"Computer games don't affect kids, I mean if Pac Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened rooms, munching pills and listening to repetitive music." - lol, haven't noticed that before.
As for the question, I used to have a Mk3 gti, and now drive an 8v mk2...... As for repairs, in my experience they're both as bad as each other.... the mk3 is quieter, but that's the only area in which it wins, the mk2 is more fun, more confident, more retro. You can feel the moment any of the wheels step an inch out of line, and it makes you smile. Plus it does look (these are all opinions of course) far better.
The downside is parts are harder to come by......
If you think you might like one that's reason enough to go and buy one right now. I don't think you'll regret it. But as has been said - they're old cars so things will need to be done as time goes on. You'll get annoyed, you'll pay the bill (or just fix it yourself) but a couple of days later when it's a nice evening and you're opening it up in third out of a long corner and it's growling like a b!tch you'll forget all about it.
