Depends on what the mating thread it. If it's an 8.8 hardness male thread, going into steel, then 18 ft-lb would be right.
These are steel into steel, so 18 sounds right, except that the other end of the stud is anchored in aluminum. So the limiting torque is at the other end of the stud- the aluminum head. M8 steel into aluminum is only typically rated at 14-14.5 ft-lbs. And that's what the Porsche shop manual gives for all the M8 into aluminum applications that I can find.
If you tighten beyond this, your nut will be OK (steel into steel), but you risk pulling the stud from the head. Not sure what Haynes says, but I'd stick with the theory and the Porsche manual.
Looking at the Porsche shop manual, all M8 nuts on studs are listed at 14.5 ft-lbs, EXCEPT the bolts or studs that go into steel. These are listed at 18.1 ft-lbs and up-the higher ones being hardened bolts like the CV joint bolts.
Here's a torque spec that I printed out and put in my drawer with my torque wrenches. It's so consistent with what the shop manual says, that I use it now instead. Just be careful anywhere parts are clamped together that are subjected to thermal stresses- like case halves and head nuts- go with the manual on these always!
http://dodgeram.org/tech/specs/bolts/M_bolts.html