The current equivalent of the 2002tii would probably be the M3 ($55,000). Now that is some kinda car. The M5 ($85,000) isn't a turkey, either.
Not if you consider price. The tii cost about $5K when new, and inflation (using CPI figures) would put that in the low 20's now. BMW, like Porsche, has gone for the big buck yuppie market. Today's GTI is more like what the original 2002/2002tii really were. BTW, I own a '73 2002 and a 2000 GTI.