View on CAT-S cars
- Thread starter zimzimmer
- Start date
Personally…..I wouldn’t! Maybe I’m to lazy/impatient to want to have anything less than perfect as I don’t want the hassle of putting things right. However, saying that, it could be a right bargain and for someone that can do a lot of work themselves would make sense….doesn’t really help does it?
A car that has had structural damage, suspension, chassis etc is very repairable, the only problem is who repaired it and how good are they!!! If youre going down this route I would want AT LEAST a full RAC/AA inspection, a full report of the CAT - S damage and the name of the repairer. If you are buying from a dealer (cant imagine any dealer selling cat s cars though) then a solid warranty as well..
Another point to consider is that you will likely find it almost impossible to get rid of down the line.
As you say though, its a cheap deal..... Your choice my friend, whatever you do you are welcome here and will receive a lot of solid advice if you need any
Another point to consider is that you will likely find it almost impossible to get rid of down the line.
As you say though, its a cheap deal..... Your choice my friend, whatever you do you are welcome here and will receive a lot of solid advice if you need any
Devon
Scotland 🏴
Wouldnt be me, its not just a car thats had a couple of panels, headlight and bumper replaced. Its been structurally damaged and as others have noted above.. who's repaired it and are they competent / qualified / equipped to do so. It will always be in the back of your mind that if the car is in another accident, how will it react and I wouldn't want me or my family in it for that reason.
Resale could be a big issue down the line. Structurally not knowing the severity of the damage (pics can give some kind of idea) could pose problems in the future, and the obvious uncertainty of its integrity could mentally present cause for concern....on a daily basis...LOL have i just talked myself out of it completely.
has anyone bought one here (if you're brave enough to admit it)?
If all appears intact and repaired well, then is it worth the 3-4k differential (assuming a clean example of a 30i is £14k and the CAT-S is £10k)?
has anyone bought one here (if you're brave enough to admit it)?
If all appears intact and repaired well, then is it worth the 3-4k differential (assuming a clean example of a 30i is £14k and the CAT-S is £10k)?
I’ve bought and repaired many damaged repairable over the years and was ok with that as I mainly bought direct at closed auctions and saw the damage in its original state.
My daughter was in an accident about a year ago and I was asked to give a rough description of damage and took some measurements etc to the assessor as we were 2 1/2 hrs away. There was sill damage to the drivers side which didn’t look too bad but I was unsure and worried they might’ve repaired it. I measured the other side for comparison before I spoke to the assessor again.
It had moved sat 25mm compared to the other side. When I spoke to him he said that if it’d moved more than say 10mm it had caused structural damage behind that and was to be written off. Took less than 30 minutes between initial conversation and confirmation of written off. Repair estimate was circa £7k
I have no doubt the sill will have been pulled out, filled and painted, replacement door and polished up and sold as minimal damage. Payout was over £8k so not a cheap car that made no sense to fix if it was possible. Car was back on the road in a few weeks after going through Copart as a Cat S. has definitely made me more wary of repaired Cat cars. Would still possibly buy one unrepaired
My daughter was in an accident about a year ago and I was asked to give a rough description of damage and took some measurements etc to the assessor as we were 2 1/2 hrs away. There was sill damage to the drivers side which didn’t look too bad but I was unsure and worried they might’ve repaired it. I measured the other side for comparison before I spoke to the assessor again.
It had moved sat 25mm compared to the other side. When I spoke to him he said that if it’d moved more than say 10mm it had caused structural damage behind that and was to be written off. Took less than 30 minutes between initial conversation and confirmation of written off. Repair estimate was circa £7k
I have no doubt the sill will have been pulled out, filled and painted, replacement door and polished up and sold as minimal damage. Payout was over £8k so not a cheap car that made no sense to fix if it was possible. Car was back on the road in a few weeks after going through Copart as a Cat S. has definitely made me more wary of repaired Cat cars. Would still possibly buy one unrepaired
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zimzimmer said:
Yes, pretty much. Someone with the skills would have had my daughter’s car dressed up, 2nd hand door and any paint needed in a couple of days. Would’ve looked brand new but would not have addressed the structural damage in any way, it’ll still be there.
I’ve just shown you a couple of pictures showing the extent of the “minimal damage’. If I was at it and trying to sell that car repaired as minimal/light damage all I’d make available is that side picture where it just looks like it needs a door and some paint. That doesn’t in any way make you aware of the sill damage and you can’t see that after the fact as it’s all clean, painted and shiny. As always it’s buyer beware
You take a chance whatever car you buy if its not from a dealer. I read a story a few days ago about a young ladt that bought a nice newly mot'd and taxed vehicle from a private seller, the MOT had several big jobs listed to pass all of which were done prior to sale and bills/proof provided at sale.
A few days later she broke down and the AA guy on looking at the vehicle noted some issues some of which were 'repaired' as per MOT advisories.
The seller had removed all the new parts, replaced them with the old after the MOT and sold the new parts second hand!!
So -if you dont know cars ALWAYS get a pro to check it out.......
A few days later she broke down and the AA guy on looking at the vehicle noted some issues some of which were 'repaired' as per MOT advisories.
The seller had removed all the new parts, replaced them with the old after the MOT and sold the new parts second hand!!
So -if you dont know cars ALWAYS get a pro to check it out.......
I suppose it comes down to how keen you are to save a few thousand in the short term. Are you happy with:
1) in the long term it won't save you any money, because you'll get less when you sell it.
2) selling any used car privately is enough of a ball ache at the best of times. I'm sure a cat S is a hundred times worse, and you won't have the get out of jail card of being able to sell for a bit less to a dealer etc.
3) less peace of mind regarding safety. Ok, any used car can be hiding big problems, but surely one that's definitely been in an accident is more of a risk.
When you consider point 1, I just can't see a good argument for going down that route because it won't even save you any money unless you plan to keep it until it dies.
1) in the long term it won't save you any money, because you'll get less when you sell it.
2) selling any used car privately is enough of a ball ache at the best of times. I'm sure a cat S is a hundred times worse, and you won't have the get out of jail card of being able to sell for a bit less to a dealer etc.
3) less peace of mind regarding safety. Ok, any used car can be hiding big problems, but surely one that's definitely been in an accident is more of a risk.
When you consider point 1, I just can't see a good argument for going down that route because it won't even save you any money unless you plan to keep it until it dies.
There is no argument. It's not worth the risk all said and done!
This is a good discussion though as there are so many for sale that on surface look great. Not just Z4s, but i've seen shed loads of Golf Rs, BMWs, and even FIAT 500s fall into this category, and whilst they may be "road-worthy", to my earlier point, every day you set off in one you have to question how safe you really are.
I know i asked the question initially more for my own sanity than anything else, but some good points raised by all along the way
This is a good discussion though as there are so many for sale that on surface look great. Not just Z4s, but i've seen shed loads of Golf Rs, BMWs, and even FIAT 500s fall into this category, and whilst they may be "road-worthy", to my earlier point, every day you set off in one you have to question how safe you really are.
I know i asked the question initially more for my own sanity than anything else, but some good points raised by all along the way
If the price is cheap, it has been repaired properly (with photo evidence) and it is not a car that I care about then I don’t see the issue.
It’s also worth noting that there are lots of ‘unrecorded’ CAT-S equivalent cars out there that people pay full price for without knowing they have ever been in a bump…
However, having said that I wouldn’t personally put my money into one no.
It’s also worth noting that there are lots of ‘unrecorded’ CAT-S equivalent cars out there that people pay full price for without knowing they have ever been in a bump…
However, having said that I wouldn’t personally put my money into one no.
I bought my zed as a cat c 5 years ago, been one of the most reliable cars I’ve owned, you can pick up a good car if you know what to look for. You must understand that a write off may or may not of been someone else pride and joy. Before and after pics. And the bonnet in the second pic is the actual bonnet in the first pic. Did all the work myself.