Love the build thread mate, I used to read your one from mkiv's a while back! Your thread is one of my favourites!
Got a 1.9tdi like you had, remapped to 155nhp and lowered with eibach springs.
I am seriously thinking of biting the bullet and going for the GTI, even though I do 20k a year (can lift share sometimes). I hope to test drive some soon, though ED30 is just outta my reach :(. Would you go back to manual if you got another GTI? and what about the difference in everything, will I get in it and will it just remind me of my TDI? Don't get me wrong, I love my mkv, I just want to release the petrol head within myself!