to get an idea...
a used corrado... 93 ish vintage is around 9k for a nice one...
figure at least half that for a similar year gti. pre 90s is alot, and i mean alot, cheaper... and you can swap doors and bumpers and motors, etc... the body did not change for like ten years... so you could get an 85 and make it look like a 92. hows that sound?
i believe the 2.1 was rare, but is it a twin cam, or sohc? i would go with the 1.8 g60 or a vr6 swap... which is extremely easy...
i know autobahn designs has done the swap alot... as well as 1552design, or talk to
www.tap1.com they are mostly audi, but know that shiet as well... there is so much you can do to that...
it is kinda like a crx... just spend some cash (minimal) and it is a killer...
so much shiet is a straight bolt on that it is just sick... makes it hella cheaper...