Depending on your age for insurance, you may as well just get an Si.

The GTI is just an Si with 5 spoke wheels and side sills..... [tho many more Gti's have optional half leather]

Engines are 115 ish bhp?

Look out for rust, rust and more rust plus those engines suffer from potentiometer problems so make sure it idles ok from cold, when its warm and revs freely enough