Alright here we go!

I bought my FMIC kit from advan racing, $450 shipped, from this ebay page: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...QrdZ1 Updated Jan 28: this seller sells it for cheaper, and its the same kit: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...ZWDVW

Update, I know the link doesn't work but: just type in "Jetta Intercooler" into ebay and similar pages should come up. Look for my car in the pictures and also pictures of the intercooler setup that look the same as mine

I called them up and spoke with salesman "CG", who gave me all the details on the IC and the piping that came with it, here is some of the info he gave me on the kit:

(this is for the smaller IC, i bought the bigger one, 9 inch height and i 24 inches in length)
Core length : 20 1/2"
Core height : 6 1/2"
Core thickness : 2 3/4"
Inlet/Outlet size : 2 3/4"
End to end length: 28"
"It's a god speed core with identical Greddy IC piping, making for GREAT fitment."

With that being said i thought ok, this should be a good kit then I'll try it out. After ordering it, i heard some speculation from other vortexer's about fitment problems and that there way "no way" i would be able to fit the IC into my bumper. I called CG about this and he assured me it would fit, i would have to cut the re-bar and do some trimming, i was reassured, but i needed proof.
(A full review on my great experience with CG and Advan racing is at the bottom of this thread)

So i got the kit very quickly from them, coast to coast in count em, 4 days! great packing job also, no bent fins or anything:

By looking at the core itself i realized this thing was HUGE. I thought there would be not a chance in hell this would fit. I was wrong...