I recently had Cupra console bushes and powerflex front bushes done, I bought the parts for about £80 from memory and labour was £120, so £200 all up.

Huge improvement, already did the ARB bushes myself since they're easy and about £8, just used new standard bushes since polybushes don't do anything for the ARB. Got a S/H Whiteline RARB for £40 but needed new U-Bolts which were £10, doddle to fit and reduced understeer noticeably, already have Eibach Pro springs all round (£160) but needed new front shocks so bought a pair of Bilstein gas OE spec, for £70 delivered.

I've been running the standard steelies with 185/60/14 Uniroyal Rainmasters (£220 fitted) since last summer, staggering wet grip but will probably put the VRS alloys back on since it's stopped raining (for now).

Might do the rear shocks soon and will probably use Bilsteins again since they're more than adequate.

As soon as these cars hit 10 years old ALL the rubber parts need replacing to be honest, I would agree that the shocks are pretty much gone by about 80,000 miles.

If you are doing the rear springs, there are aluminium cups/platforms below the springs that will have mainly disappeared - some maybe buy new ones, lots of folk don't seem to know about them and as they are not trendy or sexy they get left out.

I recently had Cupra console bushes and powerflex front bushes done, I bought the parts for about £80 from memory and labour was £120, so £200 all up.

Huge improvement, already did the ARB bushes myself since they're easy and about £8, just used new standard bushes since polybushes don't do anything for the ARB. Got a S/H Whiteline RARB for £40 but needed new U-Bolts which were £10, doddle to fit and reduced understeer noticeably, already have Eibach Pro springs all round (£160) but needed new front shocks so bought a pair of Bilstein gas OE spec, for £70 delivered.

I've been running the standard steelies with 185/60/14 Uniroyal Rainmasters (£220 fitted) since last summer, staggering wet grip but will probably put the VRS alloys back on since it's stopped raining (for now).

Might do the rear shocks soon and will probably use Bilsteins again since they're more than adequate.

As soon as these cars hit 10 years old ALL the rubber parts need replacing to be honest, I would agree that the shocks are pretty much gone by about 80,000 miles.

Not true at all, firstly my cars 12 years old, it's had console bushes at 11 years old but it's pretty much an accepted fact that the initial design was flawed from production, they will have failed way before 10 years but the garage who looked after it was useless. That leaves the front wishbone bush, apart from the one example above I've not read of or seen one that's in need of replacement due to failure irrespective of age, this is the exception. Then you have the ARB bush, flawed design of the ARB = new ARB and bushes, it's not the bush that goes its the corrosion to the bar that causes the glue to fail and again this happens well before 10 years old. Dog bone is more age/usage dependent but seems to be a diesel issue more than a petrol one, so what are you basing your 'ALL' statement on exactly?

As to suspension it's a front heavy diesel, how the struts and springs last depends on usage and environment. A car thats worked hard over twisty B/C roads, poor road surfaces/cobbles etc. will likely fail in a much shorter distance than one that is driven sensibly and only ever sees a motorway. A car driven in a warm climate that rarely sees rain or salt will last a lot longer that a car that does less miles but is kept by the sea. Lots of cars do well over 100k before having any suspension work done, again putting a number on it like that is just wrong.

The majority of bush failures are due to inherent design failures from VAG and will occur well before 10 years and suspension can easily do twice the figure you quote and more, ask a taxi driver.

If you are doing the rear springs, there are aluminium cups/platforms below the springs that will have mainly disappeared - some maybe buy new ones, lots of folk don't seem to know about them and as they are not trendy or sexy they get left out.

Aluminum won't rust so where's it going? Physical wear from the spring?

Dog bone is more age/usage dependent but seems to be a diesel issue more than a petrol one, so what are you basing your 'ALL' statement on exactly?

Forgot to mention the drop links, thanks for the reminder, I fitted Meyle HD links which were about £60 for the pair and of much more robust construction.

Avalon, I feel your pain but I'm simply posting from personal experience, my car is a petrol bought with very low mileage from a little old lady who garaged it all its life.

I have had many VWs previously and the rubber chassis parts don't last, the degradation in performance is gradual but definitely accelerated wear due to aging, most people don't notice this loss of performance and often the parts look fine when replaced.

The work I've done on mine has given it back that 'as new' feeling, it feels very taut, is now very quiet and handling is near neutral.

I'm not a 'modder' and I don't care if you believe what I write or not, I'm simply relating my experiences so others may benefit. If you have nothing to contribute but snarling scepticism then you're probably not contributing.