Putting an insurance cat N 1.8 XEi back on the road, (Project Tonga 1.8 XEi).

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Nodge68

Nodge68

Well-Known Member
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32,765
Location
Cornwall
I've been offered a reasonable condition FL1 1.8 XEi facelift in Tonga for a good price. It's currently with a vehicle salvage dealer, who is wanting to move it on for a small profit.

The vehicle has no V5 (replacement V5 obtained in my name at a cost of £25, from the DVLA), as the insurance company kept the original. The vehicle has been listed as an N written off, which means it's going to cost the insurance company more to fix than its worth. Damage is minor, with damage to the bumpers and one headlamp mounting brackets and the fog light trims are missing.

The car was really clean before it's mishap. The body is in better condition than my SE, so I think it's worth putting back on the road, possibly to use myself over the winter, and maybe trade it in for a FL2 next summer, or even sell on for a small profit.

I've been reading the internet, but there are loads of people saying it's dangerous, or you can't get insurance once it's fixed, so I thought I'd ask the question here.

Will there be any insurance issues, once it's sorted?

Oh. I'm pretty sure that my current SE was also a cat C at some point, and I've been able to insure that just fine.

Any advice on this would be appreciated.
Cheers
 
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I've never put one back on the road but I bought my current car (a C class estate) as a CAT D and saved between £3k and £4k on the purchase.
Strangely when my V5 arrived it has no record of CAT D which I think would normally be at the bottom. I'm not sure what that means as I didn't bother doing any checks when buying it but I think sometimes the insurance companies don't bother telling the DVLA which they're meant to do.
There is probably a form to fill in to re-register it
Getting a V5 is just a matter of applying for it which you can do online.
As for insuring it, the insurance companies aren't interested. Try to find an online system that gives you the option of telling them.
I actually phoned my insurance company to tell them and they didn't care about it.
 
It depends, most insurance companies spot it, in nearly all cases will just charge fat premiums and in rare ones don't insure it. For example, my last FL 1.8 which was cat N had a 130 quid insurance, and the td4 one which had nothing is 88. I live in Bradford where insurance scams are common simply by the low brain power requirement.
That is the insurance bit, the safety one I don't see it because I saw many of this silly cat S for a bent door.
As in of apply for V5, it will ask the reason and you have to lie there. That depends mostly on your ethical spirit. Not sure you can do it online rather than getting the form there and post it.
 
websun said:
It depends, most insurance companies spot it, in nearly all cases will just charge fat premiums and in rare ones don't insure it. For example, my last FL 1.8 which was cat N had a 130 quid insurance, and the td4 one which had nothing is 88. I live in Bradford where insurance scams are common simply by the low brain power requirement.
That is the insurance bit, the safety one I don't see it because I saw many of this silly cat S for a bent door.
As in of apply for V5, it will ask the reason and you have to lie there. That depends mostly on your ethical spirit. Not sure you can do it online rather than getting the form there and post it.
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No need to lie. Just say the PO didn't have one.
I don't believe it effected my insurance cost at all. I'm with Admiral multicar.
 
Well the PO told you insurance has it. Perhaps I am wrong and for that I apologise, it's just that I myself avoid giving any reasons to get done.
Also, it may never come... my ex housemate applied for one which was in a similar situation. He sold the car advertising "v5 needs applying simple form".
 
websun said:
Well the PO told you insurance has it. Perhaps I am wrong and for that I apologise, it's just that I myself avoid giving any reasons to get done.
Also, it may never come... my ex housemate applied for one which was in a similar situation. He sold the car advertising "v5 needs applying simple form".
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Yeah, Because he told me I was a bit paranoid so made sure to tell the insurance company but like I said they didn't seem to care.
Last car I bought the PO never bothered telling the DVLA so I had to request the V5 myself.
 
Ah yes if you are fine with that insurance won't care. If you do want the v5, this may or may not qualify as a pitfall.
I for example would not have a car without the V5 unless I intend to keep it until scraptime.
 
You have to apply for the logbook v5 on a salvage car.
I have bought cat n, d and c with no issues.
Cat c was stolen recovered with spare wheel and one headrest missing!
Never had a problem with insurance with any of them.
It will affect sell on price and trade in value.
I have just bought a cat n 58 plate Corsa for my eldest son. Had a cracked sump as driven over something. Full service history with 10 stamps in the book. Even managed to get the spare key from the previous owner.
 
Alibro said:
Last car I bought the PO never bothered telling the DVLA so I had to request the V5 myself.
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I've checked with the DVLA and they don't need to know, or care about CAT C, D, N or S. They're only interested in CAT A and B categories.

It appears to be standard for the insurer paying the written off claim to keep the V5, as they then own the vehicle. However rather than keeping millions of V5s in storage, most insurance companies simply destroy them, along with other paperwork from the vehicle.

Obtaining a new V5 is just a form to the DVLA, which then sends out a new one, once they have checked the current ownership status.


I've just done a go compare and it's come up with £186 PA for the 1.8. Interesting my TD4 SE have cone up with £194 PA.
 
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andyfreelandy said:
Do it!
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I'm just considering the costs at the moment. He wants £300 for it, which is cheap for down here, even if I have to spend a couple of hundred to put it right.
andyfreelandy said:
I like Tonga green too.
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I'm not that keen on BRG or conifer green, but Tonga isn't too bad in my eyes.

andyfreelandy said:
Did go compare have details for cat n to go on?
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No, it doesn't mention it. However I did follow the CAD D/ N link on the GC website, which is where the quotes came from.

Lazydave said:
I have bought cat n, d and c with no issues.
Cat c was stolen recovered with spare wheel and one headrest missing!
Never had a problem with insurance with any of them.
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That's what I need to know. ;)

Lazydave said:
It will affect sell on price and trade in value
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It's an £1200 retail vehicle, so as long as I can sell it for what I paid for it after a year's use, then it's cost me nothing to own.:D
 
I bought a 405 Mi16 from a salvage yard in the late 90s. It had light front damage, nothing structural. I had to get the V5 from the DVLa and although I declared it to my insurance, I don't recall the premium being affected overly. I also managed to sell it on for what it had cost me to buy and repair it, two years later. Things may have changed since then though.
 
Nodge68 said:
I'm just considering the costs at the moment. He wants £300 for it, which is cheap for down here, even if I have to spend a couple of hundred to put it right.
I'm not that keen on BRG or conifer green, but Tonga isn't too bad in my eyes.


No, it doesn't mention it. However I did follow the CAD D/ N link on the GC website, which is where the quotes came from.


That's what I need to know. ;)



It's an £1200 retail vehicle, so as long as I can sell it for what I paid for it after a year's use, then it's cost me nothing to own.:D
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Most people buying a £1200 car won't bother doing an HPI check anyway so even if you didn't mention the CAT D when selling you'd most likely get away with it.
But I think I know you well enough to know that won't happen. :)
I was totally naive when I bought our blue Freelander as I thought the carbon effect wrap on the passenger side of the dash was for effect. It was only when my son said about the airbag missing that the real reason donned on me. :oops:
Funny thing the paint on the roof started peeling off a year or two after buying it. :eek::mad: That was a respray job I hadn't planned on.
 
Well I've now become the owner of a Tonga green 1.8 XEi facelift FL1, with some light damage to the bumpers, and the front tow point is a bit kittywampus. Once I've got my currently misbehaving TD4 SE sorted and sold, I'll be starting to put the 1.8 back to its its former glory.
 
Gear selector mech on an auto is a bit of a mystery to me, mine sometimes moves over to 'Sport' but then fails to change on shifting with steptronic. The logic seems complex, but it is something like...sport is when it isn't in drive or and sensors 4 and N say the lever hasn't moved to their positions, it assumes the lever has been moved to the right, away from the D sensor into sport mode.
Managed to repair it temporarily by giving the board a rattle around, now I just have to try it 2 or 3 times and it steps. Pain, but there we are.
There is a replacement selector on Ebay.

Good luck with the fault finding and sale.
 
kernowsvenski said:
What's the mileage on it Nodge? Photos required too please.
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116,000 ish I think.

I'll take some before and after pictures of it. It's currently in storage on my plot, surrounded by scrub. It looks mechanically reasonable, although I've yet to thoroughly test the IRD. It has a strange assortment of tyres, so I see my Sport rims having a new home for a while.
The interior is acceptable, although I'm going to need to re-cover the roof lining, and repair the driver's seat. I'm currently looking for the part numbers for the seat covers, so I can keep a look out for some. They do come up on Ebay from time to time.

I'll do a photo diary as work progresses with it.
 
kernowsvenski said:
What's the mileage on it Nodge? Photos required too please.
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Yes Nodge. You know the rules. :p
Nodge68 said:
116,000 ish I think.

I'll take some before and after pictures of it. It's currently in storage on my plot, surrounded by scrub. It looks mechanically reasonable, although I've yet to thoroughly test the IRD. It has a strange assortment of tyres, so I see my Sport rims having a new home for a while.
The interior is acceptable, although I'm going to need to re-cover the roof lining, and repair the driver's seat. I'm currently looking for the part numbers for the seat covers, so I can keep a look out for some. They do come up on Ebay from time to time.

I'll do a photo diary as work progresses with it.
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It might be as cheap to buy a replacement interior. I've seen complete leather interiors for £150
 
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Alibro said:
Yes Nodge. You know the rules.
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I do indeed.
Alibro said:
It might be as cheap to buy a replacement interior.
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So have I. I'm always a bit cautious about modifications though, as insurance companies will try anything to get out of paying a claim.

I was surprised when my insurance went up by 25%, simply for having an LED light bar and 18" Sport wheels. :eek:

So I thought I'd keep this one standard, although I will be putting my temperature display rear view mirror in it.:D
 
Ok. As promised, some pictures of the new acquisition. It's currently dirty, but I'm 99.9% sure it'll polish up lovely. I've just got to sort out the bumpers, headlamps and front towing eye. Oh and re-trim the head lining and A post capping.
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20190910_195019.jpg
 
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