My Van is Cat S. My wife's car is too.

But it was me driving when the little scrote pulled across in front of me and wrote it off.

That was July 2023.

Insurance (with Howdens/A-Plan) no different.

But. I know what happened. If I didn't then I would want to be very sure it was thoroughly checked over by a competent person and try to find how it happened.

I also have a Cat S VW Touran! Saw the Transit slowly reverse into it and crease the front wing. As it was 19 years old it was written off.

Got paid £1300 after buying the salvage for £300. Got a pre-painted new pattern wing for £150 and paid Dan the Man £300 to fit it.

But. Again - I saw it happen in 2025.

£605 for a sack truck, barrel, pump & controller lol.

The stainless steel version is £1075 !

I wouldnt necciserily be put off depending on where the repairs took place, cat s vans can be put back to a standard where they are just as safe as a normal van.

The biggest factor in buying one would be checking where the work was done. And if I were you, id pay an independant company to come out and give you an inspection report on it too .

Quote from: Scottish Cleaning Service on January 27, 2026, 10:40:53 am

I'm the same, best thing Grippatank has done for me when fitting the system. Give Oliver a call at Grippatank but he is very busy so may need to wait a month or two.

Grippatank cut into the return fuel lines on my van and they had to be replaced they couldn’t or wouldn’t  fit a standpipe into the tank never did get a reason why , I got the standpipe fitted by a local Wabasto specialist, I think dazmond had similar with them they cut into a fuel line and either the heater or the van wouldn’t start ?

It was the heater only running with the engine running, a lot of modern vans dont return pipes only have fuel in when the engine is running , fitting a standpipe in the tank is pretty straightforwrd for a mechanic though .

Yes it usually does avoid a cat s its structural damage and could still not be right due to chassis damage there are a lot of bodged repairs out there