Buying a category D car

80s Child

I'm just wondering if anyone has?

I've come across this recently:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201708037994805?transmission=Automatic&minimum-badge-engine-size=3.0&year-from=2009&advertising-location=at_cars&fuel-type=Diesel&year-to=2010&maximum-badge-engine-size=3.0&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&model=5%20SERIES&postcode=e114rj&make=BMW&body-type=Saloon&quantity-of-doors=4&radius=1501&sort=sponsored&page=1

Obviously, you'd do your own checks and I'd probaby get an AA inspection, but even if all that was clear, I don't know if I'd still be able to buy it, let alone put the family into it!!

Any experience here?

Barnavave

The fact that it is a Cat D wouldnt necessarily put me off, but it would need to be substantially cheaper than the next car and it isn't. There are HPI clear cars of the same age for less.

80s Child

Barnavave wrote: »

The fact that it is a Cat D wouldnt necessarily put me off, but it would need to be substantially cheaper than the next car and it isn't. There are HPI clear cars of the same age for less.

Of the same spec and mileage? Can you give me an example as I've been looking and haven't found anything.

Barnavave

80s Child wrote: »

Of the same spec and mileage? Can you give me an example as I've been looking and haven't found anything.

A quick search brought up a newer car albeit with higher miles. Search private ads only.

80s Child

Barnavave wrote: »

A quick search brought up a newer car albeit with higher miles. Search private ads only.

Ya, true enough. I normally have it on trade only.

Wildcard7

It wouldn't put me off, if it was substantially cheaper than comparable cars, and the work was professionally done, AND I'd get to see pictures of the car before it was repaired (e.g. so I'd see the damage).

"Damage was very minor, to driver's side wing." is something that was told to me once when buying (and then it turned out that the chassis of the car was bent), and I read almost exactly the same thing here on boards once or twice in threads where a closer inspection revealed that this is a lie.

bazz26

Another thing to note is that when you eventually go to sell the car it will show up on a history check as a Cat D and will automatically put the majority of buyers off as all they see is "Cat D Write off" and run away.

80s Child

bazz26 wrote: »

Another thing to note is that when you eventually go to sell the car it will show up on a history check as a Cat D and will automatically put the majority of buyers off as all they see is "Cat D Write off" and run away.

Ya. I'd be aiming to keep the next car until it collapses to be honest, that would be the idea anyway, so Im not awfully concerned about the resale value. I say this now, and it two years I'll want an XF!!

bazz26

Well if you plan to keep it till it dies then the object really should be to get as much information about the repair as possible. The car history report companies might be able to help with this. They may be able to contact the insurance company that declared it a Cat D for details. The other objective is to buy it at reduced price below what a similar non CAT D car would be worth if it checks out.

Mintoe

80s Child wrote: »

I'm just wondering if anyone has?

I've come across this recently:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201708037994805?transmission=Automatic&minimum-badge-engine-size=3.0&year-from=2009&advertising-location=at_cars&fuel-type=Diesel&year-to=2010&maximum-badge-engine-size=3.0&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&model=5%20SERIES&postcode=e114rj&make=BMW&body-type=Saloon&quantity-of-doors=4&radius=1501&sort=sponsored&page=1

Obviously, you'd do your own checks and I'd probaby get an AA inspection, but even if all that was clear, I don't know if I'd still be able to buy it, let alone put the family into it!!

Any experience here?

60k miles on an 09 525d...... not a chance in hell that mileage is genuine..... so all 4 owners did small mileage.... that's about 7,500 miles per year...... NO WAY, RUN RUN RUN

80s Child

Mintoe wrote: »

60k miles on an 09 525d...... not a chance in hell that mileage is genuine..... so all 4 owners did small mileage.... that's about 7,500 miles per year...... NO WAY, RUN RUN RUN

It was more the Category D aspect I was looking at, but ya!!

Saying that, a friend of mine lives in Manchester and bought a diesel S40; ended up changing jobs and only did 3.5k miles last year in it! It can happen !

bazz26

80s Child wrote: »

It was more the Category D aspect I was looking at, but ya!!

Saying that, a friend of mine lives in Manchester and bought a diesel S40; ended up changing jobs and only did 3.5k miles last year in it! It can happen !

What's the chances of it happening with all 4 owners of the same car though?

80s Child

bazz26 wrote: »

What's the chances of it happening with all 4 owners of the same car though?

Damn you and your voice of reason!!!

Mintoe

80s Child wrote: »

It was more the Category D aspect I was looking at, but ya!!

Saying that, a friend of mine lives in Manchester and bought a diesel S40; ended up changing jobs and only did 3.5k miles last year in it! It can happen !

Cat d in the uk is usually minor non structural damage but it still devalues the car by about 25% and can often make it harder to insure, some insurers won't insure it at all while others will after an engineers inspection report is provided.