Your thoughts on Cat N cars (previously cat D write off)

[AVI_8 0]

Just wondering what the thoughts are on cat N cars, used to be known as cat D insurance write off, Cat N means no structural damage, having looked at several, recently an M3,BMW 2015 plate, stolen recovered, thieves stole keys from house, car recovered, no damage, insurance paid out. Lots of other cars with very minor non structural damage.

Didnt buy them due to stigma of previously described and I've seen lots like it on specialist web sites, I'm interested to know if you've bought a cat D car in the past or if you specialise in that field, and if so do you find it has caused problems during the sale.

[NoMargin 11]

As you said cat N stands for non structural damage,there are plenty of cat D cars which previously had structural damage, and many cat C cars which had no structural damage. Yes you can get them cheap but not worth the hassle in my eyes, sometimes a real bugger to sell. 

Edited December 8, 2017 by NoMargin

[AVI_8 0]

Yeh, not having to try to sell one of those, that was my thought, .. Pity though, a car with practically no damage, nothing wrong with it is a big plus point for getting it really cheap ... But at the other end its hard to sell them not worth the point in getting them cheap ... Even tough they re perfectly good cars in the first place.

 

Thanks for your reply guys.

[justina3 518]

I know a lad (dont we all) who buys and sells loads of cat d and to be fair he really does supply a good car, no website just word of mouth loads of lumpy sporty stuff with top profit, but each to there own when you have a web page and it screams written of its very hard to get any calls on them.

 

[metcars 397]

3 hours ago, tradex said:

We know of a polish guy whom sells 'German Performance Saloons' some of which are circa £20k and most (all?) of his gear is C or D and he does OK, been around for a few years, nice guy when we speak, knows his cars too.

I  have a Polish guy on the corner of my road who repairs accident damaged german performance stuff too. Does it all in his front garden. He has three or four up for sale, but keeps a low profile and its all taxed and mot'd. He seems to have a regular and loyal Polish customer base too? I have no idea where he advertises them and nothing hangs around for long

[trade vet 702]

38 minutes ago, met said:

I  have a Polish guy on the corner of my road who repairs accident damaged german performance stuff too. Does it all in his front garden. He has three or four up for sale, but keeps a low profile and its all taxed and mot'd. He seems to have a regular and loyal Polish customer base too? I have no idea where he advertises them and nothing hangs around for long

Excuse me,one of your neighbours operates a business repairing and selling  accident damaged performance cars from his front garden and keeps a low profile !  Unbelievable, what would Margot and Gerrie do about that !

[metcars 397]

40 minutes ago, trade vet said:

Excuse me,one of your neighbours operates a business repairing and selling  accident damaged performance cars from his front garden and keeps a low profile !  Unbelievable, what would Margot and Gerrie do about that !

Margot and Gerrie moved out long ago!

[grant8064 219]

I don't buy them but recently took in two part ex Fiestas, both cat C & cat D at different points in their abused lives. Re con was a bit heavier than usual but once they were both up to standard they went on sale. Priced accordingly they both flew out. No interest in buying any ever but when they come in chop i'll take them on.

[metcars 397]

49 minutes ago, tradex said:

Must be a Polish thing, moved on from plumbing

He moved into a new build corner plot a few years back. Started doing odd mechanical jobs, then some vans for a local delivery firm. And then moved on to salvage prestige German bits. I've walked passed his place when a truck has been delivering but It's not anywhere I know. He usually builds up a couple then sells them off and the cycle repeats. He never has cars being worked on while he has them for sale. He's very careful about advertising because I can't find him anywhere? I suspect he sells to his own Polish community as they don't seem as bothered about damaged repairables? If I take the dog out later I might try and sneak a pic?

[NoMargin 11]

On 08/12/2017 at 9:13 AM, justina3 said:

I know a lad (dont we all) who buys and sells loads of cat d and to be fair he really does supply a good car, no website just word of mouth loads of lumpy sporty stuff with top profit, but each to there own when you have a web page and it screams written of its very hard to get any calls on them.

 

I also know of someone who only sells damage repaired stuff, he's been doing it for at least 15 years, and does well he drives around  in a 6.0 Bentley. Few years back he had about £100K worth of cars, trades from home, no website. 

[have a word with the wife 299]

On 08/12/2017 at 0:03 AM, AVI_8 said:

Just wondering what the thoughts are on cat N cars, used to be known as cat D insurance write off, Cat N means no structural damage, having looked at several, recently an M3,BMW 2015 plate, stolen recovered, thieves stole keys from house, car recovered, no damage, insurance paid out. Lots of other cars with very minor non structural damage.

cat n is  NOT previously known as cat d , its nothing to do with cat d, cat d WAS estimated cost of repairs not more than retail cost of car, cat n is not in anyway associated with cost of repair, neither is cat s, so a cat s could be more economical to repair than cat n maybe ?

i love these stories of oh its only stolen recovered with keys, no damage, yeah right, thats why theyve paid out thousands 

[Arfur Dealy 823]

I stay well away from CAT cars unless its an old banger, I don't like the type of buyers they attract.

[sparky 274]

On 08/12/2017 at 9:13 AM, justina3 said:

I know a lad (dont we all) who buys and sells loads of cat d and to be fair he really does supply a good car, no website just word of mouth loads of lumpy sporty stuff with top profit, but each to there own when you have a web page and it screams written of its very hard to get any calls on them.

 

Yep, bloke around here very similar, except all he does is Fords and at the moment it's just Fiestas. I get parts off him and when I'm there i have to say they all look like value.  They are not for me but I can see the attraction in them.

[trade vet 702]

There was a good BCA auctioneer and he used to enjoy selling ex damaged stuff, his intro would be something like........nice little Fiesta here,only 2 former keepers,and you have service history,warranted mileage,good Mot.........and YES (he would raise his voice ) .....ITS ON THE V CAR as if it was some sort of mark of quality.Then he would target some innocent private to bid and trot them up high and bosh it out to them ! Then in the cafe after the sale he would ‘talk us through’ how he did it !

 

[trade vet 702]

44 minutes ago, tradex said:

Enfield Tony?

No it wasn’t him.This guy was on the northern circuit ( it wasn’t Tony Northern !),I don’t think it would be right to name him.

[trade vet 702]

22 minutes ago, tradex said:

I do miss some of the old school guys.

There were some real characters about, with their own little phrases.

...more history than the Tower of London and the Pyramids of Gizza always made me chuckle

Brilliant,never heard that before.Real characters and the things that used to go on .