Would you buy a cat?
Discussion
We're looking for a car for my partner and she's got her heart set on a Fiesta. But, so many we're seeing on the classifieds are CAT registered. Seems like it's a car that like to be smashed for some reason. Anyway, I digress.
Would you buy a CAT car? It's a car she's going to keep for a long time so it's not too much of an issue when selling time comes, as it'll probably be 10-15 years older. She's really likes the EcoBoost but I've read the horror stories. We did test drive one last week and tbh it was a great little car...that was a CAT S. I assume if you buy a CAT S from a dealer and 6 months later whilst on a ramp having the exhaust changed we notice the chassis is bent somewhere, you can take it back? Or do you literally have to have a thorough inspection of such a car before handing over your wedge?
Answers on a post card.
Thanks in advance
Cad
Would you buy a CAT car? It's a car she's going to keep for a long time so it's not too much of an issue when selling time comes, as it'll probably be 10-15 years older. She's really likes the EcoBoost but I've read the horror stories. We did test drive one last week and tbh it was a great little car...that was a CAT S. I assume if you buy a CAT S from a dealer and 6 months later whilst on a ramp having the exhaust changed we notice the chassis is bent somewhere, you can take it back? Or do you literally have to have a thorough inspection of such a car before handing over your wedge?
Answers on a post card.
Thanks in advance
Cad
CAT S is structural repair required. On an older car that's not financially viable, on a new car it may be worth repairing so they repair it.
Damage could be no worse that another car that hasn't been through insurance and doesn't have a marker.
Or it may be a shoddy repair that's sneaked past inspection.
One thing to consider is the area damaged and straightened may not be quite as strong and resilient to a further impact in the same area.
You need to find out what was damaged and how.
Damage could be no worse that another car that hasn't been through insurance and doesn't have a marker.
Or it may be a shoddy repair that's sneaked past inspection.
One thing to consider is the area damaged and straightened may not be quite as strong and resilient to a further impact in the same area.
You need to find out what was damaged and how.
Howard- said:
There are a million and one Fiestas for sale at any one time. What's the point?
I disagree with this. We've been sitting at our laptops this morning looking for petrol Fiestas up to £6k 3DR and at least 60% of them are CAT cars. Looking for a used car has never in my life been this irritating. caduceus said:
I disagree with this. We've been sitting at our laptops this morning looking for petrol Fiestas up to £6k 3DR and at least 60% of them are CAT cars. Looking for a used car has never in my life been this irritating.
Well yes naturally there will be more due to the price point you're looking at. Yes. And have owned some with no horrible consequenses or insurance issues. However for a road car I would only consider Cat N (or old school Cat D) as it's only likely to have had some bolt on parts and a bit of paint, which quite frankly is what all cars or a certian age get at some point. Just do your checks carefully (pre repair photos/report are great) and get it inspected if your not a mechanic. Also if it's repaired and still a bit rough looking, then walk away - plenty more fish in the sea...
caduceus said:
I disagree with this. We've been sitting at our laptops this morning looking for petrol Fiestas up to £6k 3DR and at least 60% of them are CAT cars. Looking for a used car has never in my life been this irritating.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?sort=relevance&postcode=e16an&radius=1500&make=Ford&model=Fiesta&aggregatedTrim=Titanium&include-delivery-option=on&price-from=5500&price-to=6500&fuel-type=Petrol&exclude-writeoff-categories=onThere's loads in Titanium spec alone!
Ditch the stupid requirement for it to be 3 doors and you'll probably get further.
A cat N (old D) yes, i have one, wouldn't touch a cat S (old C) though.
Same reasoning as OP. I saved £6k to £8k on same car none cat and this was by far the best condition car I viewed.
A few bits of the repair need addressing, broken headlight bracket, and some damage to the underside trims, but knocked down the price accordingly. I found a bit more haggle room with the car being cat D as the pool of willing buyers is so much smaller.
I plan to keep it a long time so by the time I sell the price reduction against a none cat will be 1 or 2k at most, if I have to drop more than I've still not lost out.
As for insurance, never once had an insurance company even ask if it's a cat car, the only stipulation in most policies is they will reduce any write off payout accordingly. Fair enough I didn't pay full price.
Go in with you eyes open and check the repaired area (and the rest of the car) thoroughly if it's been repaired well and priced right buy it. If your not checking carefully you're just as likely to buy a none cat car that's had just as much damage repaired.
Same reasoning as OP. I saved £6k to £8k on same car none cat and this was by far the best condition car I viewed.
A few bits of the repair need addressing, broken headlight bracket, and some damage to the underside trims, but knocked down the price accordingly. I found a bit more haggle room with the car being cat D as the pool of willing buyers is so much smaller.
I plan to keep it a long time so by the time I sell the price reduction against a none cat will be 1 or 2k at most, if I have to drop more than I've still not lost out.
As for insurance, never once had an insurance company even ask if it's a cat car, the only stipulation in most policies is they will reduce any write off payout accordingly. Fair enough I didn't pay full price.
Go in with you eyes open and check the repaired area (and the rest of the car) thoroughly if it's been repaired well and priced right buy it. If your not checking carefully you're just as likely to buy a none cat car that's had just as much damage repaired.
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