Didn't contact the VW dealer in Austin TX. I may contact VeeDub though. That is if I have to remain true OEM on this. If true, and I can't find a replacement, I will have no choice but to "jerry-rig".
I don't intend to put a used 15-20 year old hose back on the car. The digifant II's for Foxes went to 93. See the Bentley manual.
The design used for this specific hose is not user friendly for removal or installation. I have to turn the fuel filter, not the hose, to remove the hose from the filter. Don't forget the other end of the hose has the same male threaded end screwed into an immovable fitting. The fuel filter must be disconnected from the nylon piping via bolt before turning the fuel filter.
If I stay with the same OEM design, will let someone familiar with AC or hydraulic hoses perform any disassembly work on the fuel hose assembly. I cannot replace the hose itself... Beyond my scope of capability and tools. For the lack of a better word, I said "clamps". I don't know their actual verbage. Visualize a common AC line used in automobiles. Visualize the transition from the "rubber" part to the steel fitting part. That first metal part in the transition is what is holding the hose to the fitting.
Using an alternate fuel filter and standard neoprene hose and clamps sounds like a good alternative. I would have to alter the setup where the current hose screws into leading to the fuel line towards the engine though. Not sure how to go about that. Saw some fittings by Mr. Gasket at performancemarket.com that may do the trick and allowing current filter and current hardware transition to steel fuel line. Would also allow use of standard neoprene fuel line and clamps. Have to ID the thread size of the male fitting first.
Oddly, the Bentley has no pictorial of any part of the fuel supply system regarding primary fuel pump, fuel filter in the manual for the 87-93 Fox for either Digifant system. All 3 pictorials found are for the CIS/CIS-E systems. I do have concerns if swapping to later model Fox fuel filter if the inlet end has same thread size, and, if the fuel filter of a later model Fox has the same diameter so it will fit properly in its bracket for securing.