Cat 'C' write offs - curiosity

[gumby6371]

I saw a cat C 53 plate 2.2 exec with 45,000 miles on ebay for £800 the other day. It was up in Manchester so too far away for me to be intersted in but out of curiosity has anyone ever bought one?

The ad said front end damage but couldn't see any on the pics, I assume it was body work and rads so potentially not too much to repair if you got panels from breakers yards and got the old spray gun out.
If it was local and I bought it I can garuntee it would need everything replacing from the back doors forwards tho!!!

Obviously the insurance valuation is next to nothing for a repaired write off and it needs a full mot before putting back on the road but what other hoops are there to jump through? Would it be a standard mot or is there extra checks needed for written off cars?

Cat C is a funny thing as mine would probably be written off for a dented front wing but still perfectly safe to drive.

[jonsowman]

I believe Cat C cars also need a VIC (vehicle identity check) by the DVLA before being allowed back on the roads, this is around the £40 mark. It doesn't test the quality of the repairs, only the identity of the vehicle.

As you said, it will also need an MOT, but it's a normal MOT.

[Welly]

A 9-year old Diesel covering just 5000 miles per year? something fishy there but could be a first

[grasmere59]

I bought my dad an old Mondeo estate years ago with a split bumper and a dented tailgate,we went to tax,mot or insure it (can't remember which) but we were told it was a cat C write off which the seller neglected to tell us,anyway it was a good car and i changed the bumper and tailgate and had to have a VIC check done at a vosa centre and when talking to the examiner he said the checks were done primarily to ensure it was still the same car that had been written off and it wasn't a ringer and that the repairs were done properly,he knew where to look and what damage had been done to the car before he examined it,i assume this is also kept on rhe VIC records.

[Welly]

I thought it was mandatory for the old Mondeos to have split bumpers? I've never seen one without

[grasmere59]

I think they all used to come off the production line with a hairline crack in them just waiting for a slight bump to really open it up.I think there was a ford part number for the gaffer repair tape too.

[scotty73]

I thought it was mandatory for the old Mondeos to have split bumpers? I've never seen one without

An old Mondeo with the windscreen washer tank visible or bumper foam hanging out used to be the norm around here in fact a mate of mine in an old green m reg one followed me the 250 miles to Skegness one year and if it wern't for his bumper foam i'd have lost him quite a few times.

[Welly]

Yes, I've seen some elaborate Gaffa-tape repairs round my way to Mondy Bumpers, all with varying degrees of success.

[lozz]

Becareful if your buying a car thats had a crash.
dosent matter how much money you put in to them to make them right, some never drive straight again,

iwouidnt bother with them unless there peanuts,
theres plenty enough bargains out there

[plod]

I have that same car in my watch list

The osr wheel is at a "bit" of an angle as well, but does say front damage as you say

I think if it was a bit closer, or I still did the run up to Kendal, i'd of gone and looked at it, and if right taken a punt at it, especially as my mate would of come with me, and he's done plenty of cat c's