if you go for a mk2 get a 16v cos the 8's are a bit slow (sorry mk3 8v peeps) but i would go for a mk 2 cos they are class, try and drive both see which one you prefer, i would get a mk2 tho.
have to disagree there with the 16v you have to rev them quite hard but the 8v has power on tap sorry 16v boys
the usual 8v/16v debate!, a well setup 16v will produce more torque than an 8v from about 1800rpm up, there was a big debate on this before and there was an article printed on here which quoted all this
drive an 8v & a 16v and you'll understand the difference, the 16v behaves like an 8v up until 4200rpm then it just pulls right the way round to 7200rpm, an 8v will tale off at around 5000rpm