I had two Mk2 GTi's, they handled as well as a front wheel drive car could but were slow as a wet week. I sold them and thought a VR6 was the answer. I was wrong.
I went out test driving VR6's and discovered that they really aren't that special at all. They do sound very nice though, and that did bring a smile to my face. I felt that the cars were exceptionally heavy in the front; handled like pigs; took a lot of effort to pull up and were all round too heavy. After learning about running and maintenance costs I was totally opposed to buying one.

I ended up buying a Seat Cupra Sport GTi. It has all the safety aspects of the VR6's with airbags etc. Has brakes practically the same size (Seat-280mm, VR6-288mm) both with ABS. Power is a bit shy (Seat-110kW, VR6-128kW). Same supposed "Traction Control" which is total crap in both circumstances. Less maintenance issues - 4cyl vs 6cyl. More comfortable - they have the same Recaro seats but Seat's ride is more supple.
Considering it is about 300kg lighter (and most of that is in the front end) the Seat has better handling, ride, performance, braking and economy. It's also years newer, and built with VW parts. In so many ways it is more of a proper GTi than Mk2, Mk3 and Mk4 golfs.

To put the performance side of things into perspective, I had two other people in the car at a set of lights next to a VR6 which only had a driver. The Seat won by half a car length to 100. Had it have only been me, I would have slaughtered it. Come to a corner, heaven knows how far in front of it I would have been.

So why all the hype about VR6's? :roll: