mart360

A cat D write off?

Given that the pay out is less if you have a prang, does it make sense to drive one?


Also are your reinsuring costs higher?


comments / experiences please


mart

Jamo

iTrader: (23)

yes, have done a few times.

they cost less to buy so if you had a total smash, you would get the equivalant in return.

insurance costs are the same.

ive had a cat d and a cat c, there was no real way of telling to be honest, with the cat-c it had to go through an esva test so it was probably in better order than when it was first made as they are very strict about safety.

Peanuts

iTrader: (15)

Mart, in the current climate it would have to be BLOODY cheap to make it a realistic proposition over a standard car.
I'm looking at a 57plate RX8 on the forecourt for 11k, what used to be catD/C money

bmac800

I am currently running a cat D 2004 Fiesta I bought off an auction site for £1000 - took another £1300 to fix using geniune Ford parts through my mates trade account.The car has only done 20k miles and was lightly damaged at the front - bonnet,bumpers,front panel,lights,radiator,fan and the airbags.
Be careful what you buy a lot of cars are a lot worse damaged than they look - you only get a true idea once the car is stripped.Also if you dont have access to a trade account or cheap second hand bits it is really not worth the effort because the saving is minimal especially if the air bags have gone as they can be very expensive.
Insurance costs no more but because the car is recorded as a cat D you will get less of a pay out if you have a claim.

Snazy

Yup, running my second now, and thanks to a mate who owns a body shop its cost half the market price
Nothing special but saved money.

At the end of the day I would rather buy it AS a Cat C/D than buy a repaired one. That way you know what the condition was at its worst.

Snazy

Oh and Mart, you have PM

skid11

iTrader: (1)

I have run a cat d before but as a cheap run around .Providing its checked over and your not bothered about resale values they are fine.
As mentioned it would have to be cheap in the current market and i wont risk it with a performance car.
As for cat c i wouldnt but if you have a bit of trade/insider knowledge ?? Wouldnt fancy reselling one either

mart360

It was a cat D and allready repaired.

v light frontal, bumper & lights on an 04 plate..

car only has 85k on the clock

mart

Snazy

C's are not such a bad thing, just require a VIC check after repairing. Not usually that much different in damage compared to a C, just less likely to be economically worth repairing.

As you say, if you are not bothered by resale, its no big deal.

Mart, have you seen the pics of the car damaged, or just going on what the seller is telling you ?