IMO if any of us wanted a car just for speed, we'd all buy scoobies / evos etc, but the whole Golf scene is more than 'How fast?', isn't it???
Personally I'd rather have a standard 1.8 Mk2 16V than a Mk3 2.8 VR6, because IMO it's a better all round car in both driveability and style, and speed wise there's not a massive difference anyway.
A 2.8 V6 should beat a 4-pot 1.8 all day long, otherwise VW seriously messed up.................