Motor Oil - Regular, Synthetic, or Blend?

[gli_joe]

So I thought my owner's manual said to use synthetic oil but upon closer examination today, I could only find one mention of synthetic oil and it actually said to use "a high quality petroleum or synthetic oil." Assuming petroleum = conventional oil, I'm wondering if I can use conventional oil instead and save some $$$. I plan on changing my oil every 5,000 miles and I thought the only benefit of synthetic was that it lasted longer which seems unneccessary. I have a 2003 GLI VR6.

So what do you guys use?

[MKIIVR6]

I use Mobil 1 10W40 synthetic in my 12V VR6. Expensive stuff, but has not let me down.

[miamiDaveGLi]

i use non synth castrol 20w-50 in the 8 valver she seems to like that brew
but if i had a vr6 or a 16 valver id definatly be running a synthetic or a blend just to be safe.