well i guess it depends on ur mind-set.
if ur in ur late teens/early 20's then maybe ull want ur car 2 look all boy racerish & 'blinged out' or if ur a bit older, u might want ur car 2 just look like a classy german hatchback?
like u, ive seen possibly hundreds of dun-up, pimped out and completely standard mk3's. im in my late 30's now and i have 2 admit, personally, the best of ANY cars are the ones that look as standard as possible. how many times have u seen bits for sale on ebay coz the seller is putting the car 'back to standard'? loads!! the fact is, most mods look great 4 the 1st few weeks, but start 2 look quite tacky and cheap after that, just looking worse and worse as time goes by, till u cant take it anymore & ...................'selling these rims as putting my golf back 2 standard'!!! lol
i think, lowering, a nice stereo setup, maybe some very light tints and perhaps some 'mild and gentle' engine mods, thats it...........oh & if u can afford it, maybe a cheap personal/ageless number plate!! as slick as silky the silk worms' favourite silk pajamas!!
ill come back and c wot the opinion of the others on here is, who knows i might be massively in the minority.................i am an old fart now!! lol
bf