Category X vs Category U

[TGag]

Hi people, hope you are well.

I am new to this forum and I thought I will post here my enquiry

I am planning to buy the car from an auction, however I am not sure whether to get Category U or Category X. To me it seems that Category X is more desirable category than Category U. The cars that I want to purchase look like brand new, however one has Cat U and the second Cat X.

Could you share you experience with these categories, please? Your help would be much appreciated

Thank you

[Camelot1971]

What are Cat U and Cat X?

[anonymous-user]

https://www.trents.co.uk/blog/salvage-vehicle-cate...

[Chubbyross]

Okay, I’m clearly being dense here but why would you want to buy cars that have been involved in accidents? Is it to repair and sell on or keep yourself. Genuine question.

[mmm-five]

Looks like buying Cat X is a good way for a dealer to pass off accident damaged cars as 'perfect'...with no way for a buyer to know!

Most of these salvage auctions require you to be a trader/dealer, so if you know nothing about the categories you'll probably be a bit out of your depth at the actual auction.

[Chubbyross]

mmm-five said:

Looks like buying Cat X is a good way for a dealer to pass off accident damaged cars as 'perfect'...with no way for a buyer to know!

Most of these salvage auctions require you to be a trader/dealer, so if you know nothing about the categories you'll probably be a bit out of your depth at the actual auction.

That was what I was thinking. Come on, OP, are you setting up a shonky car dealership? If not, unless you really know your cars, I’d stay well clear of auctions like this.

[Auto810graphy]

As above, they are at a salvage auction for a reason, some might have already had repairs etc. No doubt people can make money out of them but they may also be a gamble involved.

Moving forwards they will probably show up on Motorcheck, V-Check etc.

[Truckosaurus]

U = Unrecorded. These are the ones people will fix up and then sell on and pretend nothing has happened to them, so therefore worth more than Cat X cars, which will always be worth a fraction of the price of a 'straight' car.

Having watched Youtube videos of people who repair salvage cars for a living there isn't much money in it, them seem to survive on volume of turnover.

[TGag]

thanks people for your reply.
I plan to buy the car for myself rather than trying to 'set-up' a car dealership as some of members waffle/state in here.

Cat X still will show as stolen or damaged, therefore I am not sure how would you be able to lie to someone as they will find out this information anyway?
Cat U is more likely where you can hide the history of the car I believe?

[Civpilot]

TGag said:

thanks people for your reply.
I plan to buy the car for myself rather than trying to 'set-up' a car dealership as some of members waffle/state in here.

Cat X still will show as stolen or damaged, therefore I am not sure how would you be able to lie to someone as they will find out this information anyway?
Cat U is more likely where you can hide the history of the car I believe?

If you are buying the car for yourself then what does it matter which one you buy?

Unless you indeed are intending to hide the history when you sell it. And coming on here new and calling existing members replies 'waffle' while asking which car you can buy and lie about isn't going to win you much support.

[TGag]

Civpilot said:

If you are buying the car for yourself then what does it matter which one you buy?

Unless you indeed are intending to hide the history when you sell it. And coming on here new and calling existing members replies 'waffle' while asking which car you can buy and lie about isn't going to win you much support.

Have you emptied your thoughts, or there is something you want to say more? Feel free to pour it, I am happy to listen.

Yes, you guessed it correctly my holy friend, I will have to sell the car at some point in future. These are not cat B, which means I can sell it 'legally'.

I can't even understand the point of such posts where no value is added to actual topic.

[Civpilot]

TGag said:

Civpilot said:

If you are buying the car for yourself then what does it matter which one you buy?

Unless you indeed are intending to hide the history when you sell it. And coming on here new and calling existing members replies 'waffle' while asking which car you can buy and lie about isn't going to win you much support.

Have you emptied your thoughts, or there is something you want to say more? Feel free to pour it, I am happy to listen.

Yes, you guessed it correctly my holy friend, I will have to sell the car at some point in future. These are not cat B, which means I can sell it 'legally'.

I can't even understand the point of such posts where no value is added to actual topic.

You really are quite a little argumentative warrior aren't you?

I did add to you post. I added 'If you are buying for yourself then what does it matter'. It's as valid a response as any and saves you time going backwards and forwards over things.

The only reason to buy a cat U is if you genuinely want to deceive a future buyer by staying quiet and hiding the cars history. This is behaviour which will be called out on a forum such as this. So if this isn't the case then my post of 'it doesn't matter which you buy' is very valid

Your angry little response and tone shows which side of the fence you really fall on though so no need to respond again.

[golfxraycharlie]

What you need to ask with cat U is, if it's undamaged why is it being sold in a salvage auction where it's difficult to inspect it and hear it run. I'd prefer to buy something with obvious damage - it's got a reason for being there.

[TGag]

Civpilot said:

You really are quite a little argumentative warrior aren't you?

I did add to you post. I added 'If you are buying for yourself then what does it matter'. It's as valid a response as any and saves you time going backwards and forwards over things.

The only reason to buy a cat U is if you genuinely want to deceive a future buyer by staying quiet and hiding the cars history. This is behaviour which will be called out on a forum such as this. So if this isn't the case then my post of 'it doesn't matter which you buy' is very valid

Your angry little response and tone shows which side of the fence you really fall on though so no need to respond again.

I am not angry at all, I just responded to your provocative reply, but now I can see you are trying to play innocent. Thank you for your reply.

[TGag]

golfxraycharlie said:

What you need to ask with cat U is, if it's undamaged why is it being sold in a salvage auction where it's difficult to inspect it and hear it run. I'd prefer to buy something with obvious damage - it's got a reason for being there.

Excellent point, and this is something I cannot understand as well e.g. if it's undamaged then why to be sold in a salvage auction

[Mr Happy]

U doesn't mean undamaged, it means unrecorded.

A car could go in a salvage auction cat U if it's ex fleet with a knackered engine for example. They can't sell it so they dispose of it as salvage.

https://www.copart.co.uk/lot/30521961/clean-title-...

Example above - runs and drives, additional info is "knocking noise" and a discrepancy on the national mileage register.

[Truckosaurus]

Indeed. Or cars that only had 3rd party insurance, so there's not been a payout or write-off.

[TGag]

Mr Happy said:

U doesn't mean undamaged, it means unrecorded.

A car could go in a salvage auction cat U if it's ex fleet with a knackered engine for example. They can't sell it so they dispose of it as salvage.

https://www.copart.co.uk/lot/30521961/clean-title-...

Example above - runs and drives, additional info is "knocking noise" and a discrepancy on the national mileage register.

Very helpful, thank you!
Somehow, I am inclined to Cat X. Do you have any experience with cat X?

[Mr Happy]

TGag said:

Very helpful, thank you!
Somehow, I am inclined to Cat X. Do you have any experience with cat X?

Unfortunately not, sorry.

[shiversaint]

Improbable that you'll be able to buy from an auction as a member of the public, so this is sort of a moot question until you sort that little snag out....