Help me purchase a performance jetta!

What I am looking for is a used late 90's jetta... I want just a stock plain car because I want to do it up myself. I have always worked on domestics (chevys) I even built a 500hp '67 nova (so I know my stuff) but I don't know much about the jetta yet.
I don't want to turn it into some screwy look'n rice rocket, but I'm thinking of a VR6 model... something that would be a good building block that has good potential and already performs descent. Are there any models/years I should avoid? or does anyone have better recomendations?
what is the best performance jetta that comes stock? (not new 2004).

I don't plan on sinking in thousands and thousands to get it to perform, but I'm thinking a v6 might be a good start..let me know if i'm wrong.

i'm smitten like a little school boy with the performance of my 2000 VR6. i'd also like to beef mine up, but afraid of touching the equipment. wait till you try an oil change on one and you'll see what i mean.