Cat C

[jetpilot]

Is there anyway to find out why a vehicle was a Cat C write off? I.e what damage was done etc

[B.Martin]

Usually those full hpi checks tell you, don\'t they?

[jetpilot]

I think from memory they only tell you it was/is a total loss claim.

[rx-dave]

There\'s no way to find out, i\'ve seen Cat C\'s in an absolute mess whereas a mate of mine was hit in his old MX5 and that was listed as a C for very little damage. I\'d give it a good look over, see how it drives and if all is well and it\'s a bargain well just go for it.
Dave.

[Will66]

If it\'s been a Cat C write off then it has been declared a total loss at some stage so an HPI check will show up on it.  Also it will have undergone a Vehicle Identity check at some stage to get it back road legal so there should be evidence of that too.

[m1tch]

I guess due to the low value of the car and the high cost/impossible parts to find you might find that its classed as a cat C even with a little damage due to the cost of new parts (if available) to fix it.

[Will66]

Low damage but uneconomic repair would be a Cat D, a Cat C has had extensive but repairable damage.

[jetpilot]

If it\'s been a Cat C write off then it has been declared a total loss at some stage so an HPI check will show up on it.  Also it will have undergone a Vehicle Identity check at some stage to get it back road legal so there should be evidence of that too.

A VIC check is just to make sure its not put together with stolen parts i.e it just check vin plates etc and the HPI check doesnt tell you why it was a total loss.

I think you are right Dave, unless i can find out who wrote it off (insurance company) and ask them.

[rx-dave]

A VIC check is just to make sure its not put together with stolen parts i.e it just check vin plates etc and the HPI check doesnt tell you why it was a total loss.
 
I think you are right Dave, unless i can find out who wrote it off (insurance company) and ask them.

That\'ll be your best bet but due to data protection etc i think you\'ll struggle. VIC checks prove very little, they only look at the original car to make sure it appears to be the said vehicle. They don\'t check repairs nor do they check the replacement parts origination. I\'ve spent lots of time in VOSA centres SVA testing cars and i used to watch the \'checks\'.
Most Cat C cars will reveal their repairs when you look, that said a customer of mine bought an R33 GTR that was absolutely mint / perfect / stunning. I ran a check (after he\'d paid £13000 cash) and she was a C, i don\'t know why but that car looked to be perfect, drove perfectly and was a superb car.
I\'d just have a good look / drive and if in doubt just leave it there, just remember they are harder to move on so if you can get it at say 50-60% of a straight car then i\'d just buy it.............if you like it then i\'m sure the next buyer / owner will also like it :Thumbs-up
Dave.

[boosted]

:drivingmy rexy is a Cat C, got told stolen recovered.....I found out she\'d had a front bumper and wing thats all. Wing and bumper were red under Montego Blue no big deal. Paid £2800. with fresh engine under warranty and 12 months MOT 2 years ago before prices nose dived. Been under it a few times and no other damage found infact 2nd mot was a no advisory.
tried to sell once but nobody wanted it so i\'ll have to keep it....

[jetpilot]

You know i think thats the main problem, because effectively you cant get a definitive answer about what the actual damage was or why it was written off people are cautious.
Lets be honest, with values of cars at a particular low, it wouldnt take much to write off a car, the damage could be completely superficial, bonnet, door etc

If you had a database that you could check to see what was damaged it would be a very good idea

[Prof]

I put mine back on the road - that was Cat C because it was uneconomical - that was just front bumper and wing effectively.
 
I did measure all the suspension points to see if the chasis had shifted at all, and also had Rotechniks give it a once over - and they found the front arm was slightly bent - so that got replaced too.
 
A Cat C write off could be good value - worth getting it checked but no reason why it can\'t be safe again.

[jetpilot]

A Cat C write off could be good value - worth getting it checked but no reason why it can\'t be safe again.

Exactly my point, i was recently sorely tempted but without being able to find the history (damage) i pulled out for fear of something more sinister than superficial damage and without being in a position to have a full check done, i wasnt prepared to take a risk, mainly for when i came to sell on. However, if i had known it wasnt structural i could have bought in confidence and sold in confidence. I also found out some insurance companies are dubious with re insuring a write off, if that also had peace of mind, would it not be better for them?

[boosted]

my evo 8 was a cat D, my wifes mr2 is a cat D my track colt gti is a cat C And was written off as a scroat put a screwdriver  in the door frame...alarm went off he ran away i bought from salvage for £125 and bent frame back in line in 30 secs!  I bought my mates dad a almera GTi with an arch scrape for £150 with 80 k on it , There is a salvage yard in my town //www.copart.co.uk  and there are bargains all day long in there.....BUT, there are some real death traps!. I only let my wife drive a cat D as i frikin repaired it ! .....I don\'t bother with it any more  as you lose 90 % of interested parties as soon as you tell them !  Thing is anyone can register and buy a damaged car and put it back on the road....i did mine through my mates bodyshop and re-moted them through another mates garage but its totally unregulated ...and really surprised its not been a watchdog type expose........People buy em and drive them outta the yard .......

have a look at the website so bargains......some death traps!