Gotta do my front shocks next week so gonna buy some axle stands as whenever I've worked on the car (cambelt change, brakes) I've always just used the standard VW jack with a spare peugot one+wood blocks for extra backup.

Does everyone who uses axle stands place them under that flat area just behind the front wheel arches as it always looks a bit flimsy to me!

Cheers for any advice

A trolley jack makes life much easier! I wouldnt trust my life, or risk damaging my car, by hoping that a standard 'widowmaker' jack won't collapse. Many people have died from this happening.

The flat area behind the wheel arches is where the car should be jacked/supported. Thats why its a reinforced 'jack mounting point'.

I used TCA mounts for axle stands at the front and the rear beam at the back unless I was swapping the rear beam where I sat the car on stands at the odd mount things at the rear bumper.