Engine Swap Questions: SE approach?

[pwpanas]

Originally Posted by jzzrs180

Could it be a smart approach to buy a SE model and then invest in an engine upgrade, or hold out and wait for a deal or more money saved and buy a tt? I have about 10k saved right now and could throw down and make payments on a good SE model, which is a 98 with 70,000 miles great condition for 21.5 obo.

How much do engine swaps usually cost?

Is the SE model comparable to the tt in every other aspect of performance other than it's engine, (e.g. suspension, transmission, frame)?

I've seen on YouTube some enthusiasts have made the swap, and it looks and sounds fantastic, but there is of course labor and the risk of poor installation.

Gosh this question must have been asked a thousand times already...if not more. NO, do not by an n/a (or SE or any non-turbo Mkiv). You can NOT make an n/a into a TT by only swapping the engine. What about the braking system? The suspension? The transmisison? The differential? They're all crap (relatively speaking) compared to what comes standard in the TT. If you choose to try to do it, good luck...but what you end up with won't be a real TT and it won't perform like a real TT. If you want a TT, save your $ and get one...it'll be a LOT cheaper that way in the long run.