Now the mk2 handles well is nice and light, with 16v is no slouch and I reckon for a car of 15 years plus it doesn't do to badly again the modern competion, and it is a car that with stands alot of abuse. After all how many 205 gti do you see now, apart from if you work at a breakers.
aye i owned a 205 gti for 7 years , and compared to the reliabilty of my golf , it was s**t!!! , given i owned it before the golf too as well that says it all imo , the pug had 88k on it when i got it and i replaced soo much on it through the years i had an A4 folder full of reciepts , now my golf has 168k on the clock , last two mot's its gone through with out a problem and is still as strong as an ox , ive not had to do much work on it either. says it all imo about the mk2 
my mk2 8v is at 216k (!) and passed its MOT first time last week despite needing the subframe re-attaching to the chassis 2 months ago

first car ive owned thats gone straight through!! and funnily enough it has twice the miles on the clock than the rest!