Just wondered if they are or if my 2nd hand car has had an upgrade?

Mine are black.

Mine are black too. 2012 vRS Estate

Not sure about the estate, my replacement lowering springs are red

my replacement lowering springs are red

Are we talking springs or shocks?

The only thing that is red under my wheel arch is the caliper.

Red shocks would look a little strange...

My Springs are Red my Dampers are Gold, His is not a Facelift, the uprated Eibach oesfor the estate ( bought through Skoda were red

Are we talking springs or shocks?

The only thing that is red under my wheel arch is the caliper.

Red shocks would look a little strange...

Sorry I mean springs my mistake

I've read somewhere on this forum that Eibach lowering kit (sold by Skoda, discontinued now) included red springs for hatchback and black for estate cars

Sorry I mean springs my mistake

No mistake, springs are shock absorbers.

The round telescopic bits that nearly everyone calls shocks are the dampers.

Springs absorb the "shock" of hitting bumps, potholes etc and the dampers "dampen" the bounce from the springs.

No mistake, springs are shock absorbers.

The round telescopic bits that nearly everyone calls shocks are the dampers.

Springs absorb the "shock" of hitting bumps, potholes etc and the dampers "dampen" the bounce from the springs.

Could I have some of that stuff you are on please

Technically he is right though. The job of the damper is to dampen spring oscillations. If you didn't have dampers the spring would absorb a shock from a bump but nothing would stop it bouncing, the damper damps the spring action.

Damper is just the modern Trendy name for a shock absorber.

They have been called shock absorbers for a long time before anyone started calling them dampers.