Heads up J-tin fans - cheap MS112 CROWN

I wish we didn't operate the Cat A/B/C/D system to be honest, as I think it lures people into a false sense of security/fear - there's some real deathtraps out there which are unrecorded damage (look on eBay!). On the other hand, I've seen some low value stuff which has been given Cat C status for the sake of needing a set of locks after a botched theft attempt, therefore requiring the whole "substantially repaired, vehicle identity checked" stuff on the logbook and making it difficult to resale for the rest of its life. Bit silly really.

No it doesn't. However has it been through the VIC?



It can.



A trader is obliged to inform the customer of the Cat B marker, but a private individual doesn't have to as they're not caught by trading standards.

Chances are the CROWN has been incorrectly classified as a Cat B. Their is a code of practice, but if the engineer isn't following it then it doesn't help much.

An engineer should only Cat A or B a car if he thinks if the car shouldn't or couldn't be repaired. i.e. if it's the shape of a banana, burnt out or flooded. A Cat A is so buggered that it has no value (code says less than £50). Cat B for other cases where the engineer thinks the car is unrepairable.

Problem is this is all down to opinion. One engineers idea of what can physically be repaired will be different to someone else.

A Cat C is economic only. A 30 year old car with a Cat C marker can be very different damage to a 2011 Focus with a Cat C.

The VIC scheme allows for Cat A's, B's and C's. These cars can be returned to the road. Obviously you really need to thoroughly check the car though.

As Cat C and D are economic, the damage can be very light on an old car. Problem is the info on the net about the types of markers is wrong and quite misleading, with different versions floating about and some referring to Cat F's and X's which don't even exist. This along with scaremongering means people perception of a Cat D for example is one that is alot worse than it actually needs to be.

Edit: I'm talking nonsense, forget it! Move along the bus.

That's odd, I'm certain the last time I heard about it, the rules were similar to driving to an MOT. Perhaps they've changed it, or perhaps I'm going mad.

Either way, the whole thing underlines how it isn't something to be getting into without asking someone who knows.

Edit: I was thinking of Road Tax, what a dumbbell. Obviously you don't need Road Tax as you've no way of obtaining it until the VIC is done. Need to do all that and get your new logbook.

Fair call on the model code - MS112 she is, my bad!

Interesting news on the write off category, at £850, it would only be worth it if you had a rough one to use all the nice shiny bits on, otherwise it might as well be on the track TBH.

I'd love some clarification too.

If it IS possible, I'm tempted to go have a look and wave 500 notes under his nose if it doesn't look like a massive lash-up.

^^ thankyou for clarifying that

- so, if you were determined, you could buy a cat B, fix it to a good standard, do a VIC check, and apart from it being recorded on the v5c you'd be laughing?

very interesting....

well, as you say, depending on the age of the vehicle...

that '36 buick limo would have needed the chssis pulling straight, a front axle, grille, bonnet side and wing - but I can understand a seriously bent monocoque might be more troublesome!

-kfw