Advice on buying a Cat S car

EmmaChamb · 20 Jan 2020 at 21:59

Hi,

I'm pretty clueless about cars and I'd really appreciate some advice on this. So, I have my eye on a BMW X1 that is listed as a Cat S write-off. I called the garage who are selling it and they said it passed an engineers inspection, and has been repaired good as new.

I'd be looking to hang on to it to the death (have my current car 6 years and counting!) so I'm not too worried about re-sale value. It's the damage they describe that's been repaired worries me. Here's their description of the vehicle:

Only 21000miles had very light corner touch (new wing, bumper, headlight, hub, bottom arm) all parts used from Bmw Bawarian for fixing car, warranty available, engineer report carried out after repair, cat.s

The 'bottom arm' part sounds pretty serious. Like, is it structural? Or, is it just a thing that if it's repaired right like a wing mirror or something it's grand.

Thank you!

Emma

Diddums · 20 Jan 2020 at 22:02

No no no no no. Cat S is for salvage only, run a mile.

Dis86 · 20 Jan 2020 at 22:02

Advice...Dont.

a1ex2001 · 20 Jan 2020 at 22:05

Not worth it for such a run of the mill car.

EmmaChamb · 20 Jan 2020 at 22:06

Aw, thank you - I appreciate that. I think I kind of had a gut feel anyway but it seemed such a bargain

Armageus · 20 Jan 2020 at 22:45

Diddums said:
No no no no no. Cat S is for salvage only, run a mile.

No cat S is for structural damage that can still be repaired, but the cost is usually considerable.

Depends what age/value of car you are talking about?
Cat S on a nearly new 20k car is at lot worse than Cat S on a 7k 8 year old X1

EmmaChamb · 20 Jan 2020 at 22:52

Hi Armageus. It is a 2016 model, the asking price is £12,995 and I checked the value with its reg and it should be about £16,800 or so.

Dis86 · 20 Jan 2020 at 22:55

Look at it this way, if you can only afford a CAT S version of the car ask yourself - can you afford to run it?

MissChief · 20 Jan 2020 at 22:58

And when you come to sell it, it will either be next to impossible to sell privately unless you accept pitiful amounts and any Trader will likely either not want it for the same reasons (difficult to sell) or offer you such a low price that it becomes a pointless exercise.

IMO the only time any Cat car is worthwhile is when you intend to keep it for a very, very long time when the savings can be maximised. If you only keep your cars for 2-3 years, avoid one.

EmmaChamb · 20 Jan 2020 at 23:00

Ha Dis86! It's more of the bargain aspect of it. Why pay £4K more if the car is a-ok? But, how do I know is the thing.

EmmaChamb · 20 Jan 2020 at 23:01

Thanks MissChief, yeah, I do like to hang onto cars for a long time! But, obviously it needs to be reliable in the first place.

iamdjdz · 21 Jan 2020 at 07:52

EmmaChamb said:
Hi Armageus. It is a 2016 model, the asking price is £12,995 and I checked the value with its reg and it should be about £16,800 or so.

Theres a few available on autotrader for £13/14k that in the long run may work out cheaper once you factor in insurance as well. Not worth it for such small savings on list price.

hugobosslives · 21 Jan 2020 at 07:54

If you get a massive bargain then S can be fine but only if you know what you are doing. Definitely take along someone who repairs cars and knows what they are looking for.

I'd be looking for an exceptional deal not just a good one. Never kept track of SUV prices so no idea if this is exceptional. I'm not talking cheapest one on autotrader. I'm talking about cheaper than that!

encephalopathy · 21 Jan 2020 at 09:28

i would spend a little more and go for one than hasn't been damaged/repaired
i presume this is the car you are looking at? https://www.usedcarsni.com/2016-BMW...de=&body_style=0&doors=999999&tax_cost=999999

EmmaChamb · 21 Jan 2020 at 09:29

Okay, thank you all for your help and advice

EmmaChamb · 21 Jan 2020 at 09:30

Oh, just seeing your post encephalopathy (I might have spelled that wrong!) Yes, that is it! I'm based in NI so the pool of cars is small

Armageus · 21 Jan 2020 at 09:33

Are you able to find out when it was recorded as a cat s?

glenimp617 · 21 Jan 2020 at 09:33

I'd want more than 4k off the price...a lot more!

AiiR · 21 Jan 2020 at 09:54

Cat S would need to be an irresistible offer to grab my attention. 4k reduction is not a good enough saving. I'd rather drop to an older vehicle or just swallow the extra cost.

Good cars the X1's though my parents have had one since 2013 and it's been faultless so far costing only consumables and servicing etc.

EmmaChamb · 21 Jan 2020 at 10:14

Okdokes, thanks guys. I'll check when it was recorded and let you know. Also, thanks for tip on cost - I'll see what they say!