Decisions, decisions.

[Khare]

Keep it as, to change the engine will in the long run hurt its value.

Very true, but the 16v annie is the same car but with a 16v engine right? So it'd be staying along the same path, where as if you go 1.8T or VR6 route then that is a non standard car.

[Shady Pioneer]

Just go VR mate. 

[Wayne]

Very true, but the 16v annie is the same car but with a 16v engine right? So it'd be staying along the same path, where as if you go 1.8T or VR6 route then that is a non standard car.

The problem is that it is not original, it did not leave the factory as a 16v so any engine swap will devalue it to some degree.

[Shady Pioneer]

Depends on who is buying the car to what value it is.

[VW BUSH]

ABF, great it adds 40 bhp but once you get bored with it (and you will if the 8v feels slow) you will need time and pockets to get it near 200bhp which we all agree is what a Mk3 needs to be quick.
ABF's are best put in Mk2's.

Leave it standard if you dont want to go turbo as you have bloody nice car anyhoo

[leigh_harty]

Building what you can buy never makes sense.

So you eat out all the time because theirs no point in making your own tea?

Building what you can buy is about the experience, learning curve... not being a dull nobody

[tweed]

Seeing the state of mk3's lately I'd say if your car is in good condition stick with it and swap a engine. Can do it for peanuts.

Why sell yours and buy a vr6 then spend a load of money on new metal and paint?

To buy a vr6 in good condition will cost a lot more than the value of a 8v gti so just swap the engine

[benvictors]

'Why don't you just sell it an buy a VR6 or a 16v'..................... BORE OFF!!!!!

I would go VR6 all day long, especially since you said you aren't too bothered about economy
They sound ace, with a bit of fettling you can get m going pretty well and are possibly one of the strongest petrol engines VW ever built, no brainer for me.
Also, you can pick up a VR donor cheaper than a Valver donor at the min, seen 2 or 3 VR's go for less than £400 in the last few weeks.

If you had a bit more cash to play with then I agree with tweed on the V6 24v swap, quality engine, still sounds nice (although not as nice as the VR in my opinion) and 230bhp in a mk3 feels rapid 

I personally don't think changing the engine affects the Anniversary spec of the car at all after all, its not like the Anni came with owt special under the hood did it, yes they never actually made a VR Anni but in my opinion they should have never made an 8v Anni, or put a GTI badge on the 2.0 8v at all 

[leigh_harty]

Anni = appearance, not engine 

[Gavv8]

'Why don't you just sell it an buy a VR6 or a 16v'..................... BORE OFF!!!!!

I would go VR6 all day long, especially since you said you aren't too bothered about economy
They sound ace, with a bit of fettling you can get m going pretty well and are possibly one of the strongest petrol engines VW ever built, no brainer for me.
Also, you can pick up a VR donor cheaper than a Valver donor at the min, seen 2 or 3 VR's go for less than £400 in the last few weeks.

If you had a bit more cash to play with then I agree with tweed on the V6 24v swap, quality engine, still sounds nice (although not as nice as the VR in my opinion) and 230bhp in a mk3 feels rapid 

I personally don't think changing the engine affects the Anniversary spec of the car at all after all, its not like the Anni came with owt special under the hood did it, yes they never actually made a VR Anni but in my opinion they should have never made an 8v Anni, or put a GTI badge on the 2.0 8v at all 

The original GTi was 8v...not 16v....not VR6..........8V.