Copart - Can anyone help or advise

[Ray Singh]

Apologies if this is in the wrong area or is against RR policy.

A close family member has seen a car on Copart and is very interested in it.
He is based in London and the car is in Wolverhampton. Its quite a pricy machine and he just wants some information on the car prior to commiting time from surgery to travel up and have a look/bid.

At this stage they wont even tell him if it has an engine in it or starts and drives.

Can anyone help or advise?

Thanks
R

[ThePollitt]

Ex Copart employee here.

The yards have thousands of cars and unless it's a Ferrari that crashed into a lake of custard, heads don't get turned. They're numbered, categorised and in the yard they go.

The front line staff you deal with won't know anything about the cars, they just process the paperwork. Even the person who photographed the car won't know a great deal about it, as he'll be imaging a large number of cars per day.

In a nutshell, you either bid on the basis of what the listing says (if the listing doesn't confirm whether it runs, assume it doesn't - Copart will always mention if it's a runner. Running cars make more money) or find the time to go and have a look. When I was there last year, you didn't need to be a member to view a car, though the member would have to confirm and verify he/she was sending someone to look.

Sorry if that's not the answer you're looking for. Copart processes thousands of cars a week, and while we may get a bit giddy over one particular vehicle, the reality is that it's just a numbers game for them.

Chris

[Ray Singh]

Thanks Chris - as you say, not what I or my mate wanted to hear.
Ironically though - the car we are looking at is a Ferrari that crashed into custard!
Its the Galio fly yellow F355 currently at £19k.

[alecw35]

so maybe it is a Ferrari that crashed into a lake of custard.

[joem83]

I think I would be going and having a look with those numbers

[recarouk]

Oct 10, 2014 17:18:49 GMT joem83 said:

I think I would be going and having a look with those numbers

that, 19k on a Ferrari but worried about a day off to travel? i'd be getting my bottom up there sharpish to make my own mind up

[jiminwatford]

I believe you also need to book a viewing slot and not just turn up

[bigfella2]

By the time you have registered, and been messed about checking ID and address etc, it will be long gone. Never mind the joining/yearly fee's.

[paynee]

Oct 10, 2014 15:23:38 GMT ThePollitt said:

Ex Copart employee here.

The yards have thousands of cars and unless it's a Ferrari that crashed into a lake of custard, heads don't get turned. They're numbered, categorised and in the yard they go.

The front line staff you deal with won't know anything about the cars, they just process the paperwork. Even the person who photographed the car won't know a great deal about it, as he'll be imaging a large number of cars per day.

In a nutshell, you either bid on the basis of what the listing says (if the listing doesn't confirm whether it runs, assume it doesn't - Copart will always mention if it's a runner. Running cars make more money) or find the time to go and have a look. When I was there last year, you didn't need to be a member to view a car, though the member would have to confirm and verify he/she was sending someone to look.

Sorry if that's not the answer you're looking for. Copart processes thousands of cars a week, and while we may get a bit giddy over one particular vehicle, the reality is that it's just a numbers game for them.

Chris

Not really of any use to the OP and a little off topic, just curious more than anything.

I have bought quite a few things from Copart over the past year but have always bought just off the basis of the info on the adverts as it has only been cheaper lots, I am thinking of buying something a little newer from there and wondering what the score is with regards to viewing vehicles, are the keys present can you start vehicles while viewing, have bought a few vehicles where they have not been listed as engine start or run and drive and have been exactly that once I have collected them, also lots of vehicles listed with mechanical damage but give no indication whatsoever what the problem is so would be nice to try and ascertain this before bidding.

I know I would be able to get this information from calling copart direct but haven't found a specific lot yet to justify this.

[Del]

Also an unrelated (to the OP, but related to Copart) query here. I'd never heard of them before this thread, but there's a vehicle on there that would be of interest to me as a parts donor (if I do manage to get a house with a drive).
It's Cat B, and it says Copart will need to see a CoD. But how long would I have to supply that? A parts car might sit on the drive for months or years before it's no longer viable, or would I be expected to strip it all out and break the shell quickly?

[surprisingskoda]

You cannot buy a Cat B vehicle unless you have an ELV licence and produce the documents to prove such BEFORE you are registered to be able to specifically buy cat B.

[Del]

Thanks. That's that idea out the window, then...

[quackshot]

Oct 11, 2014 19:22:59 GMT Del said:

Also an unrelated (to the OP, but related to Copart) query here. I'd never heard of them before this thread, but there's a vehicle on there that would be of interest to me as a parts donor (if I do manage to get a house with a drive).
It's Cat B, and it says Copart will need to see a CoD. But how long would I have to supply that? A parts car might sit on the drive for months or years before it's no longer viable, or would I be expected to strip it all out and break the shell quickly?

Is it a skyline by any chance?

[Del]

Nothing so exotic! It's a Mk3 Granada.

[quackshot]

Ok, had to enquire as my mates one is being held there by the insurance and they seem reluctant to return it.

[Midland Performance & Retro]

I went to have a look at the Yellow 355, it was only just down the road from me.

It had been repaired (badly) previously and undergone a colour change from Silver to Yellow. It was also originally an F1 (paddleshift) model, but had been converted to manual, even though it still had the paddles in situ. A few other weird things about the car too, so it wasn't one for me.

[PistonBroker]

Oct 20, 2014 11:43:39 GMT Midland Performance & Retro said:

I went to have a look at the Yellow 355, it was only just down the road from me.

It had been repaired (badly) previously and undergone a colour change from Silver to Yellow. It was also originally an F1 (paddleshift) model, but had been converted to manual, even though it still had the paddles in situ. A few other weird things about the car too, so it wasn't one for me.

Well, thanks a lot. I'd been having a good daydream about this car since spotting it on here and now you've gone and ruined it! ;-)

[Ray Singh]

wow - thanks for that update. The car did have an odd look about it. Originally i thought it was a fixed head, but it was a spider with the removable panel coloured.
My freind gave it a wide bearth in the end, but is still looking for a 355.

Thanks