12 replies to this topic

[MatthewJClarke]

Hi all, Just been reading some posts with regards to buying an accident damage vx220, now the damage sustained on my vx was registered as a cat c, however there is no damage to any area bar the front clam and very minor damage to the crash box and radiator ! How an earth can they register it as a cat C, I'm slightly confused ? What's your forts ? Matt

[vocky]

I still shiver at the cat D with massive chassis damage (silver vxT with a mashed door pillar), it was written off when nearly new. It was left unrepaired for many years and recently sold, it would now be a cat B and rightly so.

Edited by vocky, 05 October 2012 - 09:46 AM.

[JG]

C or D is a bit of a lottery.

[vocky]

How an earth can they register it as a cat C, I'm slightly confused ?

just to confuse you even more, mine had similar damage to yours five years ago (I fitted a brand new genuine crashbox and repaired the clam - headlights/foglights/front V were all fine) yet it's HPI clear

[turboluca]

Been buying many vx. The assessors that are sent out majority of time ain't clued up . It's weird I seen cat c that should of been cat d, an cat d that should been c. You could sit on the front clam cause a crack an they write it off. By time wait fir a new clam from vauxhall and that time courtesy cost .

[MatthewJClarke]

It is ridiculous really, as soon as I assessed the car I snapped the sellers hand off, it drives amazingly without fault, just in need of a new front rad, surround and clam ! Even the bonnet wasn't damaged !! Think mine wax assessed by someone who went abit over the top !

[VX Boyd]

The guy at the garage that assessed mine seemed to think a Cat D is very, very rarely assigned anymore, apparently down to vehicle ringing.

[FLD]

Mine was cat C'd for a cracked front clam, and scratched headlamp. People seem to have issues with cat cars. Mostly this is valid but I think the VX is a bit of a weird one. A well repaired cat car can be far better than a non cat car.

[Apex Graphics]

If your buying and keeping a car as long as you've researched why its a Cat C or D then it's fine, go get a bargain, problem comes when selling 80% of people unless they are specialists in VX's won't touch them, rightly or wrongly it's always up for debate, if your like me who changes your car more than you have hot dinners then stay away because re sale WILL cause you issues!! Simples

[G-Bob]

People always think that they are not going to get much money when they sell a Cat car, but the thing they don't remember is that they don't pay as much in the first place. Cat car buy at 5k sell later at 4k non-cat car buy at 6k sell later at 5k It's the same money in the long run.

[mattgvxt]

Matt, I recently bought a 55 plate cat d vx with similar damage to yours, very light front impact. The previous owner told me the car had submarined into the back of mondeo at 10 mph. Result Damaged clam, one light scratched lens, the other has broken mounting, rad surround had a few cracks and bonnet hinge had ko ed rad (crash box untouched). Previous owner told me insurance assessor got to £9.5k and decided to write off. My misses car, Nissan note is a cat c, it had a very light scrape down one side, replaced wing 2 doors and bumpers, had only done 10 miles, absolutely no structural damage. May be insurance cat's aren't consistent because it involves an assessors opinion?

[VXBONE]

is this breakdown of catogories correct? There are five levels of damage used by the insurance industry to describe cars that have been involved in accidents. These levels, or categories as they're more commonly known, are labelled as A, B, C, D and F. Cat F refers to a vehicle that has suffered fire damage. The other four 'Cats', A to D, all relate to cars that have had various levels of crash damage, and that are registered as such. Cat A is the worst of the four, where a vehicle is so damaged that it cannot even be used for salvage and should be crushed. Cats B and C mean that the vehicle has been heavily damaged and the insurance company has chosen not to go ahead with the repairs. Cat C cars are usually capable of being salvaged if the repairs are carried out correctly. Cat D is the least serious category. It usually means that the vehicle has suffered light damage but the insurance company's decision to repair it is dependent on the cost of the repairs and the value of the vehicle. If you're buying a Cat D car, there's no guarantee that it hasn't incurred chassis damage. You can find out for sure by investing in a full mechanical inspection at an approved dealership, or by RAC Inspections. If you buy a Cat D car, make sure your insurance company knows about it, otherwise they might not pay up on any claim.

[mattgvxt]

Cat B is Breaker only, can't be put back on road