I stopped at my favorite VW parts place today. It's basically a garage with a huge graveyard of VAG cars on racks stacked 4 and 5 high. I needed some odds n ends- a plastic piece off my dipstick cracked, washer fluid reservoir cap, and a PVC breather pipe. That cost $5 total. Then I thought to myself, "Self, buy yourself something for Christmas. You've been a good boy this year!" So I did. I picked up a Mk4 shift knob and boot out of a GTI. Stealership price? $125. Lenny's price? $25.
Tomorrow I'm picking up a pipe cutter from my uncle to cut the shifter down an inch or so. Then I'll drop in the new shifter. Updated pictures tomorrow.