I have not paid and due to collect tomorrow. There was no mention of this in the advert, only came to light when I did an online check.

What would you do?

I'm think I will call and cancel.

Car details:-
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222146519664

Walk away or re-negotiate the price, and check you can actually insure it.

It looks very clean. Have you driven it?
I guess the trader knew it was cat D hence why he's selling it on behalf of his 'mate'.
Get it checked out underneath and if it's solid I'd buy it, but as Sam says, renegotiate the price.

I can insure it but is is £50 more per year.

The car is in Chorley so over 300 miles away. It was bought on the state of the bodywork as I have another coupé for donor mechanicals. However I suspect the body looks good as it has has a re-spray. This would disguise the ultimate condition and I would need to do a full inspection, which give the distance is too much of a hassle.

Avoid like the proverbial unless it's very cheap and you never want to sell it.

I suspect that there are many many so called Cat D coupes around. Only most would of not gone through the insurance company and been fixed elsewhere at the owners cost.

Don't see the problem myself especially if it is cheap. If it had been repaired well, I would also see no problem personally

The trouble is it was never mentioned, even when I rung the chap. If it was 20 mile away and I could go an check it out then I would consider it based on it's merits. I would still likely walk away as I don't want my "keeper" car to be categorised.

The fact that it is 300 miles away and would cost £100 to go an see it makes it an altogether different.

Having read the advert I would question (alongside the use of all caps ) the use of the term "good history". That set against what you've found would have me saving my petrol for something else.

You collecting Coupes now John?

very much agree

If it was closer it's a cheap car. Not sure where you stand on the sale though, Bockers. You've committed to buy.

Yes, but "item not as described" I guess?

Indeed, you can reasonably say it's "substantially not as described" so there should be no problem pulling out of the sale.

Price appears OK so if it was local I'd go for a look, but as it's far away I wouldn't bother as you have to wonder what else the seller hasn't mentioned.

I have withdrawn my purchase as the car is not as described. I have not paid and he is welcome to challenge that, but as it was advertised by a dealer they should know better. I see where you are coming from Patch and Szkom. It could be a very good car but it should have been explicit on the advert as rightly or wrongly it does effect the car value and ease of future sale.

You look on auto-trader etc and the first thing that is mentioned is Cat C or D, it is clearly known as they mention the VOSA document(which at time of purchase I assumed meant the V5). They knew damn well that having a cat d would have lowered the price, as it should.

I had been quite prepared to collect it tomorrow and would have done if the CAT D was not there.

Lesson learnt, and also why it is always important to get a car check and never make assumptions. Last time I attempt to buy a car unless first seen.

Exactly.

I will just add that I called the seller yesterday to arrange pick up and asked if there was anything else I should know about and he said nothing other than a sticky speedo. Hardly full disclosure.

Disappointing always, but a good shout to bite the bullet and call it off.

I've had this twice in the past with cars on eBay, both classic Minis. One I walked away from with the seller complaining that I had agreed to buy it and he allowed me to inspect it after finding it was Cat D - I refused it as I thought that the damage wasn't bad but the repair was. The other I bought anyway at the agreed price because there was absolutely no sign of any damage at all, every panel appearing to be original - I suspected it was probably stolen/recovered so was happy with the condition at the agreed price, particularly as it was (and is) a keeper. Depends on the car but think I would do the same as you for one 300 miles away.

If the reason for the Cat'D' isnt published then I suppose you have to expect the deception is being made for a reason best kept quiet.

My 'Plus' was/is a Cat'D' , I bought it 6 years ago and even way back then the insurers decided to pay out to the previous owner rather than repair the damage.
The damage then :- smashed passenger window and a mark on the door frame opening. That was all that was needed to write the car off in the insurers eyes.

How many car owners have private repairs done to their cars which would have resulted in a cat'd' if they'd gone through insurance and are on the road now with no markers on them ?. Bad car perception ... its all subjective.

I wouldn't necessarily expect a price markdown for cat 'd' on an old(er) car, but I would expect to buy from an honest & upfront seller at least

Agree Jon, it's as much the covert way it was implied that breaks the trust. Had the car been within 50 miles I would have gone and had a look, and I after all may be missing a bargain.

Despite the fact that Cat D could be minimal it does affect resale values and insurance agreed values too.

Worse still if it was a Cat C. Then that would be full on deception.

buying a Coupe 'unseen' from eBay Not worth the risk, good you backed out.

I would simply walk away on principle....

Depends on what date is was registered as cat D. If it was only a few years old then you know it was involved in a big accident. If it was only say 3 years ago then even minor damage could have resulted in it being Cat D.

I wouldn't even consider a CAT D, regardless of condition. Just an insurance and future sales problem that someone else has managed to move on Im afraid, but each to there own I suppose