cat D poss purchase
Discussion
Found a nice neat MX5 1999 which is recorded cat D write off
in Nov 2006 on HPI check.
It was purchased by somebody in beginning of 2007, kept for 4 years and did at least 20000 miles from the cat D write off up to 2011.
It was then sold on and has done a further 10000 miles since 2011 to now.
I'ts not expensive,just over 1k,so,I was hoping to do a few bits and keep this for quiet a while.
Question is, would this put you off buying it...
in Nov 2006 on HPI check.
It was purchased by somebody in beginning of 2007, kept for 4 years and did at least 20000 miles from the cat D write off up to 2011.
It was then sold on and has done a further 10000 miles since 2011 to now.
I'ts not expensive,just over 1k,so,I was hoping to do a few bits and keep this for quiet a while.
Question is, would this put you off buying it...
p4cks said:
In 2011 a 1999 MX-5 would have been worth next to nowt, meaning even the smallest of pranges would have deemed it 'uneconomical to fix' by the insurance company.
To put your mind at rest, ask the seller for details of the damage and subsequent repair.
It was written off in 2006.To put your mind at rest, ask the seller for details of the damage and subsequent repair.
Hasn't this topic been covered multiple times in the last couple of weeks alone?
I would expect fully documented evidence that the repairs were done correctly, and then i'd get the car inspected to be sure (i.e. common sense). However, the hassle and cost to do this, combined with the resale issues, would put me off entirely - i'd rather pay extra for a decent car.
I would expect fully documented evidence that the repairs were done correctly, and then i'd get the car inspected to be sure (i.e. common sense). However, the hassle and cost to do this, combined with the resale issues, would put me off entirely - i'd rather pay extra for a decent car.
I just bought a Cat-D S2000. My experience is that people take two positions on Cat-Ds:
1) They either think you will inevitably end up in a unsellable, botched, unreliable deathtrap that is bound to bankrupt/kill/both you.
or
2) They see it as a good way into getting a decent motor at a lower price and wouldn't dream of buying a car that wasn't Cat-D.
The realistic view is that every Cat-D is different and you should establish why it was written off. Some Cat-Ds will have been involved in quite heavy accidents, others be written off by hasty insurers for trivial cosmetic damage or even smashed windows, torn roofs, etc. If you are happy that the damage was not severe, then the next question is the quality of the repair. Visually, if you can trust your ability to make an informed decision, then trust your own eyes - not just by looking at the car but by visiting the garage (if applicable) and speaking to the guy who repaired it. Take the car for an extended drive. Have it inspected professionally if you think it necessary.
My S2000 had light offside front wing and headlight damage and was written off because the parts and respray (the colour is a tricky one) would leave the insurer out of pocket. I spoke to the guy who repaired and resprayed it, and he could detail exactly what he'd done and which parts he'd replaced. The respray was literally perfect, as he'd done the whole front of the car rather than just the panels needing replaced. I had it professionally inspected and was lucky enough to have some input from S2000 owners who had looked at it. The AA inspector said it was the best repair job he'd ever seen and one of the best S2000s he'd seen (he didn't say how many repairs and S2000s he'd seen, but hey). It had the suspension geometry checked and adjusted which is important for the S2000. So basically I ended up with a very low mileage S2000 in virtually band new condition for £3-4k less that non Cat-D equivalents were going for. Compared to the other S2000s I'd seen, which were mostly high-mileage, ropey, dodgily modified and so on, I am delighted with mine.
Some might say "ah well you'll pay the price when you sell it" but that depends if you intend to sell it or not. Also, specialist cars tend to be sold on condition to enthusiasts who look beyond the standard things - whether a MX5 comes into this category or not I'm not sure. Basically, if you like the car, the price is good for you, and are sure its straight, why not?
Like any purchase, be sensible and keep your eyes open and if the deal makes sense for you then don't worry about doom-and-gloom merchants raining on your parade - do it.
1) They either think you will inevitably end up in a unsellable, botched, unreliable deathtrap that is bound to bankrupt/kill/both you.
or
2) They see it as a good way into getting a decent motor at a lower price and wouldn't dream of buying a car that wasn't Cat-D.
The realistic view is that every Cat-D is different and you should establish why it was written off. Some Cat-Ds will have been involved in quite heavy accidents, others be written off by hasty insurers for trivial cosmetic damage or even smashed windows, torn roofs, etc. If you are happy that the damage was not severe, then the next question is the quality of the repair. Visually, if you can trust your ability to make an informed decision, then trust your own eyes - not just by looking at the car but by visiting the garage (if applicable) and speaking to the guy who repaired it. Take the car for an extended drive. Have it inspected professionally if you think it necessary.
My S2000 had light offside front wing and headlight damage and was written off because the parts and respray (the colour is a tricky one) would leave the insurer out of pocket. I spoke to the guy who repaired and resprayed it, and he could detail exactly what he'd done and which parts he'd replaced. The respray was literally perfect, as he'd done the whole front of the car rather than just the panels needing replaced. I had it professionally inspected and was lucky enough to have some input from S2000 owners who had looked at it. The AA inspector said it was the best repair job he'd ever seen and one of the best S2000s he'd seen (he didn't say how many repairs and S2000s he'd seen, but hey). It had the suspension geometry checked and adjusted which is important for the S2000. So basically I ended up with a very low mileage S2000 in virtually band new condition for £3-4k less that non Cat-D equivalents were going for. Compared to the other S2000s I'd seen, which were mostly high-mileage, ropey, dodgily modified and so on, I am delighted with mine.
Some might say "ah well you'll pay the price when you sell it" but that depends if you intend to sell it or not. Also, specialist cars tend to be sold on condition to enthusiasts who look beyond the standard things - whether a MX5 comes into this category or not I'm not sure. Basically, if you like the car, the price is good for you, and are sure its straight, why not?
Like any purchase, be sensible and keep your eyes open and if the deal makes sense for you then don't worry about doom-and-gloom merchants raining on your parade - do it.
Good post forzaminardi
I would have no issue buying a Cat D, providing I could see pics of the before during and after repair. Sounds like you went the right route also getting the car inspected.
Sadly there are companies out there that are not so forth coming on accident History.
Moral of the story, be very careful.
I would have no issue buying a Cat D, providing I could see pics of the before during and after repair. Sounds like you went the right route also getting the car inspected.
Sadly there are companies out there that are not so forth coming on accident History.
Moral of the story, be very careful.
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