MK5 Golf GTI vs GT 170 1.4

[rusnam]

Hello, new to this site so apologies if this is in the wrong section/has been asked before etc.

Currently got a 1.4 MK4 Golf (think it's 75bhp or at least was at some point) - you've all probably fallen off your chairs and are struggling to breathe at this point, in my defence it was my first car, got it when I was 17 wanting something other than a Corsa! I've had it for two years now, served my time, now for something quicker

Got around £6-7k which seems satisfactory for both the above but at my age it'll mean stupidly high insurance on the GTI (being quoted around £1.5-2k easy, currently paying £750 so it's steep to say the least) so as much as I love the MK5 GTI's I think the dream may have to be put on hold for a while (and to be honest, I'd feel a little guilty with a GTI at this stage)

Lately I've been looking at the 1.4 170 GT's, they seem ideal for someone like me and would provide (relatively) good performance and cheap(er) insurance.

Any thoughts? Would appreciate any sort of general/specific input, thanks

(I should add, I want something Golf-sized, petrol and German, so really it's either this or possibly an A3/1 series but the Golf seems ideal from the research I've done so far)

[rusnam]

thanks for all the replies, much appreciated.
I'd heard of turbo problems with the 170 but it sounds like they're a no-go or at least a big risk...
I think I'll probably just have to keep my current car a little longer til I can afford a GTI!