SO the MK2 GTI is getting engine swapped in winter. So 1.8T vs VR6 vs 2.0T

It will b best if you stick with the 4 cylinders b est and a lot easier to change motor mounts should b close to match .Gould luck.

2.0T easily. Power/efficiency so far durable. Easily modded - chip is a 50hp/tq jump

2.0T! Timing chain vs. timing belt...no brainer.

agree with scott. 2.0 Turbo all the way,1.8 is still a very good ebgine, Must rempap though. May aswell uprate the injectors to while ur at it :-) Then some bad ass brakes lol. Mate has one with 1.8 G60 (and loads more) running 270BHP. I am continuing to hint him to take me out in it, sits under a cover in a garage mostly. Apparently will start to burn out on full throttle if u floor it in 5th at 70mph. Porsche 911s dont stand a chance on quarter mile.

2.0 T the 6 is too big, and the 1.8T is problematic.

vr6 isnt to big for a mk2 at all. Seen many over the year in mk2 and in mk1 golfs. And any engine is problematic if it hasnt been looked after properly or worked on by a decent mechanic. From my experience of 1.8T engines, 4 so far (a3, & 3 a4s) i never ever had any problems at all. Old a4 powers steering rack was a pain and that was my only bad expeience.

VR6 All The Way, If you want to get the most RAW naturally aspirated power with equivelent torque. Then you are gonna want to step it up and throw a twin turbo on that beast, flash the ECU, Big brake kit, Coil overs, Carbon fiber hood and trunk. then you will have a serious VW with more HP than most any other car on the road. Good luck with your project and put some Pics up when your done. Also check out VWVORTEX.COM Great VW forum. Lots of Q and A's.

VR6 Has Timming chain, by the way. only 4cyl motors have the belt.(cause they dont have as much power as the VR6.....)

2.0T once you can work around Engine mapping etc Vr6 Turbo would make sense, but a Na Vr6 is just too much weight for the power on offer lighter is always better