Opportunity is knocking and I am considering acquisition of '98 Jetta...but reluctant to take the plunge.
Question: Are the brake/clutch footpedals the same?? I.E., can I put Mk.II pedal assembly in the new '98??? (It is a damn automatic gasser).
Question: can a manual Mk. II steering rack bolt into the newer '98 body (I hate power steering with a passion)

??
I am expecting a NO on both of these questions.....
(I really don't want to go with Mk. III as I have no extra parts or body panels....but, the car is pristine).
pretty sure that you could bolt the clutch pedal right in but you'll need to drill your own holes in the firewall.. then you'll need to get mk3 manual tie rods for the mk2 manual rack... thats as far as i know... i'd love to have manual steering! one less fluid, and one less part to go wrong.
I should add that the automatic is history and I was going to let the owner keep the gas 2.0 to sell. I would then go in with either a good ol' diesel or grab my gas engine and manual trans out of the rusted '86 Golf (and any necessary wiring additions/deletions as needed to accomplish the task).
But to go with the old gas engine poses more complications than it is probably worth. I would be getting the body for a few hundred dollars, only. THAT is why I was considering it. It is a beauty.
Is the '98 a TDI or an IDI?
The Canadian IDI's actually have Mk II front end bits for the most part - they use the same brakes, a lot of the suspension parts, etc. So there's actually quite a bit of interchangability there!
Gasoline with a broken automatic trans.