Cat c- to buy or not to buy?

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
View Threaded
Thu 20 Sep 2018 12:01
Cat c- to buy or not to buy? - Lanny

Me again, sorry!

Thought id start a new thread as my old one went forever!

Ok so...badbusdriver sent me some links to some cars on ebay (thanks!) but the micra i was arranging to look at? Well i rang the guy to arrange a viewing and apparently hes taking it off ebay as he wants no less than 750 for it. So why put it on an auction site?? Anyway out of my price range :(

So ive been trawling the internet and found another. 05 reg, 98k, 2 owners from new and the MOT history is absolutely impeccable. Really been looked after.

BUT ITS A CAT b***** C!!!

Should i or shouldnt i?

Done a check on it- it was Cat C'd in early 2016.

Im tipping with the condtion though and the fab mot history, the owners had the work done in it themselves

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 20 Sep 2018 12:26
Cat c- to buy or not to buy? - SLO76
An old car like this (it was 11yrs old when written off) could’ve been classed as an uneconomic repair for something minor like a cracked bumper or dented door. If it was a newer car I’d say avoid at all costs as the damage would’ve been heavy to write it off but this may not be the case here. You do however need to take someone with you that knows what they’re doing to check it over properly. It wouldn’t rule it out but extra caution must be exercised. If the same owner kept it a further two years after the repair then this suggests it’s ok.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 20 Sep 2018 12:53
Cat c- to buy or not to buy? - Lanny
An old car like this (it was 11yrs old when written off) could’ve been classed as an uneconomic repair for something minor like a cracked bumper or dented door. If it was a newer car I’d say avoid at all costs as the damage would’ve been heavy to write it off but this may not be the case here. You do however need to take someone with you that knows what they’re doing to check it over properly. It wouldn’t rule it out but extra caution must be exercised. If the same owner kept it a further two years after the repair then this suggests it’s ok.

Yes that what i thinking about the owner keeping it longer. I cant get over the MOT history. Its only ever failed once or twice in 13 years and just on headlight beam aim too high or low, windscreen wipers not clearing window sufficiently. Nothing major, no corrosion or anything like that. Worth a viewing? Taking our mechanic friend with us if i do.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 20 Sep 2018 14:04
Cat c- to buy or not to buy? - Andrew-T

I'd go with SLO on this. As before, you need to give the car a good once- (or twice-)over, and ask about the repairs. My own car was written off 18 months ago at 9 years old, simply because putting the front-end bodywork back on and painting it would cost more than replacing the car - which is now running as well as ever, if not better after a recent service.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 20 Sep 2018 14:34
Cat c- to buy or not to buy? - Gibbo_Wirral

I'd say no. I was reading a thread on here or another forum where someone had some real problems getting insurance on a CAT C or D car.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 20 Sep 2018 17:31
Cat c- to buy or not to buy? - Lanny

Ive done an insurance quote just to see where i stand with cost as higher insurance group than my old car but nothing came up about it being cat c when i entered all vehicle details??? Probably sting me later on though of thats the case

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 20 Sep 2018 17:35
Cat c- to buy or not to buy? - Lanny

Its a gorgeous car too, id be daft to not look at it.

Mot history is brill. Its passed 2 with no advisories since it being written off which speaks volumes. Im hoping it was just body work

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 20 Sep 2018 18:53
Cat c- to buy or not to buy? - Andrew-T

Its a gorgeous car too, id be daft to not look at it.

Mot history is brill. Its passed 2 with no advisories since it being written off which speaks volumes. Im hoping it was just body work

You should certainly take a good look at it, and get the full story about the repairs. It could well be a bargain, and as you are getting it cheap you needn't worry too much about Cat-C as regards being able to sell on later, it won't owe you much.

However don't forget that although a car may pass a whole series of MoT's, it may not follow that it has been regularly serviced; the MoT tests nothing to do with the engine except the exhaust emissions. On the other hand it probably has been, if the rest of the car is good.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 30 Jan 2019 14:32
Cat c- to buy or not to buy? - Adam George

Most cars have been involved in an accident in some shape or form and because done privately do not get categorised.

if you can get it repaired to a high standard why not.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 31 Jan 2019 09:25
Cat c- to buy or not to buy? - pd

Frankly at this price level you're worried about whether it starts/goes/stops OK and has a decent length MOT.

Everything else is pretty much secondary and as a car maker once said history is to a high degree bunk because it is whether it works now is key not whether it had an oil change in 2012.

The car would have been worth peanuts in 2016 so wouldn't have taken much to write it off and it would have been uneconomical for anyone to repair any major damage so it couldn't have been much.

Definitely worth a look I'd say. Check for rust on these carefully but other than that it is all the usual car stuff. Does it have oil (clean?), water, decent tyres, engine sounds sweet, clutch point OK, MOT, unusual road noises etc.

Good luck.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 31 Jan 2019 15:04
Cat c- to buy or not to buy? - Andrew-T

Definitely worth a look I'd say.

It's several months now since Lanny asked these questions, and he hasn't told us what he did yet .... if anything.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

We give you the low down on how to save on insurance, little-known tricks and tips, what insurance groups mean and how to use insurance aggregators to beat insurers.

Insurance group finder and how to save on insurance

Looking for a garage you can trust? Honest John's Good Garage Guide has thousands of reader recommended garages, plus how-to guides and tips on servicing.

The Good Garage Guide