Cat D Lcr ?

[m.r.davies]

Hi all

I've seen a Cat D LCR, it was stolen and recovered within 6 months of it leaving the factory, all the work to fix it was done under warrenty but the guy had a new car and it was sold to the person who is selling now, they've had it for 3 years which sounds good, but i'm a little cautious due to cat D

I spoke to him and asked him about un-even tyre wear, he said it was fine but he also said he was in the tyre place getting new tyres on it, which worries me as i'd like to see its wear.

I was thinking of having a look and taking an AA or RAC guy with me, but i cant find anything on their website, they do offer a comprehensive check dont they??
Would they be able to pick up stuff like potential un even tyre wear from chasis damage?

Any tips or advice appreciated

 

[Copra]

personally my thoughts would be to walk away.

you have your concerns about it now, its not something you want to have on your mind while you own the car.

If the car was stolen recovered then there is nothing to say it was havily damaged and repaired. at worst it COULD only have needed a new lock set or something. you can get AA and RAC car inspections, how you go about it though i am not sure.

 

[Tom B]

Depending on the price, I'd be tempted to go for it and knock off £££ for the tyres. That way you can see the uneven wear for yourself and maybe buy new tyres cheaper

 

[Reg]

Is it cheap? Cat D will knock the value, whatever happened to it. No reason to just dismiss it - but you need to find out exactly what happened to it. It is was stolen/recovered, its likely the insurance firm had already paid out for it, hence why they wrote it off - its common practice, doesn't mean its had a shunt.

If you think there had been some major damage, look for it. Look for overspray, non-factory looking welds (under the bonnet, around inner wings, that sort of thing).

If you do have doubts then the right thing to do is walk away, but thats the same for any car, not just a Cat D. Take someone else with you who might spot things that you don't. Just double check everything.

 

[andycupra]

it would have to be a seriopusoly cheaper than the going rate.

also, repaired under warranty? thats a serious warranty!
do you mean repaired by a dealer?

can you get some pics of the damage?

you could well get a bargain, but when you go to sell it you will have to sell it cheap.

 

[m0rk]

For a car of any value I would want to see evidence of the pre repaired state rather than just taking someones word for it.

the story seems flakey. so by the time you come to sell it, it'll be flakier still, potential buyers will suss you a mile off, and you won't sell it / sell it easily

 

[Mad Spoons]

dont bother with the rac and aa checks. my boss bought an elise and had it "checked" 2 months later the gearbox was broken and when it went in for repair, they told him it look like it had spent all its life on a track, the piston rings had gone, all the shocks were leaking, the exahust had been welded to fix instead of replacing, needless to say he flogged it on to some other poor unsuspecting person.

 

[m.r.davies]

thanks guys

The car already has the 1 new tyre on it, it was done earlier today
the story goes:
------------------------
I've owned the car since 27/03/04,
I bought the car off my Dad who had owned it since 17/11/03,
When my Dad bought the car it was 6 months old and had only done 3,500 miles,
It had Suspension Damage i.e o/s Hub, Leg shaft, steering rack ALL New From Seat,
And rear Leg Hub I have reciepts to prove From Seat Main Dealer,
The Car was written off as the original owner had an Old For New Car Policy which allowed him to have a New Car If his Car got damaged in the 1st 12 months,
The Car Is Recorded as Cat D.
---------------------

Basically, they bought it as a Cat D, the dad is selling it as the son cant afford to maintain it and he's fed up of subbing him all the time.

He wants 8k for the car, its an 03 plate in black.
i've seen one for 10,500 which is mint, i'm dont know which one to choose, 8k is well cheap for an initial outlay,

Cat D knocks 20% off the value.

He did say that if it was troublesum he would have sold it ages ago,
Not really sure what to do? if i go fro 10.5k one then thats all my money gone, if i go for 8k one then there is a risk, but i got a lot of cash spare!

shall i just toss a coin ;o)

 

[cupra@180]

This is the one from ebay. (going on the story).

If it was me and my money I'd leave this one alone and go for the other 10.5k. You are already doubting this purchase and in my case if I have ever doubted something I've left well alone.

 

[m0rk]

if the son can't afford to maintain it - what has he skimped on?

Let the oil light come on before putting cheapest oil in? remould tyres? wood for brakes?

the last one was a joke..... but I would never buy a car from someone who's skint

 

[m.r.davies]

its a massive risk agreed, if i could get someone to go over it and they said its cool then i would go for it

but where the hell am i going to find someone, dont know anyone in bham

 

[Riddick_m3]

see if you can get it down to 7750 or even 7500 then i would buy it if i were you, providing you get someone who knows what the looking at to look over the car to make sure its ok now, also driving it for more than 5 mins will tell you alot, good luck

 

[cpufreak]

for 10.5k you can get a really nice '01 Audi S4.

 

[m.r.davies]

made up my mind
going for the 10.5k one, its too risky

thanks

 

[S3 AKR]

Don't be too hasty........You just have to be sensible about the checks you make........

Put it in for a full geometry check. That will proove alignment and tell the vendor that if it's found to be bent (rather than just out of adjustment) that he should pay for the check.

The AA/RAC checks can measure paint depth so you'll know if its had replacement panels or a re-paint. (again, do a deal with vendor that if its found to have been crashed that he pays the inspection fee)

Tyre wear could just be tracking so don't rely on it.

A full Seat history would help for the servicing worries due to skint owner (though interim top-ups could have been with Tesco Oil - but any car could have that even from a dealer as you don't know why the previous owner traded it)

I agree that if they had trouble with the car they wouldn't have sold it onto their son, and wouldn't have had it for more than a few months!

Lastly, get a better price as he won't have people beating down his door for it. I'd seriously consider it myself.

 

[willbatch]

Ive hust brought a stolen recovered Cupra tdi, its on a cat D had a few of its panels kicked in and a few bits stolen, but will be a tasty car for little moeny when its done.