Class D Write off

[jezza16v]

Hi, I need a bit of advice if anyone can help.
I have the chance to buy a 91 gti 8v, I've run a check on it and its come back as a 'class d' write off 4 yers ago!
A closer look shows it to have had a new n/s wing, front bumper, n/s head light, grille and the bonnet has been repaired (very well) rather than replaced. There is no damage to the inner wing or box sections (that I can tell) and its a really tidy straight low mileage car & everything matches the V5. The current owner has had it 2yrs and didn't know its history (I believe her). Is Cat D a problem on an old car, it seems too good to just walk away? 

[A7 UFO]

As long as you are prepared to sell it on as cheap as you bought it for then there shouldn't be a problem.  Just give it a thorough test drive to ensure it is straight.

[jezza16v]

Thanks for that. It drives really well, infact its the only mk2 I've driven that does'nt pull to the left! She wanted £1200, I beat her down to £1050 before I found out so I'm thinking of going back now with an offer of £750... Is that too mean or too much I wonder? 

[topher]

well since your insurance will pay you f*ck all if it gets stolen/written off, £750 is more than generous.

[jezza16v]

  Explain please!!

[Gambit]

with it being Cat D the car insurance companies valuation of the car isprobably about 50% less than that of a GTI of similar age that is not written off.

A7 summed it up. dont be buying thinking you'll make money on it. you wont.

buy it if you want it. its easy to see why it was written off. 4 years ago the car was probably worth about 1500. the cost of repairs would have made it an uneconomical repair. hence it was written off

[[han]]

mines a cat D and i love it, although i have the papers to prove we put back on the road legally. VIC papers! Can knock her dowen further if she doesnt have these!

Cat D just effects price if repairs have been done right!

 :grin:Only devalues cr, doens't make it a bad one!

[jezza16v]

Thanks Gamit & Han. Think it's best to value it a s a spares/doner vehicle then. It does not have any paperwork, or notes on the V5, apparently they did'nt start requiring that stuff on cat D until 3 years ago. A friend of mine has a cat D but on his V5 there is a note at the bottom to declare it, thats why I didn't twig it when I first looked. I'm just glad I ran a check on it, worth the £20 it seems. Strange though, I got a fully comp insurance quote on it just in case I went ahead and you would have thought the insurance company would have alerted me to it......not a chance!    I checked further and even if I pay £150 to get it certified by 'Autoline' (or something like that) it still stays as a cat D... its madness 

[systemseiko]

Correct me if i' wrong but a full RAC inspection should warrant either a Cat "C" or "D" that is properly repaired roadworthy and give you a list of any outstanding repair issues,  although the V 5 wil still display that it has at one stage been damaged.
When i bought my GTI i paid extra £Â£Ã‚£Ã‚£'s to insure it for £3500.00 incase the inevitable happened,  it only cost £29.00 and well worth the few extra shillings,  plus if you have a RAC report it can be used as an independant view to the car's roadworthyness post RTA.

[jezza16v]

Thanks for your input, I'll look into that. The current 5 has no mention of damage because it was before there was such a requirement for certification, it just came up on a 'Car Status' check. I expect I'll miss out on it because she may get lucky and sell it to someone who does'nt bother to check it out. Its a pity really because its is in much better condition than the 16v I already have!