Tell him to save his money, and just buy a GTI, or a WRX. I own a Jetta VR6, and it is not the car for performance people. Plus it is a POS. However the GTI is lighter with the same engine choices. And the WRX goes with out saying, you can take a WRX to cobb tuning, and give them 5 grand, and run low 4's 0-60. That is what I am going to buy very soon. Oh yeah if money is not a problem, why don't you just buy the new M3 Convertible.
Josh