General All that's left of the Stilo is..............

[The Beard]

As Mrs. Beard's Stillo is now officially a Class D write off and we're waiting for the cheque to arrive, I've discovered a couple of bits left over.

There is a rear parcel shelf (3-door) and the nearside rear bulb holder from the light cluster. The shelf may well be useful for anyone who's cut holes in theirs for speakers and wants to replace it. As for the bulb holder, well to be honest I don't know who'd want that, but it's here.

If anyone wants either or both of these just PM me and they can get to Manchester they can have them, gratis obviously. Otherwise they'll end up at the tip.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

As Mrs. Beard's Stillo is now officially a Class D write off and we're waiting for the cheque to arrive, I've discovered a couple of bits left over.

Interesting that its a CAT-D, I've have expected a CAT-C tbh.

 

[The Beard]

Interesting that its a CAT-D, I've have expected a CAT-C tbh.

I was speaking to the owner of a local bodyshop the other day and he told me someting I thought was quite interesting. According to him, the engineers who assess damaged cars get a bonus if they declare a car a Cat D as oppose to any other class.

For instance, had they repaired ours it would have cost (arguably) the £3800 they claimed. Total cost = £3,800.

However, as a class D write-off they pay out £3,500 they offered (minus the £150 excess) but then sell on the damaged car to a repairer for, maybe, £1,500. Therefore, £3,350 - £1,500 = £1,850 loss. I think that a Cat C would be worth less, so if they can get away with it they will.

When I went to look at the poor thing a couple of days later I checked it very carefully, although obviously not underneath, and it appeared that the engine and gearbox were ok and all the door gaps were spot on. What damage there was seemed to be confined to the bonnet, N/S/f wing, bumper, grille, N/S headlamp, front panel and radiator. Presumably there was some damage to the "chassis rails" or whatever they're called nowadays.

P.S. Anyone want a parcel shelf for a Stilo? Free and gratis. You just have to come and get it.

 

[The Beard]

As a follow up to the above posts, I've just had a look at mycarcheck.com and it says there that a Cat C is a total loss where the cost of repair exceeds the value of the car, while a Cat D is a total loss where the cost of repair does not exceed the value of the car. The insurance company told us the car was valued at (initially) £3,400 whereas the repair would be £3,800.

In that case, it should surely be a Cat C. According to the same site, a Cat A write off would have to undergo a VOSA Vehicle Identity Check (VIC) and have the fact that it was a Cat A recorded on the V5. It goes on to say that the same would apply to B & C. But, big but here, that does not apply to a Cat D.

I think I might wait until the cheque has been cashed and then see who we can complaing to.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Some of the info sounds a little in accurate on the basis that CAT-A is crushed whole (so in thiory VIC check is never needed as car is never going back onto the road).

CAT-B is for parts only. Again, in thiory VIC check is never needed as car is never going back onto the road.

CAT-C can be repaired and returned to the road but is subject to a VIC before V5 will be re-issued by the DVLA.

CAT-D can also be repaired and go back on the road without a VIC.

The majority of cars are normally A-C. CAT-D is normally used in the following cases.

A) car is fairy new, so isn't likly to be subject to any identity issue, or
B) insurer has decided to write car off although value of damage is not more than value of car.

'B)' can happen on a new car say, where the vehicle has been hit by a 3rd party, and the owner has a strong enough case to say. I want another new car, not one thats now been rebuilt because 'a. plonker' has driven into it.

On the other hand, I've recently brough a 2009 Panda with 450miles on the clock. Was a CAT-D write off. The reason for this being written off is that a hydraulic pipe to the auto gearbox was damaged causing loss of drive. Insurance company worked out worst case scenario was £3k to repair body work, and then another £3.5k to replace and fit NEW gearbox should the box be damaged. So wrote the car off. The fact is that a new pipe at £60 has sorted the issue, but insuance company decided to not take the risk, and so settled a payout with the owner. (hope that makes sence?).

Jon.