was looking at the copen here... http://dealerservices.autotrader.co.uk/GetDealer.do?did=630812&pageid=1 looked nice, nice mileage, nice colour - was due to visit and take a look (50 miles from home). decided to run a car check. most companies i tried, when supplied with the number plate said it was a brand new mini. then tried the auto trader history - and that said... it's a category c write off - and yet no mention at all on the site - isn't that illegal? oh well... the search goes on.
I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss that car if you are interested in it. That number plate is obviously a personalised plate which has probably been transferred off the owners Copen when he bought a new mini convertible. That is why the number is coming up as a 2013 mini, it has already been transferred to a mini I doubt the Copen is a write off eitherl as this would be an easy spot on the V5 and a daft thing for the dealer to try and cover up. It's likely the donor car that the personalised plate originally came from was a write off and that is what auto traders history is giving you. Ring the dealer up and ask him about the plate, he'll probably tell you that the Copen is in the process of having it's original number restored which will be an 04 plate. To do a proper check of the Copen you need to know its correct number. Ask the dealer what it is and check that out. As always if in doubt walk away.
yeah i was going to say the same thing about the plate as ive checked it out on confused and it says its a 2013 mini... its probz a personal plate been changed over with the owner... the original owner of my copen had a personal plate as in the service book says it was reg'd as such and such with the initials of the persons name where as now the copen has just a normal 04 reg plate
here's the report - seems kind of clear cut to me unless?... also when i asked the dealer for the plate number for a check i got no reply (on the off chance a different plate was on it) Vehicle checked: Vehicle Registration Mark CT04YOM No. of gears5 Make DAIHATSUFirst registered 08/06/2004 Model COPENCO2 emissions 151 g/km Transmission & fuel type MANUAL 5 GEARS PETROL Engine capacity 659cc Body Type CONVERTIBLEYear of manufacture 2004 Colour GREENRoad Tax (12 Months) £175.00 Engine No. 0315400 Vehicle Identification Details Number Vehicle Identification Number was not supplied. Do not purchase this vehicle until you have confirmed the VIN. Click here to confirm your Vehicle Identification Number. Vehicle Check Data Insurance Registration Details Vehicle Check Data Insurance has not been registered against this vehicle. The VIN must be confirmed before insurance can be registered. Stolen Details Not recorded as currently stolen Tell me more about Stolen vehicles. High Risk Details Not at high risk of fraud or theft Tell me more about High Risk vehicles. Finance Details No finance agreement recorded Tell me more about Outstanding Finance. Condition Details Insurance write-off recorded This vehicle is recorded as being a write-off by an insurance company on 22/11/2012 Status is CAT C EXTENSIVE DAMAGE Plate Change Details Plate change recorded VRM Date Changed L10CMG 14/01/2013
Ah, you didn't say you'd got the correct number and checked that. It does look as though it is a cat c so the dealer should have put it in his ad. Considering the price he wants for it he'll probably struggle if it has been a write off. Some insurers won't insure an ex write off so unless it was a bargain price I'd look elsewhere. Actually I wouldn't buy a cat c even if it was a bargain. A cat d I might consider after getting an insurance quote but a cat c is a bit more dodgy. On the off chance the info you have is wrong you could call the dealer and ask him if it has been a write off. It doesn't look good though. BTW, if the dealer didn't tell you the cars number, how did you find it out?
well, every checkup site i used with the registration in the photo gave the mini answer. but when viewing the car via the autotrader website it has a 'check the history of this car' button without asking you to enter any details. that's what gave me the above report. i'd love to be wrong but there's other copens within 50 miles of me at pretty much the same price (more mileage though) so i might look at those.
Yes the price doesn't reflect that it has been a write off. I didn't know about that history button. I just assumed it would be a HPI type site after your money, but if they give all that info for free it's worth knowing about. I would still ring him up and ask him if it is a cat c just in case that history is wrong. He advertises HPI reports with his cars, plus the cat c will be on the V5 so he can hardly lie about it.
Guess what. I was test driving this car. He never mentioned a word about a cat c only how well the car was looked after. I didnt buy it because the cosmetic work wasnt the best. Lucky me. He did go down on the price recently and I thought about reconsidering but thank god this forum exists.
i'd reccomend that when you do finally find something you think you want, the fee to do a history check is a price worth paying - you could end up with a car that actually belongs to someone else and when you're tracked down you'll have to hand it back without anything in return.
