Hi, am wondering if anyone can help. I'm keen to buy a Scala but am of limited means, and have found a couple of Insurance write-off Scalas for sale for £5k - £7k. One in particular just needs new front bumper, bonnet, radiator and some respray work. Does anyone know of a good independent Skoda garage who they could recommend to quote for the work?

Welcome to the forum.

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Have you started pricing up parts or checking availability of parts from other written off Scala?

 

I can understand the Insurers writing off the cars because the repairs are quoted as being un-economic.

You are not going to pay what it would have cost the Insurance Company but you are still needing to source used undamaged parts or new ones and pay someone that is in business to make a profit.

If a bumper and bonnet and radiator is required then so will a front crash bar, and the crumple bars behind them, and a full electrics check needs carried out, 

a washer bottle, hinges, lights or just brackets maybe.  

It all ads up.

 

Minor damage can add up in parts required.

Edited 16 January, 20215 yr by e-Roottoot

Likely it will end up costing you more than buying a proper straight vehicle.

 

If you do the repairs yourself it can be worthwhile but dependant on the salvage category (please advise what it is) the repaired vehicle will be worth significantly less, any notional profit soon dissapears in depreciation if you keep the vehicle.

 

The person selling it might be the first intermediary after the insurers disposed of it, probably the second plus the salvage auctioneers all of whom will have taken a profit, when you start paying for labour, overheads & profit margins to have it repaired you will see why it was written off as an uneconomic repair.

 

There were plenty of specialists importing (mainly from Poland etc) & selling second hand all the bits you need, I traded with many of them in 2018 when I repaired my Yeti but they all did not know if they would be able to continue after Brexit, as things have panned out I dont think they will be so the second hand prices will rise.

 

Radiator usually means (dependant on engine & spec) the aircon condensor and intercooler as well, the resellers sell them as one assembly called a cooling pack I think.

Thanks so much - the one I'm thinking about is here. From the research I've done so far, I can find:

- front bumper with grille and assembly - £500

- Headlights - £500 or so (albeit the lights look OK; am pretty sure the light housings/casings need replacing

- radiator/cooling kit - won't know how much needs replacing, I guess without getting the car to a garage

 

The obvious components I'm struggling to find / put estimates on are:

- front right wing panel

- bonnet

 

As you both say, the key challenge seems to be knowing how much more damage there is under the bonnet, and in turn, the cost of labour at a decent garage who are happy to work with second-hand parts.

 

My goal, for this to be worth it, is a low-mileage Scala with an auto gearbox (and 114bhp or 150bhp) for £10k. Might be unrealistic but that's what I'm aiming for.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2019-Skoda-SCALA-SE-1-0-TSI-S-A-114BHP-5DR-SALVAGE-DAMAGED-REPAIRABLE-DRIVES/324451336976?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

 

 

@olliejordan It looks like the car is already at a place where they have decided that the repair ios going to be uneconomic for them to do the work.

 

Looking at what damage is visible and making a guess i reckon the quotes where between £4,500 -£5,000 on a Skoda Approved Repair.

That could have been more. Loan car is in the cost etc.

 

If you wait until after March you might find more used Scala coming back to dealerships and prices being asked and for them and availability being greater than it is now.  No idea what asking prices might be though.

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Have you driven one to be sure that a Scala 1.0 TSI / DSG is really what you want?

Edited 17 January, 20215 yr by e-Roottoot

What would it be worth in undamaged condition?

 

The category S marker is going to hammer its repaired value.

 

Aircon condesnor holding pressure is a good sign the radiators behind it will be OK, it will just be a bumper beam replacement or straighten it on a press, the one for my Yeti straightened but one crumple zone was slightly deformed and the alignment of the wings, bumper, headlights etc are all reliant on it, for £60 it was better to replace it.

 

Headlight mounting lugs can be repaired by plastic welding, I repaired & retained mine as spares.

 

There will be a couple of bits of plastic cooling ducting damaged, probably the bonnet catch.

 

Its very repairable but if you are paying someone to do it then forget all about it.

It looks like one for someone in the trade or a DIY'er that has previous experience and the tools to do the work or with mates rates from those that have.

Considering its young age & low mileage it looks like a good deal and is certainly an easy & relatively cheap repair if DIY'd and the bonnet, wing & bumper were sprayed for cash in a low bake booth.

 

It makes what I paid for my Yeti seem expensive although it was less than half that, more airbag/dashboard damage, less bodywork but in fact the newness is the achilles heel unless you sell it on straight away, any notional profit would soon be wiped out in depreciation.

11 hours ago, e-Roottoot said:

@olliejordan It looks like the car is already at a place where they have decided that the repair ios going to be uneconomic for them to do the work.

 

Looking at what damage is visible and making a guess i reckon the quotes where between £4,500 -£5,000 on a Skoda Approved Repair.

That could have been more. Loan car is in the cost etc.

 

If you wait until after March you might find more used Scala coming back to dealerships and prices being asked and for them and availability being greater than it is now.  No idea what asking prices might be though.

?

Have you driven one to be sure that a Scala 1.0 TSI / DSG is really what you want?

I’d prefer the 150 PS (had a fabulous Skoda Rapid for a week as a hire car, but the base diesel was very sluggish). It’s more a case of what I can find available

Agree 100% re: the depreciation point. To be honest, am not keen to flip it. My aim is to get a good car which would otherwise be out of my budget, and keep for five years. 
 

One other common issue on all the Cat S vehicles. As ex insurance write-offs, they call come with one key. I must check the forums and see if anyone has good suggestions for affordable replacement keys. Keen to avoid the usual £500 dealer nonsense.