veedubyo (Gil Gomez)

Out of nowhere I got this email from Bryan telling me that I got selected for the oneB5. I was in shock and excitement that a little old guy like me with a little more than stock Passat B5.5 can be chosen for the venerable award. After picking up my jaw of the floor, I composed myself and try coming up with a good write up for an "auto"biography. Having looked at the other oneB5s there seems to be a pattern:
    >Surprise >Gratitude >History of finding the site >A little background of the car and mods.

Hmm, seems simple enough. At least I got the first part already so now I definitely want to first thank Bryan and the rest of the B5one committee for bestowing upon me such a great honor. Thanks to all of the members who have been so kind and helpful in guiding me through what has become a great joy of owning a Passat.

I found B5one.com purely by chance/accident. You see I have bought my car off the lot in East Coast Auto Mall (where b5bel works) in late August 2001. Yes I know, right before 9/11 and the great incentives. 2 years have passed and I was getting board of owning the Passat. Don't get me wrong, I have loved the newly redesigned Passats since they came out and were even more ecstatic when I bought the first runs of the face-lifted version. Plus it was my first brand new car. Needless to say I regretted not getting the full GLX.

So I went on a search to make my car more GLX-like, its off to Ebay. Found a replacement wood trim and chrome door handles. That was good, now to deal with the dreaded velour seats and plain steering wheel. Typing Isotta at a Google search bar and lo an behold, Bryan's car showed up with his write up for how to sew baseball stitching. My eyes could not believe what they saw. I was hooked and the rest is history.

Horace, is his name... My 2001.5 Black Passat 1.8T FWD. Not as elaborate as some of the members, but I try to hold my wallet back. After all, I do have 3 mouths to feed. My Daughter named the car after I said that it will be hers when she gets older. She kept wondering why I spent so much time and money on it.

Three big mods so far: FK Hitech 35/45 suspension system; 18x8 Roh Azzuro with Sumitomo HtrZ; GIAC chip. Forge 007 DV, N75J valve. Other little touches include: In-Pro chrome mirror covers, chrome handles, imitation wood trim, Alan Gun leather steering wheel cover, JonBoy tinted tails, short aluminum antenna, Blaupunkt San Jose HU, AutoWindow.

Well, hopefully 2005 will be a little more profitable, then I can go for a cat back exhaust, body kit and to finally deal with this dirt magnet velour seats. Just go look for me in the classifieds and Group Buys...I'll be there.

Other oneB5s

B5one is a licensed club of Volkswagen