I wonder what else will be installed for free in this car until you get it back. So far it's had Eibachs and parking sensors...

I wish I had and "accident" like that! (although I'd ask for an Amunsen+MDI since I got the sensors already...)

got arse ended doesnt look too bad very very little bumpet damaged i have to say it handled the hit better then expected. but havent seen what the rest is lyk

It's BACK!

At long last. Got the Eibachs, in a box in the boot. Gotta laugh...

There wasn't time to fit them and guarantee completion today, so agreed to take it back to CDG service next Monday first thing and they'll fit the springs and do the recoding.

So nice to be able to accelerate again, especially up steep hills!

Think I'll take the missus out for dinner at a nice country pub, down some long twisty Surrey and Sussex roads, to celebrate!

Kudos to Ian at Skoda and Rob at CDG Bodyshop for their relentless professionalism in the face of relentless adversity. Your line managers will receive the positive feedback you've worked so hard to earn.

As for Skoda Parts distribution, and the dealer who held the bumper's dispatch up... I'm sure you'll find yourselves getting a mention too... Don't take it personally, just make sure you don't repeat your hideous array of transgressions and leave some other poor sod like me without a car for a month, for the sake of a single component.

Just thought I'd resurrect this! Glad to hear you've got yours all sorted. Have you got the springs fitted now? If so, what's it like?

I seem to suffering a similar bumper fate as well. My car has been at Autocraft in Telford now since 11th April (I was also rear ended in March) and I have had 3 delays now thanks to sourcing a bumper from Skoda. They are apparently like rocking horse poo by the sounds of it as we both have had problems obtaining one. All the while I have a tatty, fag smelling mk6 Golf TDI (DSG7, like the vRS except this one's clutch for 1, 3, 5 and 7 seems to be slipping) hire car which no doubt is going to end up costing the 3rd party a profane amount of money.

Woah, sorry to hear that I'm not the only one.

First, get your hire car replaced. It's obviously unfit for purpose. Moan like hell to the hire car company until they sort it, and if needs be, escalate to the insurance company. I know I moaned a lot about the Vauxhawful I had, but that was because it was crap, not faulty.

2nd, I sent a very detailed letter to Skoda when my situation ended. I praised the guys who did well (the folk dealing with me and keeping me informed were great, wasn't their fault that they only had bad news to tell me). I was equally damning though of the laughable parts supply situation. When you finally get this sorted, I suggest you do the same. This situation cannot go on, and Skoda need to address it.

3rd. Spring have been on for a week. They transform the look of the car. One of my Jag-driving customers commented yesterday on the "sporty little number" I turned up to his house in. Felt good! Handling? Combined with the XDS turned up to max it now corners like a terrier. Actually scrub that... It corners and turns in like my classic mini Cooper. It's a hoot!

Ride.. A bit rumbly, but actually no worse than the 03 plate Octy vRS estate I used to have as a company car. Only exception is speed "mounds" ( not the full width "sleeping policeman") which I now drop to 28 instead of straddling them at 30mph.

Other than that, all good. Awaiting a "windfall" cheque so will soon be retrofitting cruise control to go along with an APR remap. Will report back on that in a fresh thread when it happens.

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Thanks for your comprehensive and helpful reply

I have considered ringing up the hire company but there's two problems: (1) I don't really see the point in trying to get a replacement, supposedly mine will be ready on Monday and (2) the conditions of this hire car are ridiculous. I'm under the impression that if there is any new stone chips or superficial wear and tear, or even the general inside/outside condition is "dirty" I get slapped with ridiculous costs. If I therefore go and tell them that the clutch is buggered, I'm anxious they're going to try and hold me accountable and charge me, when ultimately the car is a 60 plate and done about 25k miles. Should surely still be under warranty.

Regarding the letter to Skoda - I completely agree and usually I would follow suit, however I haven't had any dialogue with Skoda throughout the process. My involvement has merely been with the body shop instead - all I know is that they have been struggling to find a bumper and all of the related supply chain issues that you have experience has been abstracted away from me as I'm dealing only with the body shop directly.

Great to hear about the springs. I really should look at them at some point but in reality I have a tonne of other niggles with mine first that need to be sorted including DSG hesitation, a recurring and unknown misfire and rattles/build quality issues. I really am losing all faith in the VW group after seeing a 60 plate Golf with a knackered DSG as well.