Pricing guidance for buying a category S car
Discussion
Hi folks,
I have looked at a category S car which I am considering to buy but not sure about price (other than the 30-40% off rule which I have read about in few places).
Car was bought as category S from copart by the seller who owns an authorised bodyshop repair and repaired it themselves (they make body repairs of same brand as an authorised repairer).
It's a 2023 reg car with about 3000 miles driven and the asking price is £15k. I test drove the car and looked fine to me - checked the pictures before damage with the list of items used in the repair.
Webuy price comes for non-category car of same make/model/trim/year/mileage comes as £20k and if I out the assumption as "category s", it quotes me the price as £13k.
Similar cars on autotrader and other sites are about listed at about £22k.
I would appreciate if anybody has price guidance/idea on above.
Thanks.
I have looked at a category S car which I am considering to buy but not sure about price (other than the 30-40% off rule which I have read about in few places).
Car was bought as category S from copart by the seller who owns an authorised bodyshop repair and repaired it themselves (they make body repairs of same brand as an authorised repairer).
It's a 2023 reg car with about 3000 miles driven and the asking price is £15k. I test drove the car and looked fine to me - checked the pictures before damage with the list of items used in the repair.
Webuy price comes for non-category car of same make/model/trim/year/mileage comes as £20k and if I out the assumption as "category s", it quotes me the price as £13k.
Similar cars on autotrader and other sites are about listed at about £22k.
I would appreciate if anybody has price guidance/idea on above.
Thanks.
Sounds reasonable price wise based on those numbers, as a lot seem to be barely any cheaper than a non cat one.
Need to bear in mind it may be harder to sell later on but if you are planning to run it for a good while its less of a problem.
I think people are terrified of categorized cars as it used to be the case that stuff didnt get written off unless it was properly mangled but as costs for parts have gone up, the complexity of cars has gone up so more parts to replace then the bar for being a write off is much lower.
Then you get someone with a 10 year old Clio worth 4 grand driving round in a brand new rental for 5 weeks running up a massive bill of more than their car is worth, so they have got quicker and more decisive for just paying out to avoid that eventuality.
Have seen lots of cars repaired via YouTube and it does make you more comfortable, in a lot of cases, channels like Salvage Rebuilds go through it all and it demystifies it, its only a car and you take the broken stuff off and put new on. There is another channel, chap called Artur Tussik, he rebuilds stuff that would normally be a definite write off being completely wrecked, would be more wary of that and I think that is more what people see when they see a cat marker, but in most cases its just bolt on and off stuff and a bit of paint.
And remember, lots of cars dont get written off, say a 50 grand 4 series gets a hard smack in its first year, insurance sends it in to BMW for a 20 grand repair, car isnt written off and is then sold on for 35/40 grand, no marker or anything, you are none the wiser.
Need to bear in mind it may be harder to sell later on but if you are planning to run it for a good while its less of a problem.
I think people are terrified of categorized cars as it used to be the case that stuff didnt get written off unless it was properly mangled but as costs for parts have gone up, the complexity of cars has gone up so more parts to replace then the bar for being a write off is much lower.
Then you get someone with a 10 year old Clio worth 4 grand driving round in a brand new rental for 5 weeks running up a massive bill of more than their car is worth, so they have got quicker and more decisive for just paying out to avoid that eventuality.
Have seen lots of cars repaired via YouTube and it does make you more comfortable, in a lot of cases, channels like Salvage Rebuilds go through it all and it demystifies it, its only a car and you take the broken stuff off and put new on. There is another channel, chap called Artur Tussik, he rebuilds stuff that would normally be a definite write off being completely wrecked, would be more wary of that and I think that is more what people see when they see a cat marker, but in most cases its just bolt on and off stuff and a bit of paint.
And remember, lots of cars dont get written off, say a 50 grand 4 series gets a hard smack in its first year, insurance sends it in to BMW for a 20 grand repair, car isnt written off and is then sold on for 35/40 grand, no marker or anything, you are none the wiser.
light knight said:
Hi folks,
I have looked at a category S car which I am considering to buy but not sure about price (other than the 30-40% off rule which I have read about in few places).
Car was bought as category S from copart by the seller who owns an authorised bodyshop repair and repaired it themselves (they make body repairs of same brand as an authorised repairer).
It's a 2023 reg car with about 3000 miles driven and the asking price is £15k. I test drove the car and looked fine to me - checked the pictures before damage with the list of items used in the repair.
Webuy price comes for non-category car of same make/model/trim/year/mileage comes as £20k and if I out the assumption as "category s", it quotes me the price as £13k.
Similar cars on autotrader and other sites are about listed at about £22k.
I would appreciate if anybody has price guidance/idea on above.
Thanks.
Is the sale from a business / the bodyshop?I have looked at a category S car which I am considering to buy but not sure about price (other than the 30-40% off rule which I have read about in few places).
Car was bought as category S from copart by the seller who owns an authorised bodyshop repair and repaired it themselves (they make body repairs of same brand as an authorised repairer).
It's a 2023 reg car with about 3000 miles driven and the asking price is £15k. I test drove the car and looked fine to me - checked the pictures before damage with the list of items used in the repair.
Webuy price comes for non-category car of same make/model/trim/year/mileage comes as £20k and if I out the assumption as "category s", it quotes me the price as £13k.
Similar cars on autotrader and other sites are about listed at about £22k.
I would appreciate if anybody has price guidance/idea on above.
Thanks.
Or from the owner of the bodyshop as a private car?
If its the latter is the car in his name, taxed and insured today and how long has he been using it.
Id personally swerve it unless its a business selling it, or unless its in his name and he's been using it for at least 6 months and a few thousand miles since repairing it.
bennno said:
Is the sale from a business / the bodyshop?
Or from the owner of the bodyshop as a private car?
If its the latter is the car in his name, taxed and insured today and how long has he been using it.
Id personally swerve it unless its a business selling it, or unless its in his name and he's been using it for at least 6 months and a few thousand miles since repairing it.
This. The car needs to be a sale from the business so that you have some comeback in the future.Or from the owner of the bodyshop as a private car?
If its the latter is the car in his name, taxed and insured today and how long has he been using it.
Id personally swerve it unless its a business selling it, or unless its in his name and he's been using it for at least 6 months and a few thousand miles since repairing it.
bennno said:
Is the sale from a business / the bodyshop?
Or from the owner of the bodyshop as a private car?
If its the latter is the car in his name, taxed and insured today and how long has he been using it.
Id personally swerve it unless its a business selling it, or unless its in his name and he's been using it for at least 6 months and a few thousand miles since repairing it.
He's selling it as a private car - not taxed, not insured and not MOTed after the repair.Or from the owner of the bodyshop as a private car?
If its the latter is the car in his name, taxed and insured today and how long has he been using it.
Id personally swerve it unless its a business selling it, or unless its in his name and he's been using it for at least 6 months and a few thousand miles since repairing it.
MOT is not due until 2026 as it's a 2023 car but folks on my other thread here advised that it would be better to get MOT to confirm it's roadworthy and that my insurance may ask to see it (as has been the case with insurer of other folks - but my insurance categorically said no - they don't want to see a new MOT) .
So, he's agreed to do a new MOT before the sale happens.
He does not have the v5c because he did not want to put an additional owner on it. But he's happy to get v5c in his name first and then sell to me as the third owner.
light knight said:
bennno said:
Is the sale from a business / the bodyshop?
Or from the owner of the bodyshop as a private car?
If its the latter is the car in his name, taxed and insured today and how long has he been using it.
Id personally swerve it unless its a business selling it, or unless its in his name and he's been using it for at least 6 months and a few thousand miles since repairing it.
He's selling it as a private car - not taxed, not insured and not MOTed after the repair.Or from the owner of the bodyshop as a private car?
If its the latter is the car in his name, taxed and insured today and how long has he been using it.
Id personally swerve it unless its a business selling it, or unless its in his name and he's been using it for at least 6 months and a few thousand miles since repairing it.
MOT is not due until 2026 as it's a 2023 car but folks on my other thread here advised that it would be better to get MOT to confirm it's roadworthy and that my insurance may ask to see it (as has been the case with insurer of other folks - but my insurance categorically said no - they don't want to see a new MOT) .
So, he's agreed to do a new MOT before the sale happens.
He does not have the v5c because he did not want to put an additional owner on it. But he's happy to get v5c in his name first and then sell to me as the third owner.
500 miles under his watch - shake down, niggles sorted.
MustangGT said:
This. The car needs to be a sale from the business so that you have some comeback in the future.
£8k less than its retail value and its been in a crash but you still want comeback? You can't have your cake and eat it. Buying category cars is a gamble, everybody knows that. If you're of a nervous disposition then buy a straight car from a dealer.It sounds to me like its somebody working in a body shop just trying to earn himself a bit of extra money. If I was buying a category car I'd rather that, than somebody with no knowledge or experience fixing them in their garden because they've watched a few Mat Armstrong videos.
123DWA said:
£8k less than its retail value and its been in a crash but you still want comeback? You can't have your cake and eat it. Buying category cars is a gamble, everybody knows that. If you're of a nervous disposition then buy a straight car from a dealer.
It sounds to me like its somebody working in a body shop just trying to earn himself a bit of extra money. If I was buying a category car I'd rather that, than somebody with no knowledge or experience fixing them in their garden because they've watched a few Mat Armstrong videos.
As you say, it sounds like a trader, but a trader doing it unofficially to any liability for quality of work or tax.It sounds to me like its somebody working in a body shop just trying to earn himself a bit of extra money. If I was buying a category car I'd rather that, than somebody with no knowledge or experience fixing them in their garden because they've watched a few Mat Armstrong videos.
If it sounds too good to be true it usually is. Personally I'm not so desperate to own a less than year old car that I'd consider a Cat S bought privately from a trader but not in his name etc, but each to their own. I'll await the next thread from the O/P in this saga... Pass the popcorn someone lol.
ZX10R NIN said:
That sounds like a fair deal the seller is happy to MOT it so let him do it. You've test driven & it suits YOUR budget so go for it also it's had 3k added to it since the repair you don't do that if the car is a dog.
How’s it had 3k miles added without being in the possession of trade, registered, or taxed?Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff