vaughant

iTrader: (1)

Mate of mine has bought an oldish Ka,s reg off the 'bay.

It looks a clean car,he's had it real cheap with a very light bump,I think it was only written off because it was old and therein lies the issue,hence why he asked my opinion as I've stripped many of these.

I had a look and it's ridiculously clean for it's "age",it does have the old tap tap engine in it,but it looks like a very late one with endura d on the top,not the de one they fitted after 2002 but it looks like a 51 plate motor.

The interior is mint and so on,it looks perfect underneath and so on.

Out of interest,I pulled the door back for the numbers and it was a slightly different blue.I looked a bit further and the floorpan looks a tad higher than on the other side,been underneath the floorpan and there's no sign of welding or numberbashing.

I looked a tad further and I'm convinced someones rung it,ver neat job,all seam sealed etc but what's concerning me is it's had a VIC check,as it was cat c.he's since moted it with no issues and is using it daily.

My question is,how deep do the testers go?I've had a VIC done before and it took about 2 minutes,everyone I've spoken too has said the same although I'd like to hear it from the horses mouth.

He's a tad concerned but doesnt want to involve the police as he'll just break it to get the money back after his 6months tax are up for fear of losing it.

I'm sure nobodys out there looking for a shitbox Ka but it could have been something nice and car theft at any level is concerning,which is what could have happened here in a roundabout way as reshelling an s reg Ka unless it was done in 98 seems highly unlikely.

Any views appreciated,but please could we not turn it into a "your mate should report this to the police" thread as it's not helpful,this is more to gather some information as I for one wouldn't think of a VIC tested car being rung!!

taz1787

iTrader: (8)

well if its been vic tested already then i would of thought it to be a straight motor

although technically a vic test is as states

a
vehicle

id

check

hence checks vins against reg plate and computer make sure they all match etc

CosworthGuy

If its already had a vic then it wont need another, they arent yearly like mot's mate. They check for the correct identity though if it hasnt had one and needs one, EG floor numbers matching engine numbers, Vin tags and window etching etc

toofast10

hi a vic test is to check the car is the right one e.g vin plate,chassis number and engine number are the same so this should be correct as its been checked but i have done about 40 and as you say its only in there for 5 minutes depending on how busy they are ,so they must only check the numbers they do ask what repaire was done (most repaires are visible to the trained eye) plus theres no proof to the police (if is a ringer)when it was done i.e after vic ?

vaughant

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the replies guys.

Well,unless my 20 years of messing with cars have taught me nothing this is definitely a ringer,someones grafted the floor on top of the old one,it's been done well,but i can tell it's been changed,the seam sealer looks brand new and on further inspection there's a little bit of splatter from the mig that's been painted over.
Now,as shit as ford build quality is,even I know they use robots to weld!!!

I'm thinking what your saying above sounds right,after all,5minutes won't give them time to make a really good check.

Tbh,the guy he bought it off had owned it a while and seemed very genuine,he'd only really caught the back 1/4 and rear bumper,but being a 13yr old Ka,they wrote it off and he kept the salvage,but let the ticket lapse etc where my mate came in,I'd guess it was rung before this guy bought it as IMO if you knew you'd rung it,got it written off etc I reckon you'd take the full payout and cut your losses?

My mate took it for the VIC himself he told me tonight so I know nothings been done in-between?He told me he was there 5 mins and they just opened the door on the carpet,opened the bonnet,I'm assuming to check the vin etc.

I'm not sure if he even bothered to check the engine number as from memory it's pretty inaccessible in the Ka?I'm certain it's not the original engine either,the later ones had a green sticker on them saying endura d but the early 98 ones didnt?

I'm sure this ones slipped through the net!!!

Psycho Warren

iTrader: (5)

In my experience they dont look that deep. It wouldnt be obvious from a quick glance under the car and a look via the carpet flap that its been rung. obviously youve looked deeper.

also the DVLA man might have been in on it. Some of them are easy to bribe. For example i know of one who will give you a new VIN for a brand new cossie converted shell to be used as a reshell and updating the DVLA records correctly and use an age exemption so you dont have to get the "radically altered vehicle" through an SVA. (was a few years back mind). Once the data is on the system there is no record of SVA cert or details of inspection just that it was done on that date.

ASHCOSSIE

mate had his xr2 checked a few years back and they took numbers off his ashtray and a few other bits, the block who done the check said they could trace them back lol

vaughant

iTrader: (1)

Good stuff,thanks again guys.

Hi warren,he took the car himself for the VIC it turns out so there was no monkey business as he genuinely knew nothing.

It's all done now and on the road and he's happy but of course a little concerned it's a ringer.I suppose it could have been done to avoid finance companies getting it or something like that and the s plate I.d was just available?

Either way,I can't see anybody hunting down an s plate Ka really!!!

After all,there wasn't much more he could do to prove it was genuine!!!