Audi R8 for £5k

[Durzel]

Ok obviously if something is too good to be true...

http://copart.co.uk/c2/homeSearch.html?_eventId=ge...

1) It's an auction that runs until 28th Sept 2010 with the current bid being ~£5k
2) It's listed as Category B, so the winning bidder presumably has to use it as a track car or get it crushed?

Interested to hear opinions on this - saw it posted on another forum I'm on and people were throwing around all kinds of speculation as to how it could've ended up Cat B. Clearly there appears to be no structural chassis damage, and even heavy water damage would (I presume) only put it on Cat C.

Thoughts?

(if it's a repost feel free to delete)

[CypherP]

Durzel said:

Ok obviously if something is too good to be true...

http://copart.co.uk/c2/homeSearch.html?_eventId=ge...

1) It's an auction that runs until 28th Sept 2010 with the current bid being ~£5k
2) It's listed as Category B, so the winning bidder presumably has to use it as a track car or get it crushed?

Interested to hear opinions on this - saw it posted on another forum I'm on and people were throwing around all kinds of speculation as to how it could've ended up Cat B. Clearly there appears to be no structural chassis damage, and even heavy water damage would (I presume) only put it on Cat C.

Thoughts?

(if it's a repost feel free to delete)

Surely if this is legit, it would cost so much less to repair to it to a very reasonable standard in comparison to buying even a used model of the same age/mileage, no?

Is it possible to repair any damage it might have sustained in order to make it road worthy, or being Cat B, can it only be broken or used as a track car? I'm confused as to what would have made it a Cat B in the first place, especially by its condition in the photos and the fact that the advert states that it runs and drives?

[Swoxy]

Buy it, chuck it in a container, send it abroad, sell it.

[Durzel]

CypherP said:

Surely if this is legit, it would cost so much less to repair to it to a very reasonable standard in comparison to buying even a used model of the same age/mileage, no?

Is it possible to repair any damage it might have sustained in order to make it road worthy, or being Cat B, can it only be broken or used as a track car? I'm confused as to what would have made it a Cat B in the first place, especially by its condition in the photos and the fact that the advert states that it runs and drives?

My understanding is that Cat B cars have to be crushed but parts can be removed and resold. I'd hazard a guess that certain parts of that car - just from the pictures alone - would be worth a reasonable amount of money. Then again how big is the market for R8 salvage? I guess you could sell some parts that could be made to fit other Audis (e.g. seats?)

I just thought it was very peculiar how it apparently is Cat B - I'd have expected to see just from the images alone some serious structural problems, the images in the auction don't appear to me to show any damage at all (the engine bay looks sortof dirty but that's about it)

Just thought I'd throw it out there for the PH boys to comment on really

Edited by Durzel on Friday 10th September 16:55

[jr502]

Durzel said:

I just thought it was very peculiar how it apparently is Cat B - I'd have expected to see just from the images alone some serious structural problems, the images in the auction don't appear to me to show any damage at all (the engine bay looks sortof dirty but that's about it)

Edited by Durzel on Friday 10th September 16:55

Flood damage?

[ManOpener]

jr502 said:

Durzel said:

I just thought it was very peculiar how it apparently is Cat B - I'd have expected to see just from the images alone some serious structural problems, the images in the auction don't appear to me to show any damage at all (the engine bay looks sortof dirty but that's about it)

Edited by Durzel on Friday 10th September 16:55

Flood damage?

I doubt that would be Cat B. There was a bloke who pulled an RS2 out of a canal, it having sat there for a number of years, and fully restored that for road use. Though I can't remember if that was in the UK.

Perhaps something internal in the engine let go in a big way, as well as the flood damage? Or serious underbody damage that's not visible in the pictures.

Edited by ManOpener on Friday 10th September 17:29

[Swoxy]

http://www.s2forum.com/forum/showthread.php?s=5e58...

[Flat_Steve]

I don't get it. What's the story? Was it Fred West's car or something? Has anyone emailed Copart to find out why they've got this as a Cat B?

[Durzel]

Flat_Steve said:

I don't get it. What's the story? Was it Fred West's car or something? Has anyone emailed Copart to find out why they've got this as a Cat B?

Serious underbody damage would surely show creases in the visible bodywork wouldn't it? There's a photo of the interior and the floorplan doesn't appear to be warped. I'd expect creases in the roof if there was something structurally wrong with it, but Cat B means exactly that doesn't it - that the vehicle would be dangerous if repaired?

[anonymous-user]

As it's not obvious, my bet is the engine has sucked in water or one of the wheels has clouted an object and bent something critical that is not allowed to be repaired under UK law.

ETA: It says the damage is minor dents and scratches but I don't think that's related to the CAT B status. The OS front bumper doesn't line up with the front wing next to the light. I think it's had a nasty shunt and someones repaired it without declaring.

Edited by MSTRBKR on Friday 10th September 17:59

[Paul_B]

It's obviously a scam, whoever parts with their money will lose it.

[Chris71]

Durzel said:

track car

Now that is an intriguing possibility.

"Light damage/scratches"? Doesn't make sense.

Category B = safety-critical components have been compromised, flood damaged engined wouldn't count surely? A fault with ABS/airbags/ESP or the like could just be replaced. Curious...

Maybe it's a library pic and in fact all they're offering with only 'light damage/scratches' is one of the hub caps?

[twazzock]

Maybe it's these expensive and irreparable electric trickey-majigs that people bang on about.

[Chewitt]

my sis in law had a perfectly lovely Civic which became a Cat B as it had had a corrosive liquid spilled in the boot which had soaked through carpet/seats and was slowly dissolving the chassis. You wouldn't have known unless you lived with the car.

[Hedders]

Chewitt said:

my sis in law had a perfectly lovely Civic which became a Cat B as it had had a corrosive liquid spilled in the boot which had soaked through carpet/seats and was slowly dissolving the chassis.

I am sure i would have trusted my life to that particular car!

[shakotan]

Paul_B said:

It's obviously a scam, whoever parts with their money will lose it.

Well done for that educated and intellegent response.

It's being advertised by a well-known salvage company, and it clearly states it's a Cat B car, so no hope of getting it on the road.

How is that a scam?

[Durzel]

As above - the auction also says the car starts and drives under its own steam (doesn't say how well obviously) which would imply the engine isn't totally knackered.

[mkopc167]

What an intriguing proposition. Would make a a pretty good track slag though if it's a runner.

[LocoBlade]

Ex stunt car for a film perhaps?

[Dan S]

Swoxy said:

http://www.s2forum.com/forum/showthread.php?s=5e58...

If I was in to man love, I'd give him a big kiss. Legend.