just so no one gets me wrong. I drive an 8v all the time and I love it to bits. It revs well all the way to the red line. When I drove the pug 206 180gti I hated it cos there wasn't as much torque as I would of liked lower down the revs, but once it was over 4500rpm it was a rocket. it's the same with honda's Vtec. Just wait until that winds up!
back to the mk3 vs anything else 'fight'. It's all down to power to weight ratio. Why do you think bikes are so fast when they only have 900cc engines

If you want modern power for your mk1/2 there are a number of options to suit every driving style and future power hikes.
bottom line:
8v lower tq curve - better for daily driving
VR faster (and heavier) version of the 8v
16v better reving with a higher tq curve. more tuneable
20v similar to the valver
turbos, supercharghers and NOS. Just more fun at the end of the day
