Good call, there’s a gearbox specialist 5 minutes away. I’ll give them a call in the morning.
I’m not at all worried about resale value if i buy a cat N write off but i’m struggling to check the effect on insurance. The comparison sites don’t seem to factor it in, Admiral have stated that they don’t factor it into the premiums but will factor it into any payout (which is fair enough)
Remember that Cat S or N no longer require to be inspected before being returned to the Road so it all depends on the repairers scruples .
Did cat C/D require an inspection before going back on the road?
The cat N car i’m looking at apparently has pictures of the damage and repairs (just bumper and cosmetic damage) but i haven’t spoken to them yet.
I thought the rule used to be that a write off has to get a new MOT after repair but not sure if that is still the case.
I’m very happy with my 2016 Seat Leon FR. Apart from a new battery needed last November, it has been fault free. If you have any questions about it, PM me.
Ahh, they all have at least a couple of post damage MOTs
Thanks for your help chaps, much obliged
It used to be the case that after a write-off was repaired, you could take it to be assessed and the Cat was removed after it was deemed repaired to the same standard. But that scheme was canned.
Pre 2015 structural had to have a check …
Totalcarcheck full search will show the link to salvage auctions of most cat s/n cars so you can see the damage as was .
Arrgh the Pug 207 with the “Prince Engine” (basically similar to the engines fitted to Mini R56s - the Mini Mk2 form 2007-2012) Notoriously unreliable time chains and guides). I would never trust that engine to get to 80k miles so my advice would be to scrap asap (like most others here). BTW I don’t know if your 207 is a high spec version but I estimate it’s worth only around £1200 if it’s a low spec 2007 1.4… Webuyanycar are offering £660 but only if it’s FSHistory, no faults no scratches - and we all know what rip off merchants they are!
Sounds like I probably doubled the value of it putting the kids car seats and the sat nav back in 
