Which modern shifter is a direct fit onto a Mk2 VR6?

late 02j tower is what you want if doing the swap, the early ones are almost identical to 02a. you cant miss it anyway. for gear selector the closest to direct fit is the polo 6n one, but its getting harder to find. also found on polo classic tdi & caddy van tdi plus ibiza tdi/20v.

but the only reason you would spend the polo tax is if you really wanted the option to go back to standard, otherwise just get the mk4 shifter and mod the tunnel till it fits. if you had a g60 golf, corrado or mk3 as the polo shifter is a straight fit on those so more reason to bother (later mk3 need a slight mod)

some pics here:
https://www.clubgti.com/forums/index.php?threads/02a-gearbox-to-02j-shifter-conversion-help.289481/

polo gear selector here:
https://www.clubgti.com/forums/index.php?threads/02j-tower-shifter-question.284571/

I still need to write a thread on how to get the polo shifter in a normal mk2 but in a nutshell you choip out most of the brackets at the sides leaving the bolt holes intact, then the shifter fits in almost directly. you still need to use big washers under the bolts or make up an intermediate frame same as you would if fitting a mk3/corrado/g60 shifter, as they're the same fit apart from being a fair bit wider at the base

 

not sure what you mean?

 

Not plug and play in a normal MK2, you need to do the same mods I mention above as it's the same shifter pitched from the polo tdi. Unfortunately not cheap or all that available here either any more as the Ibiza/cordoba are rare here and TDI variants even more so. Plus most sellers around here have realised MK2 guys want them so have piled on the scene tax

 

Don't need to do that with the polo/Ibiza shifter, just open out the brackets under the car till it fits

I'll have a look but thanks to the brexiteers postage from Europe is very expensive and many sellers don't even offer it any more

 

heres pics of my polo shifter install, the bent studs at the back are just to line up with the mk2 centre console slots. Note kinked stick, thats from an Audi TT and has the correct M12x1.5 thread for MK2 gearknob already, I also find the kink lines it up nicely to MK2 position also but this is personal preference

 

ok so
caddy van 96-03 tdi
lupo/arosa 99-06 tdi and 1.6 gti
polo hatch 95-03 tdi
polo saloon/estate 00-02 tdi

cordoba/ibiza 99-02 tdi and 20vt
inca 99-01 tdi

 

Some.will some.wont, but you would just use the standard 5 speed 02j tower off a golf.or.similar if not