Thanks, based on that, I think they must have been removed, I could just see the alloy piece where the black section stops and above that is where I could squash the cover further, might jack it up and check again, just want to be sure before it goes into dealer on Wed.

Do they use blocks on the rear? The dust cover seems more substantial on the rear dampers and not ribbed like the front so wouldn't push up.

Edited 30 November, 201411 yr by Matt Pez

They put something in the spring on the rear instead to stop movement whilst in transit

Apologies for resurrecting the thread.

 

My Blackline is still no closer to being fixed and so, after managing to negotiate a very reasonable deal from the dealer (with some "goodwill gestures" thrown in), I collected my brand new Mk3 vRS in black yesterday. It's a bitter-sweet conclusion to what has occurred as I had no intention of swapping the BL for another 18 months, but I have to say that early impressions of the new one are favourable. It now looks like I'll be frequenting this part of the forum now!

 

It's only after coming out of the Mk3 demo I had for a few days and back into the Mk2 (albeit very briefly) that I realised how much more refined the Mk3 is by comparison. 

Hope you are now sorted and welcome to the vRS club. I am one week on now and I luuuuuuve my baby. She is the perfect car for me, does everything I ssk...and at speed too of course.

Couldnt agree more chappers; whilst the Blackline in certain respects was not perfect it was an awful lot of car for the money and I do rather miss mine. Looking back I should have kept it a bit longer and if I did anything at all should have bought a new vRS TDi or something completely different. Still its not a bad car, just dont love it. You live and learn for sure.

Have to say I'm of the same opinion. I personally don't feel the mk3 is that amazing to warrant the on the road price.

Now if they was a good finance package and impressive discount then it's a no brained.

Wasn't the Blackline an awful lot of car for the money because the model was changing, ergo skoda had to make it attractive. Perhaps the MKIII will a BL version of sorts in a few years. Until then, I've realised that the cost of cars and Skoda's profile has risen. Looking around again for the space and economy, performance the Mk III is a good deal, if you can get one at the right price.

Wasn't the Blackline an awful lot of car for the money because the model was changing, ergo skoda had to make it attractive. Perhaps the MKIII will a BL version of sorts in a few years. Until then, I've realised that the cost of cars and Skoda's profile has risen. Looking around again for the space and economy, performance the Mk III is a good deal, if you can get one at the right price.

yes it was and yes they did! I'm probably in the same boat as quite a few hoping they will in time bring out another limited edition at a decent price to entice me to change, but can't see me doing this in the immediate future on a 'normal' vRS.

Maybe the recent change to the lower % rate and cheap servicing on the vRS is a sign the demand bubble is shrinking.... fingers crossed.

Just done first "countryside" run in the 1.4 TSi, in near freezing conditions. Performed brilliantly - certainly does not feel like a 1.4 !!

Air -1°C. Road -2°C. A perfect day for some road testing of the 4x4    It's much better to find the limits and behaviour of a new car under "own terms" rather than discovering them at an inconvenient time.

 

 

Air -1°C. Road -2°C. A perfect day for some road testing of the 4x4 It's much better to find the limits and behaviour of a new car under "own terms" rather than discovering them at an inconvenient time.

Cmon mate, dont show us just the road.....show us the donuts youhave made

Cmon mate, dont show us just the road.....show us the donuts youhave made

 

I didn't manage any doughnuts    But the car is just great. Some slopy snowy tracks that used to challenge the old 2WD motor were no problems. The hill hold worked perfectly and the MkIII didn't break a sweat setting off from a standstill on a snowy slope. The ride over some rough potholed gravel roads was much better than the MKII. More of a "B-Bum" from the suspension rather than the booming crash of the MkII. I'm not totally convinced with the ground clearance as in places the underside was scuffing the snow in the centre of the track (although I'm only on 16" steel rims, 205/55 tyres).

Wasn't the Blackline an awful lot of car for the money because the model was changing, ergo skoda had to make it attractive. Perhaps the MKIII will a BL version of sorts in a few years. Until then, I've realised that the cost of cars and Skoda's profile has risen. Looking around again for the space and economy, performance the Mk III is a good deal, if you can get one at the right price.

I dunno, i think the Blackline would have still sold with few problems even without the finance incentives. I personally think Skoda UK put them on 20% off because they were uncertain how well the model would be received and probably didnt want a limited run of 600ish cars sat at port doing nothing for months on end. Would never have been the case but thats SUK for you, and those that purchaesed one all benefited from that decision.

I changed my Mk2 vRs (petrol) for a Mk3 vRs (petrol) in November last year. I have done 13400 trouble free miles in the Mk3 to date. The new one is more refined, more spacious & has great performance, especially in 4th gear where the urge gets addictive! The only options I specced were spare & Canton. The latter sounds great with my iPod Classic as source, although that is probably worth more than the car according to recent media reports discussing Apple's decision to drop it from their range. In short, I love the car just a little bit more than my Mk2. Only niggles are the sound generator (why?), bonnet release on passenger side, no folding mirrors on mine & aux/Apple socket placed so iPod on view when parked. Why not in the glovebox as on Mk2. Small niggles these. Car is a good 'un!