Cat D SLK

[chord]

Seems like a nice enough car, what's the thinking on getting Cat D cars?

Auto Trader UK - MERCEDES-BENZ SLK 230K 2dr Tip Auto

 

[wemorgan]

I personally wouldn't buy a low mileage car without a comprehensive service history.

Cat-D cars can be fine if the price is right and the repair of decent quality.

 

[chord]

I personally wouldn't buy a low mileage car without a comprehensive service history.

As long as it has been serviced with MB then it should be easy to check the service history. If it had not been serviced by MB, then I would agree with you.

 

[wemorgan]

As it's a dealer selling the car I'm surprised he has not bothered to trace the history himself and increase the car's value. Or maybe he has tried already, hit a dead-end and is trying to give false hope to a potential buyer.

 

[dat83]

im always worried of selling them on though, you'd have to sell on as a catd in the future, might be hard to shift?

 

[Kerja]

As for me, I wouldn't buy a Cat D Convertible. It might leak, it might jam the roof, might happen everything. Other cars are alright being a Cat D or even C, but not for the cabrios and convertibles. It's not worth the problems that might occur during the exploitation of the vehicle

 

[janner]

You need to know exactly why it was written off, with photos, so you can judge the reair. Cat D on a newish car can mean fairly heavy damage so you need to know what you're getting into. For example a flood damaged car might be Cat D and clean up well enough so you can't see anything wrong but you will likely get all sorts of problems with it in the future.
Personally I'd give it a miss.

Either pay a bit more for a proper one or go for a slightly older one with known history, warranty etc.

 

[lynall]

One of my old discoveries was a cat d repaired and i had alot more trouble with that one than all the others, they were all trouble but this one especially so.

Biggest problem seemed to be how stuff was put back together, just good enough so it worked but parts rubbed trhough water leaks everywhere.

When i sold it bloke didnt care about cat d bit as car was quite old and right price.

Some cat d are pretty heavy damage.

I dont know how much more a non cat one would be, but if you can diy the small problems its probably worth a go so long as you go in with eyes open, keep it for a few years and no one will care about the cat d bit.




Lynall

 

[Mark300SL]

As most on here are aware my SL was written off Cat C last year - and i am still enjoying now with no roof or leak issues, in fact no issues at all

It has impacted it future resale value but as its worth bugger all now but still has mint paint after its full respray I fully intend to keep it

 

[st4]

Personally there are many SLKs which aren't accident damaged so why take the risk with this car. It isn't even enticingly cheap IMHO so buy a nice clean car.

 

[trainer]

hi Chord,

I bought a Cat D C32 AMG in January and it has been fine. Car was repaired be the former keeper and driven for 2 years after repair before I bought it. It has been serviced at the correct intervals and the water cooler pump had been replaced.

In short no problems apart from those anyone else on here experiences from time to time.

Tracing the history can be difficult if the insurance company don't want to cooperate in giving you the books. However you can talk to an MB dealer and they should be able to trace it.

 

[///ajd]

Only other thing to add - having tried a 230 and owned a 320 - try and get a SLK320 instead.

 

[chord]

Only other thing to add - having tried a 230 and owned a 320 - try and get a SLK320 instead.

I thought the preferred engine was the 230? Why did you like about the 320?

 

[///ajd]

Its along time ago now, but I recall the SLK320, whilst not being that fast, did make a great V6 noise. The Kompressor 230s engines never sounded that good from what I recall.

Reliability wise, no idea - but the V6 is NA and has no supercharger, so I'd assume it was also cheaper to maintain in the long run.

 

[yachtman]

Lady doctor previous keeper, so 28,000 miles of stop start, never getting upto running temp.

 

[A210AMG]

What makes you think that?

My wifes a Doctor and doesn't do stop start journeys? Its around 45mile round trip to work?

Doctors VERY rarely do home visits. Very Very rarely.

 

[yachtman]

What makes you think that?

My wifes a Doctor and doesn't do stop start journeys? Its around 45mile round trip to work?

Doctors VERY rarely do home visits. Very Very rarely.

that is interesting, dont home visits happen any more, or they contracted out to locums etc?

 

[janner]

Low mileage is common on salvage cars. For instance if the car was stolen and damaged it could easily be stood for 12 months or more before it's sold at auction. It can take ages for the police and insurance company to sort things out.

 

[nick mercedes]

Low mileage is common on salvage cars.

Plus the service book has often been binned or lost, so a haircut is easily done.

 

[janner]

Service books are often stolen from the cars at the auction (often by auction staff) along with CD changers, satnav disks, spare wheels, jacks, cigarette lighters, tool kits and all sorts of trim.
You have to wonder where people like this and this get their 'stock'