Sharkie, I would consider a stat write off except for the below:

- I need to guarantee that I'm getting a good running motor
- I need to match engine numbers, the auction house offers only VIN numbers (which I am aware I can request the matching engine number from VW, it's just another hassle)
- My Amarok is at may parents farm, some 300 km from me so I'd need to tow whatever I buy to the farm (currently I don't have a towing vehicle or trailer)
- I can't keep a whole vehicle for spares, I don't have an appropriate place to store it
- at $5k even, this is pretty much $5750 which is the cost of what I am (hopefully) expecting to pay for non consumable parts in this job

If I lived where I am doing the engine swap, I'd make an effort to buy a whole car with matching numbers and swap the motor then part out valuable bits but it's a bridge too far for me and I can't capitalise on having those extra parts.

unclemitty