Looking at MR2's today with a possible P/X on my car, not that I wanted to go down that route but its looking like I might :(

There's a very nice MR2 listed as: 16,000 miles, 04 Reg, storm grey, air con, dealer s/h, 6-gear manual, excellent condition, UK car, on v car, cat d.

Interesting thread on Cat D's here.

Chris

Cat D is the lowest there is, basically it means that it's an un-econmical repair for the insurance company.

"If" the car has had a FSH and you walk into the sale with your eyes open it should be a problem.

Make sure the car has had it's VOSA check done (for what it's worth )

Would be good to see what damaged was done and reciept for the work carried out.

Most of my "second car" have been cat c/d write offs. Haven't had a problem yet.

The DVLA website and VOSA will answer most of your questions

Also make sure it's had the chassis alignment checked - many repaired write-offs (even by proper garages) have bent chassis and in slight cases you wouldn't know to drive it and the tyre wear's even - in an emergency they can behave oddly.

Its a shame.

I am sure there are many Cat D cars out there which are in perfect order, but there's probably a minority which look great on the surface, but deep down...

On this occasion I am not going to consider a Cat D car as I will need the car to hold some decent value for my future plans.

Thanks for the replies

Is the MR2 engine a detuned version of the one in the Celica? I've been doing a lot of miles in a 190 recently and it really is a difficult car to live with - noisy, thirsty, NO power sub 6200rpm and m-way cruising at 4000+ revs gets really wearing. I'd seriously consider doing a good couple of hours test drive before touching that engine with my own (or even my employers' money). :thumbdwn:

Is the MR2 engine a detuned version of the one in the Celica? I've been doing a lot of miles in a 190 recently and it really is a difficult car to live with - noisy, thirsty, NO power sub 6200rpm and m-way cruising at 4000+ revs gets really wearing. I'd seriously consider doing a good couple of hours test drive before touching that engine with my own (or even my employers' money). :thumbdwn:

The block is the same between the 1ZZ (140hp MR2 and Celica) and 2ZZ (190hp Celica) motors, I think the valvetrain / ECU etc is different on the 190hp motor.

A lot of the Toyotas use this 140hp version of the motor, Toyota Matrix, Corolla, and in it's 140hp form it is tuned for mid-range as you'd expect in those types of car. Obviously the induction and exhaust system has to be particular to the MR2, for both a 'sporty engine sound' as well as due to it's engine location.

So, it's a bit like comparing a Civic VTi motor to a Civic 1.6i LS motor - they both have 'VTEC' but one is tuned for that powerband at the top end and the other tuned more for economy and midrange.

In my experience the 1ZZ is a great engine in the MR2, but feels a bit 'lost' in the heavier Celica (although the Celica 140 I drove was an automatic).

They even do an automatic option with the 190hp motor here - 1k wide powerband on a 4 speed auto tranny, what an enjoyable combination that must be!

some info here from SE when another member posted about repairing his car that might be writen off.

category d which will likely be the one your car will be "written off" as. you will need to go to an mot station and have it mot'd immediately.

IF your insurance company has you registration document (which it should do' date=' its the law if your car is written off) your tax will be refunded to you too, which you will have to go into a dsa centre for. you will be unable to get it done in your local post office as you need to fill out a V62 to claim your registration document and a V10 to retax it.

however if you do still have your document you can go to your local post office to tax

category C is a royal pain in the backside. firstly you need to have all damage to car sorted. secondly find out where your nearest VOSA testing station is, as you will need to book a VIC (vehicle identity check). it will then need to be mot'd and then go throught the rigmarole of going to the dsa/dvla office and V62 AND V10

If however you are lucky and your insurance write it off without recording it (it does happen but very very rarely) you keep the car and you lump settlement and your car is not recorded bumped on the V5 document. if you get that your laughing[/quote']

HTH