If it's the 1.6 110BHP HDi it's a nice engine - not as quiet as the Petrol but the low down torque is great. Don't expect to win any races in it though...
TBH I preferred the torque of an HDi to the high revs of the GTi - my daily drive to work rarely let me get above 50mph so that torque is much more usable.
Each to their own now (I now drive a 50bhp 36yr old VW!!)