cw42

iTrader: (1)

I am aware a "catergory d" is a stolen/recovered car, but what advice would you give when going to look at one?
seller claims it was stolen by force off previous owner from the house, then tracked and recovered by police. I don't think it was used in a robbery or any other criminal activity, but the previous owner didn't want it back after the experience of getting her house broken into and forced to hand over the keys!
Also, although the car is a my03 shape, it is listed as a my02. Seller claims it was owned by prodrive first as a demonstrator for ppp, and was one of the first new shape (my03) cars to be brought in by subaru.
Apart from that lot, the car looks mint, and is very close to where I live. Going to view tomorrow, and see if I can get a bit more history off it.
chris.

Colinj

HPi would confirm the history a bit also If it was me a AA/RAC car inspection would be carried out to see if there has been any damage done when it was stolen. Costs about £150 I think but worth it for the piece of mind that the car is A-ok.

JoeyDeacon

A cat D write off is not necessarily a stolen/recovered car.

Category D is the lowest class of write off and indicates cosmetic damage
only, but to an extent where it was uneconomical (in the opinion of the
insurance company) to repair the vehicle.

Secondly there are so many second hand Impreza's for sale why bother even looking at a Cat D car unless it is seriously cheap? When you want to sell it on you are going to have real problems and it will always be worth a lot less than a car with a good history.

Deano_RA

Personally wouldn't bother mate, you don't know if you're buying somone else's problems

davegtt

If it was a stolen recovered then it would be on a Q plate a cat d write off is something else, its a car written off by insurance purposes which states that the cost of the repair would not be economical to the value off the car (so a car of this nature it must have had a fair amount of damage ) but the car is repairable and if done in a good way it would be suitable for the road (but costs usually get cut this way because people buy cat d cars spend as little as poss to get them road worthy again hoping to sell on for a profit)

always worth getting a HPI check done they will tell u if it was damaged or not and will give u any more insight into the history of the car

Dave

Colinj

Stolen/recovered arent put onto a Q plate are they??? I thought that the Q plates signify a newly registered vehicle, but one that is built from older parts for which no registration survives. Q Plates are also given to non-standard vehicles or special builds that are not modelled on existing manufactured vehicles.

Hence why alot of Kit cars etc are on a Q?

willy

CW whats the spec of the car mate?
Up to you if you take the risk... should be ok... I know lots of people with cat d cars, and provided you can sus out whats been damaged, you`ll be fine.You`ll save lots too.

*****

davegtt

Colinj, I know a fair few stolen and recovery cars that are on Q plates. a friend bought 1 too... your also right though that Q plates go to hybrid cars and other such cars.... I dont know if they still use the Q for stolen and recovery cars since the number plates changed to stuff like FE52 etc

SiDHEaD

Q plate is for a car where the exact year of manufacture is unknown.i.e. vin plates have been ground off.

Deano_RA

Usually something like flood or fire damaged

cw42

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for your input guys.
The ad in full:

2002 SUBARU Impreza WRX STi Type
UK Prodrive, 18000 miles, in WRC blue, 305bhp, Samco hoses, 6 speed, Bembo brakes, quickshift, climate control, full electric pack, Cat 1 alarm, 24hr tracker, over mats, FSSH, still under warranty, hence Cat D bargain, no offers. £14,995 . No offers.

so, yes, it is a bit of a bargain.
going to look tomorrow, see it in the flesh
picture if it works to autotrader:


chris.

mikeesingh

iTrader: (3)

cat d not allways minor damage my old impreza which was rolled 3 times, was only a cat d

willy

Just what CW needed to hear that... LOL

Pittsey

Not enough of a bsargain in my opinion. Is it worth the 2K saved?

s70rjw

iTrader: (2)

I wouldn't bother. £2000 saving will be lost come trade in time. To give you an idea of what its worth my T5 Volvo was written off after I sold it. 3 months ago. Owner got £7200 insurance pay out. Bought the salvage back for £702. All it needed was bumper, boot floor, a session on a jig and a boot lid. It was a cat D. Cost of all repairs at Volvo £5600. Independant garage £3000 . Second hand bits £1200. Unless you get a fully documented and photographed rebuild how will you know which of the above applies to your car?

cw42

iTrader: (1)

Owner seller works for Holdcroft Subaru in staffs, do you think he would fleece someone?
I'll check it out tomorrow, see what its like.
thanks again for all the excellent input
chris.