be quite pleased :-)
Thanks all for your advice :-)
This one?
its not a very good deal!
you'd be better off buying a tidy one eg with high mileage and fsh there will be plenty out there within budget (these cars take the mileage very well).
eg
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1997-E36-BMW-323i-Coupe-...
you'd be better off buying a tidy one eg with high mileage and fsh there will be plenty out there within budget (these cars take the mileage very well).
eg
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1997-E36-BMW-323i-Coupe-...
If it's for wanging round a track does it matter? Different if you're spending 10k on something to ferry the family round in, but an old BM for a track won't matter. I bought a car a few years ago for £600. The seller didn't tell me it was a cat D and I only found out when the V5 came back.
If I hadn't seen that and then sold it on, I genuinely wouldn't have known it was a cat D. I still have the car and couldn't care less. It was written off after a front end prang and needed a bonnet, wing, bumper, light and air-con condenser, hence why a 600 quid car was written off. But in reality it wasn't launched at 90mph into the Armco barrier, but that's what most people assume when they hear it's a cat D. On a really cheap car someone keying it down the side can write it off. Part of the problem is how cheap used cars are in the UK, not that I'm complaining.
If I hadn't seen that and then sold it on, I genuinely wouldn't have known it was a cat D. I still have the car and couldn't care less. It was written off after a front end prang and needed a bonnet, wing, bumper, light and air-con condenser, hence why a 600 quid car was written off. But in reality it wasn't launched at 90mph into the Armco barrier, but that's what most people assume when they hear it's a cat D. On a really cheap car someone keying it down the side can write it off. Part of the problem is how cheap used cars are in the UK, not that I'm complaining.
rallycross said:
its not a very good deal!
you'd be better off buying a tidy one eg with high mileage and fsh there will be plenty out there within budget (these cars take the mileage very well).
eg
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1997-E36-BMW-323i-Coupe-...
you'd be better off buying a tidy one eg with high mileage and fsh there will be plenty out there within budget (these cars take the mileage very well).
eg
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1997-E36-BMW-323i-Coupe-...
Hmm yeah that is a well kept car, the 6 pot wouldnt of worked too hard clocking up those miles... I think I'll use it as a bargaining tool :-)
Currently texting him...
em177 said:
Backtobasics said:
If he didn't tell you its cat d then I bet that's the tip of the iceberg. Plenty more out there.
Sounds daft but he genuinely might not know. If its going to be used properly and get some good abuse as a track hack. Phone him up, use it as a bargaining tool to try get some serious cash off. Use said cash for brakes, suspension, cage and bucket seat. And get it on track
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-RENAULT-CLIO-AUTHEN...
EDIT - oh, it gets better - the clio hes selling has a mileage status failure on it too - looks like its clocked... "THE MILEAGE READING YOU HAVE ENTERED IS INCONSISTENT WITH OTHER DATA CURRENTLY HELD ON THE NATIONAL MILEAGE REGISTER."
Loving the way he has put he is selling it with 'his own private number plates worth £500' - thats the original N.I. reg on the car and its worth nothing.
Edited by daemon on Wednesday 17th October 20:03
daemon said:
motorbreath said:
Yep that's the one, he wants a grand to end it early, I know it's not a kings random but even when I was viewing he must of had 5 messages about it. I think if it was around the 700 quid mark then I'd get it
Its never a grand with that damage even if it wasnt cat D.
quite agree, and I have mentioned this to him so I will wait in anticipation... daemon said:
em177 said:
Backtobasics said:
If he didn't tell you its cat d then I bet that's the tip of the iceberg. Plenty more out there.
Sounds daft but he genuinely might not know. If its going to be used properly and get some good abuse as a track hack. Phone him up, use it as a bargaining tool to try get some serious cash off. Use said cash for brakes, suspension, cage and bucket seat. And get it on track
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-RENAULT-CLIO-AUTHEN...
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