Thought I'd copy this from the 'Wanted' section of the forum just in case this area is frequented more.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/308004.htm

I'm after a five door Megane with a sunroof but came across this on Pistonheads. It may even belong to someone on here.

OK, it's got no sunroof but the price is good and it ticks most of the boxes. It's just the CAT D bit that's putting me off. Very few cars drive faultlessly after they've had their teeth rattled.........

Opinions welcomed

Its advertised on here too.

Im not too sure about CAT D's too, personally i wouldnt.

Its advertised on here too.

Im not too sure about CAT D's too, personally i wouldnt.

Can't believe I missed that :bonkers: I've been checking the for sale section quite often just lately......

i Saw a nice light blue one yesterday 5 door but it had no sunroof thats why i didnt PM you

It's just the CAT D bit that's putting me off. Very few cars drive faultlessly after they've had their teeth rattled.........

Opinions welcomed

As someone who used to plan the repair and return to the race track of several race cars a year that when they're dragged off the circuit don't have a straight panel you'd be surprised.

All Cat D means is that it was cheaper for the insurance company to pay out than it was to fix it. It doesn't mean it wasn't possible to put it back to better than new. Indeed the tolerance the place I used works to is closer than the new Clio cup shells are ;-) If it was a Cat D its unlikely it was that bent as well.

There are some dodgy ones and there are some rough ones.... exactly the same as any non Cat listed car. Most important thing is to get a list of what was done, what the accident was and speak to the chaps that repaired it. Private jobs with slack time limits are often a great way for bodyshops to keep busy during slow times and a lot cheaper than a proper insurance paid job as a result. Few popped airbags and a few panels will write an older 225 off... that's not a hard repair, just costly.

Cheers
M

Cat D is panel damage

Its not just panel damage. I had a petrol 206 gti 4 years ago where the airbags had been deployed.

They registered my old car as a Cat D cos my B pillar was slightly twisted. You need to be very careful if your buying a damaged car.

just think about selling it on in the future too...

personally i wouldnt buy a cat d 'high performance' car,

I might consider it for pottering around carrying junk etc but not for high speed shinanigans or carrying kids/wife etc

Take somebody in the know.
Resale is critical, if you don't plan to keep it forever.
Personally speaking, wide berth.

I'm just not convinced about rebuilt smashes.

I've got to rebuild my brothers WRX from scratch, new skeleton, panels, the works from the floorpan up big job.

Cars can be putback together very well with no side affects but it costs £££ and most places don't spend the attention to detail and jsut tend to make it look good and get it gone as its not their problem anymore after that.

Be carful with what you buy