They are some SERIOUS SNOBS over there, huh?

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=4771531

They start in on me just below the pics of the 540iT. I held my tongue pretty good (well, for ME, anyway), I think.

 

I hardly ever go there. The most interesting stuff (DIY and useful info) is from 2005 and below, nowadays everyone is out to PWN NOOBS!!

 

I lurk occasionally but rarely post.

They have some interesting insights and infos from there but some of the people could be a little arrogant I suppose.

 

Up until yesterday, all I ever did was lurk, too. They do have lots of useful info, tho. Convinced me to abandon my wish of owning a W8 B5. $17k for a replacement motor, OMG!!! I'd drive it off a cliff, me in it, before I'd drop that for a VW motor.

 

Yeah I just use the site for it's massive classifieds...

 

Good choice not trying to make the W8 work though, those sound like some horror stories those guys were telling.

 

well as far as them giving you a rough time...i always TRY to be grammatically correct (other than my laziness to not use capitals).
if you're posting among people you know, then it's ok to use your funky spelling...but that's just asking for an e-fight when you're still considered a noob.

i can't comment about the content, since i'm not technically mechanical.

 

Yeah, I get you on the W8, although is an engineering marvel, just like the W12 on the bentley, but difficult to work on and fix nonetheless...

 

Vortex can be a great source of info... it is a HUGE forum, so most of the time, the info you need is already there (twelve times).
It's also the forum of choice for teens... so yeah, there's a lot of BS and a lot of scams in the classifieds (not that other forums are immune, I just find more shady stuff there than any place else).

About the W8... I was in the same boat. Just recognize that there is a good reason why the W8 is as cheap as it is in the used market. It's a nightmare to own when anything goes wrong.
I was shopping for a new car for my girlfriend, as we wanted to ditch her 03 beetle for something with AWD since we've moved fairly far up north (Sudbury, Ontario).
I came across a couple W8 4motion sedans and even a wagon (which is what I really wanted) that were in our price range. I ended up staying far, far away. In the end, we picked up an 02 A4 Avant 1.8TQT.
I like being in familiar territory... 1.8T is mod friendly and easy as hell to work on. W8 is very far from either of those things.

 

I can't agree more with headshok.

Although the W8 Passat Wagon looks sooo damnn good. Especially if it's slammed.