CatD LCR 52 - whats it worth?

[highguyuk]

In your OP you state you have 5k, with 5.5k "at a push". Now your stating 6k.

Don't want to sound like your mother, but have a set amount of money that you can afford and want to spend and don't go over it. There are other Leons out there if needbe...

 

[D.K]

NO WAY
Its too much fun
Besides the wife would kill me after the money i'v spent on it
Have you thought about a mapped LC there as quick as a standard LCR and a bit cheaper

 

[oggyp20vt]

I could prob stretch to 6k but that would mean selling my van

 

[Benny]

id walk away mate.

thats one thing I don't like about buying second hand cars, you never know whats been done previously! For all you know the previous owners been bouncing it off the rev limiter every gear (i bloody hope not!!) but you just don't know these things and especially with a catD i'd be very careful and ask for the repair bills etc and possibly get an AA inspection done or something similar

 

[ChrisUK]

Have a look online at what Cat D's can look like - then decide.

I would NOT buy a Cat D from someone who has not declared it as a Cat D before looking at it - who knows what else they are hiding.

I've HPI'd 2 cars in the last week for the misses that were Cat D, were were not told at the time, so we walked away.

Dont get me wrong, I did buy a Cat D car a few years ago, and had it for 12 months without anything wrong with it - but that was declared as a Cat D at point of sale.

It's up to you, but I'd look elsewhere......

 

[Mitchy]

Sorry, even on a 52 plate and cat D, an offer of £4100 is completely taking the piss.

£4100 is pennies, you'd be able to split it apart and sell the parts for more.

 

[andycupra]

Its amazing how little needs to be damaged for a LCR to be declared a cat D.
(for example for some companies a cracked sump means they price for a new engine).

If its got the information available, photos of damage, evidence of repair etc then Cat D cars can be a good buy. - But in my opinion only where the seller is open and honest and therefore appears to not be hidding anything. Also bear in mind how long they have had it after repairs. If someone repaired it then had it a good time afterwards then this bodes well.

Cat D is afterall simply a cost based category and is not deemed significant structural damage. (which would be cat C which required more checks once repaired).
Given some insurance companies pay alot for repairs its fairly easy to be a cat D once values drop below 10k.

for example if you crack a sump and the front bumper you could be quoted £6,000 straight away which could be a cat D for some companies. (£3,000 engine block, £1,000 engine fitting, £450 bumper, £350 spraying, headlights (as brackets will most likely break when bumper is bent) £280, labour for bumper headlights resetting drive shafts steering etc £400, fog lights £180, + 10% miscilaneous takes you to 6,000...
this doesnt even include radiator, air con radiator, intercoolers, front panel etc etc... so you can see how a car can easily be a cat D.
These are all bolt on parts and easy to repair and most parts can be got for significantly less then dealer prices

Really depends on the type of damage. Some cat Ds can be a bargain and easily repaired. Others require more skill to repair, eg panels, suspension turrets etc.

 

[dainott2105]

totally agree with the post above. What you really want is pictures of the car damaged and receipts for what has been replaced on the car. Find out where the damage was and then very very closely inspect it. I have repaired and looked at a lot of damaged cars (old mans in the trade) and insurance companies can catD a car with very little damage on it (airbags alone are silly money new). It depends on so many factors, but what worries me is if this guy knows the car is a cat D and is trying to sell it as straight then thats not right (unless he really doesnt know and got had himself when buying it). Andycupra has covered everything in his post really mate but a dodgy repair will show on a car with some investigations and it depends on how handy you are with knocking some cash off him and sorting things yourself if there are any. Just dont rush into it you could buy one with a little tap and do it yourself (buy a front ender and all bits are bolt on, but make sure it starts). Good luck fella

 

[stevo lcr]

Hi,my lcr is a cat d as it had light front end damage,and the only reason im a member of this forum is because i could afford this particular car,which was still stretching my budget!! There are a lot of accident repaired cars about now,but you have to weed out the bodge jobs!!!!

 

[D.K]

I supose the guys have a point, it could just be super fiscal damadge
I would strongly advice geting a full mechanical report first and only pay as much as you are willing to pay not what the seller wants.
Being as the seller didnt disclose the info i would say his trying to cover up something

 

[oggyp20vt]

Im a Qualifyied Ford Master technician,ata member and an mot tester so i know what a good repair is and what isnt,as i said my lat car was a cat d and you could not tell whatsoever that it had been bumped,even the paint was like factory finish but its shedding out lots of money for something that is your pride and joy but you can polish away the fact it is a cat d!

Mitchy,i have been buying and selling cars and transits for many years now and have learnt the value of them too and touch wood the least profit ive ever made was 100 pound from a p-reg polo .If you wanna give him more than 4.100 for it go straight ahead but dont cry when you cant get most of it back.