CAT D Write Off

[Greebo]

Before I tell you, how much do you think that is, out of interest? Be interesting to see the perceptions v reality. Nobody else answer please.

Depends on the manufacturer. In the past I have had Toyota charge £85 p/h, Ford charge £60 p/h and Mercedes charge £105 p/h

Not sure what your point is? I am saying that independents or doing it yourself and especially avoiding main dealer parts will enable you to repair a car much cheaper than a main dealer will quote. Right or wrong?

 

[[TW]Fox]

Depends on the manufacturer. In the past I have had Toyota charge £85 p/h, Ford charge £60 p/h and Mercedes charge £105 p/h

As I thought - most people think this is the case. The reality is that whilst the service departments do indeed charge high rates, the amount of money the bodyshops charge is largely limited by what the insurance market will bear. Typically it's between £25-£40 an hour. My local BMW dealer charged £33 an hour on the last work they did for my bodyshop wise.

Not sure what your point is? I am saying that independents or doing it yourself and especially avoiding main dealer parts will enable you to repair a car much cheaper than a main dealer will quote. Right or wrong?

My point is that main dealer labour charges for body repairs are nothing like as high as everyone thinks

 

[Greebo]

Fair enough then and perhaps it is a myth. Equally, do they charge full reatil for the parts or is the profit margin reduced there?

One thin I do know is that the Aston Martin main dealer charged £185 per hour as I saw the repair quote.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Fair enough then and perhaps it is a myth. Equally, do they charge full reatil for the parts or is the profit margin reduced there?

Insurance companies and bodyshops tend to negotiate the price. They wont pay full retail - they are not stupid.

One thin I do know is that the Aston Martin main dealer charged £185 per hour as I saw the repair quote.

You saw the quote - not the settled invoice. I guess an Aston may be a special case (Though I cant see £185 cutting it) but an insurer could justifiably refuse to pay a rate that excessive.

 

[J.B]

From a dealer or private sale?

From a private sale on AT. He hadn't put in the add it was CAT D and had very partial history - some MOTs and stamps in the book but no info on any major work that had been done. It was my little sisters first car paid for with her own money so didnt seem worth the risk.

 

[MissChief]

From a private sale on AT. He hadn't put in the add it was CAT D and had very partial history - some MOTs and stamps in the book but no info on any major work that had been done. It was my little sisters first car paid for with her own money so didnt seem worth the risk.

I thought so. Was going to say (I think you know this, you seem like a learned chap!) that a dealer should disclose all the history known about the car and if they're selling a cat D car without telling you then tradsing standards would be very interested.

 

[J.B]

I thought so. Was going to say (I think you know this, you seem like a learned chap!) that a dealer should disclose all the history known about the car and if they're selling a cat D car without telling you then tradsing standards would be very interested.

Well only if they know about (which most dealers would do HPI)! When we told the guy it had a history he claimed not to know. I couldn't tell if he was legitimately shocked or not

 

[mjt]

Move on, don't waste your time on something as common as a focus.

 

[piggeh]

lol - in exactly the same position as the OP, looking at Ford Focuses, 2008 regs. Seems to only be worthwhile if:

a) you're keeping the car for quite a long time (otherwise resale value will be affected quite badly - less effect when it gets older).

b) you know what the damage was and can be confident the chassis especially is in good condition.

I did enquire on one and got the reply "The damage was to the passenger side front wheel arch and wheel. It was repaired... using original Ford parts."

Not sure if that is likely to have potential consequences on the chassis or caused hidden damage, so left it well alone. I'd say unless you can be confident it's likely to not affect the vehicle in the future, to not bother.

 

[Dead Dog]

Problem is that any insurance repair is at mani dealer labour charges and genuine parts at retail price.

Sorry thast well wrong
Main dealers are £80p/h min
accident approved repairers are in some cases only £26 p/hr, because the large insurance companies have them by the balls and they can only survive at that by doing volume and doing it in 1/2 the time on the estimate which is fixed by the likes of thatcham and Audatex

 

[Dead Dog]

Well I just wrote off my girlfriends car, 5mph impact into the back of someone, pushed bonnet & radiators back, smashed a headlight and the bumnper. The slam panel was undamaged and chassis is not touched (confirmed with garage tey took it to).

Car was valued at £2400 by insurance (03 plate Fiesta) and they classified it uneconoical to repair and extensively damaged so its a CAT C. Bought it back and repaired it myself and am amazed that it was classed CAT C, the garage quoted £2800+VAT for repair work to the insurance company so it seems like a lot of cars get written off due to the garages being greedy, its has cost me £600 to fix the car, and will be another £200 in paint for the bonnet and bumper.

To be fair, that sounds like a quite reasonable quote, by the time you've strip& fit on a front end, changing lights, new light/s new f/bumper & maybe bonnet, painting front end of the car

One thin I do know is that the Aston Martin main dealer charged £185 per hour as I saw the repair quote.

They would fall into the area of 'specialist', I sure as hell wouldn't want your regular insurance approved accident repair center on it + those places would almost definitely be charging way more than their normal rate as it would be a 'specialist' repair

 

[[TW]Fox]

Sorry thast well wrong
Main dealers are £80p/h min
accident approved repairers are in some cases only £26 p/hr, because the large insurance companies have them by the balls and they can only survive at that by doing volume and doing it in 1/2 the time on the estimate which is fixed by the likes of thatcham and Audatex

The main dealers also rely on being insurance approved - therefore they bill work to insurers at far, far closer to that £26 ph figure.

 

[Dead Dog]

yes sorry, I meant £80+ p/h retail mechanical rate.

 

[MissChief]

It's a shame they charge that much as most service and mechanical jobs are 'plug in computer, wait until computer says what is wrong. Consult workshop manual, replace part identified, road test'

There are very few 'mechanics' left in major dealers these days. mostly they're little more than glorified fitters.

 

[Maz]

It's a shame they charge that much as most service and mechanical jobs are 'plug in computer, wait until computer says what is wrong. Consult workshop manual, replace part identified, road test'

There are very few 'mechanics' left in major dealers these days. mostly they're little more than glorified fitters.

Errr not likely, so customer brings car in with a knocking noise?

I tell you what Mr Customer I'll stick the diagnostics machine on and see what it's says

Main dealers usually have someone nominated as a DET (Dealer expert technician) that deals with stuff other than routine servicing, brakes, exhausts and all other easy stuff.