Just Bought a Roadster

[UKKid35]

After 12 years of owning various 450s, I've decided I can afford to treat myself to a Roadster

Probably pick it up next weekend, and it will be a long drive home!

Should be interesting!

[Mr T]

Sounds like fun for the summer.

[UKKid35]

Doesn't look like I'm buying a Roadster after all

Hi Gary, the V5 shows the car has Cat S damage (used to be called Cat C), and as you said that happened before your ownership. However, it significantly affects the value of the car, which is why it needs to be declared when advertised for sale. I would like to take the car off your hands, but I need to know precisely what the damage/repair consisted of, and I also need to understand why the V5 does not have a current address, and whether you have any paperwork to link the car to the new address. Kind regards - Paul

[Mr T]

​That's a bummer, but at least you found out before you bought.

[UKKid35]

My Cerbera is a Cat D, never been an issue for me as I'll never sell it

I would have been fine with the Salvage title, but not at the price it went for, because the idea was that it would be a summer car and then I'd sell it (as I really don't have the space for it)

The V5 anomalies were just the final straw, as it would have entailed a train journey and a nine hour drive home

Not a bad adventure for a BH weekend, but only if it looked above board

[lancepar]

Good save.

Strange the V5c doesn't record the address of the current registered keeper.
Checking if the V5C number is the latest issue can be found with the DVLA web site, maybe it's something to do with the Cat S tag. Just guessing.

[EmilysDad]

Good save.

Strange the V5c doesn't record the address of the current registered keeper.
Checking if the V5C number is the latest issue can be found with the DVLA web site, maybe it's something to do with the Cat S tag. Just guessing.

V5s no longer show the previous owner's details .... they haven't now for the past few years ..... data protection and all that

[UKKid35]

Just bought another Roadster

This time the Cat C damage was declared, and the final auction value definitely reflected that

The front and wing damage repair all looked fine (although the damaged wheel arch liner had been left) so that wasn't a concern

There were two obvious issues:

Timing Chain rattle, probably due to sticky tensioner and overdue oil change

Roof needs some TLC, but the car will be garaged so not an immediate concern

Other than that there is probably a significant amount of deferred maintenance, but basically a good starting point

Not bad for under a grand

[UKKid35]

A month on and I'm really enjoying the Roadster

I've had to remove the roof, so it is definitely just a fair weather car

There are a couple of major issues that I need to address, that would benefit from some diagnostics

So please don't be too surprised if you hear from me begging for advice on how to use the Delphi which is unused from last year

[UKKid35]

The car I bought is an absolute basket case

I knew it was a 'Project' but I don't appreciate how badly it had been hacked about by the PO

For instance, after a front end collision the airbags were deployed

But rather than unplug and remove the used airbags some lunatic cut through the wiring so that I've had to replace the steering angle sensor so that I could plug in a replacement airbag

I didn't realise that the car had seatbelt pretensioners, and they've both fired, so they need to be replaced before the system will reactivate

I'm hoping that the 450 seat belts are a direct replacement, because they are far more plentiful, and very cheap

I also have an ABS system that the diagnostics can't see

However it can see the sensors, and they are all working and returning the same value in a straight line

It seems that if I were to replace the ABS pump then I will need access to a Star machine to bleed the brakes

And that means I can't replace the ABS pump and then drive the car

Does the whole process need access to a Star machine, is that my only option?