Just wanted to let you guys and gals know that the Neuspeed Short Shifter that is available for Jetta 4's is well worth the time and investment. I got mine for something like $150 and the install took me about an hour (because parts were ceased up and I was clueless and scared).
The distance between gears is
definitely shorter!
If you're looking for quicker shifts, this is a good place to start.