I owned a Škoda Rapid, and honestly — I loved the car.
Among everything I’ve driven, it delivered one of the best driving experiences.
But ownership isn’t just about driving.
And that’s where things changed completely for me.
I had a moderate accident (no engine or gearbox parts except cover and compressor).
- The car was damaged, but very much repairable
- Nothing that should typically end a car’s life
Then came the estimate.
A few examples from it:
- Subframe: ~₹1.1 lakh (was 14k till last year)
- Passenger airbag: ~₹90k (generally 5 to 10k)
- Driver airbag: ~₹63k
- Steering assembly: ~₹58k
Total estimate: ₹10+ lakh (more than ex-showrrom price)
At that point, the insurance company declared it a total loss.
Let that sink in —
Not because the car couldn’t be repaired,
but because repairing it became financially absurd.
I escalated this and got a clear response:
- These prices are standardized
- This is how parts are priced
- This is “as per company norms”
Which leads to the real problem:
👉 Your car’s fate isn’t decided by damage
👉 It’s decided by how expensive its parts are
And this is something most buyers never consider.
The outcome for me:
- I lost a car I genuinely loved
- The insurance payout won’t replace what I had
- And now, I can’t justify buying the same brand again — even if I want to
This is not an emotional rant.
This is a practical reality check.
If you're buying a car, ask yourself:
“In a real-world accident, will this car still be repairable — or will pricing write it off?”
Because I learned the answer the hard way.
