Like many of us, I've lamented on here about the shoddy build quality of the Rapid. However, credit where it is due - the exterior of the car is fairly well nailed together with forgiving materials.

Case in point. I was rear-ended earlier today in a car park - twice - by an idiot in a big Audi estate. The dickhead wasn't paying attention and was also riding my back bumper (literally in the end) as we queued to exit the car park).

Had there been any damage at all, I would not have hesitated in beating the arsehole to death in front of his children (who were in the car). However, I'm pleased to say that the two low-speed impacts caused zero damage to the rear of the car. No cracks, scuffs, popped fastenings or misshapen plastics.

The interior of the car is still questionable, but after today I can't really fault the exterior skin of the car. Had that been the Citroen, I can guarantee it would have needed some degree of bumper repair (or a whole new bumper).

Sent from my iPhone 6S Plus using Tapatalk, please excuse any typos.

Strange, because in my case I have found that the slightest impact on the painted part of the plastic bumper causes large scratches and bare plastic exposure.

Maybe in my case it was impact with pointy object and yours with a blunt part of the other car's bumper?

Edited 13 December, 201510 yr by eyegr

JonB is the biggest fan of it's strength I think.

Have you checked behind the bumper, and carefully at the ends, brackets, fittings etc, can all be distorted. My neighbour tapped the bumper on my old Astra when it wasnew, just a scuff and a tiny bit of distortion on the end - which hid £500 worth of damage to the metalwork below. And of course the corrosion-proofing!

It's all fine.

Sent from my iPhone 6S Plus using Tapatalk, please excuse any typos.

You may find the Rapids cheap build actually saved it. The plastic is so thin and bendy it probably gives so much that it absorbs small impacts well.

I'd have told the Audi driver that I'd be informing my insurance company and getting it checked out at an approved bodyshop.

 

Even though you knew at the time this wasn't necessary I'd still have said it, if for nothing else but to make him sweat for a week or two.

 

Might focus his attention a little more on his driving while waiting for the never arriving letter / call from his insurers.

I'd have told the Audi driver that I'd be informing my insurance company and getting it checked out at an approved bodyshop.

Even though you knew at the time this wasn't necessary I'd still have said it, if for nothing else but to make him sweat for a week or two.

Might focus his attention a little more on his driving while waiting for the never arriving letter / call from his insurers.

No - I don't think so.