collease Posted February 28, 2013 Report Share Posted February 28, 2013 Ok simple question. What everyones opinions on purchasing a CAT C car. I have driven it and can't notice anything untoward but as i do not know what was fixed i thought i would see what you all thought. The garage selling it has no information on it but is looking into it for me. All replys greatly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted February 28, 2013 Report Share Posted February 28, 2013 (edited) Cat C is the highest damage category a car can have and still be put on the road. That means whatever damage it had, was substantial, but not necessarily structural, it could have been written off due to flood damage for example. Really it all depends on what the damage was and how well it has been repaired, i wouldn't buy a Cat C without a thorough inspection by someone who really knows what they are talking about. It can be a cheap way into a more expensive car, but it can also be a massive gamble, and it's always a pain in the ar5e when you try to sell it. The type of car it is can give you an idea of what damage it's had, i.e. a RWD sports car has probably gone sideways into a ditch or lampost, a 4x4 being top heavy is likely to have been rolled etc etc. Biggest alarm bells here are the garage 'not knowing' why it's Cat C, they are probably lying unless the Cat C was applied historically and it's changed hands since. Edited February 28, 2013 by Tipex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
collease Posted February 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2013 It's an S2000. So probably sideways or backwards. It has been looked over by my technician friend who works for Honda and he can't see anything that looks iffy but it was just a quick once over nothing detailed. The garage has said that he can put it on one of their ramps and have a proper good go over it which is nice of them. Before i get him to do that though i want to know what the damage was. Like you say Tipex if it is a sideways or rear crash at speed even if it is spot on again i probably won't be buying it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted February 28, 2013 Report Share Posted February 28, 2013 S2K will almost definitely have been off the road backwards, they aren't particularly cheap cars so the damage would have to have been substantial to write it off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted March 1, 2013 Report Share Posted March 1, 2013 You also have to tell your insurance company I think? Although they shoudl know, tell them anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eldavo69 Posted March 1, 2013 Report Share Posted March 1, 2013 A Cat C car needs a VOSA inspection before being put back on the road so there should be some paper trail of what was done/inspected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted March 1, 2013 Report Share Posted March 1, 2013 It's not unusual for S2000s to be crashed, they're a handfull, but I wouldn't touch a CAT C car under any circumstances. Cat D, perhaps, if there's a trail of supporting paperwork for the repairs and good before/after photos, but a CAT C ? Forget it. There are plenty of them for sale, finding a good one in budget shouldn't be hard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_C Posted March 1, 2013 Report Share Posted March 1, 2013 You want an S2000 after your test drive?!?! I'd only buy a car on the register if it was a) ridiculously cheap and b) was only cosmetic damage with concrete proof. For example, Elises get written off for clamshell damage. Specialists can stitch clams back into one piece, whereas the insurer would dictate replacing with a new one from Lotus which costs a fortune, hence they write the car off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted March 1, 2013 Report Share Posted March 1, 2013 Used to be a show on Sky, where they took Cat-C cars and fixed them for prospective purchasers, of the 12 or so episodes, I think only one person actually went ahead and bought the car off them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_C Posted March 1, 2013 Report Share Posted March 1, 2013 A work colleague bought a car stupidly cheap years ago without checking whether it was on the registered, it was of course, they paid a fortune to get it fixed properly as a result, the car had no front airbags! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m4ttm4son Posted March 1, 2013 Report Share Posted March 1, 2013 ... the car had no front airbags! But did the seatbelts work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted March 1, 2013 Report Share Posted March 1, 2013 But did the seatbelts work? Pre-tensioners probably didn't! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
collease Posted March 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2013 Was interested in it yes. Still love the sound of them and even after the test drive and spin it is still there. The garage has come back to me telling me it was front and rear and drivers side damage that had been repaired. Apparently it was involved in a multi car pile up. I have seen a few nice MX5s and S2000's in budget but have not been quick enough. I was offered a mazdaspeed MX5 by a friend but it just looked vulgar with all the kit on it. So what is the difference between a CAT D and a CAT C then. I must admit i thought it was the other way around in terms of serverity. C being lower than D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_C Posted March 1, 2013 Report Share Posted March 1, 2013 C is worse than D Copied from a post on here years ago Category A A vehicle which should have been totally crushed, including all its spare parts. Category B A vehicle from which spare parts may be salvaged, but the bodyshell should have been crushed and the car should never return to the road. Category C An extensively damaged vehicle which the insurer has decided not to repair, but which could be repaired and returned to the road. Category D A damaged vehicle which the insurer has decided not to repair, but which could be repaired and returned to the road. Category F A vehicle damaged by fire, which the insurer has decided not to repair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted March 1, 2013 Report Share Posted March 1, 2013 Crash, smash, bollox to all that - how's your love life ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M8CKN Posted March 1, 2013 Report Share Posted March 1, 2013 Crash, smash, bollox to all that - how's your love life ? Possibly like Ian_C's post earlier.....no sign of any front airbags!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted March 1, 2013 Report Share Posted March 1, 2013 If it's the same S2K you spun on a test drive, that might tell you something about how well it's been repaired. Unless you were driving like a twonk, which is unlikely on a test drive, it shouldn't spin, you have to really be pushing on for that, which suggests some chassis issues, maybe as simple as alignment, maybe not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
collease Posted March 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2013 Not the same one. I spun on a wet road coming off a roundabout pushing it too hard. Yes being a twonk. NO damage to that one though The CAT C that i drove did not feel any different but now the areas of damage it has put me off anyway. If it had been one end i may have risked it but not with all around damage. I would be worrying all the time no matter how good the repairs were. As for the love life TDK i can safely say there are signs of front airbags and there has been a test drive or two Still single though but more confident about talking to the right people. Apparently i am not a hidious troll but more of a novelty item that most people don't understand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted March 1, 2013 Report Share Posted March 1, 2013 Good work on the air bags. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted March 1, 2013 Report Share Posted March 1, 2013 Were the air bags Cat C or D? Hopefully not A or B! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M8CKN Posted March 1, 2013 Report Share Posted March 1, 2013 At least he's confirmed he isnt a back seat driver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
collease Posted March 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2013 Nothing wrong with CAT B air bags! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Posted March 1, 2013 Report Share Posted March 1, 2013 Prefer Cat EE myself Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted March 1, 2013 Report Share Posted March 1, 2013 I'm happy with Cat C's, EE's are only going to end up in tears when they cannot support themselves any more, B's a bit too small. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted March 2, 2013 Report Share Posted March 2, 2013 i am a novelty item that most people don't understand. Where's naming Stig ? Get rid of that miserable-looking avatar at the same time and stick an S2000 there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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