There's more to a car's handling than its overall weight. For example, the weight distribution, suspension bound/rebound, spring rate, turning circle, turn-in, under/oversteer charicteristics, suspension TYPE, wheelbase/track, toe/camber, wheel width, wheel materials, brakes, steering type, steering ratio, etc etc.
I've built vtec and non vtec hondas for kids, and a CRX Si with a port and five angle valve job with some ECM remapping will smoke a 1st gen WRX, but don't try to corner in it.
I'm not denying civics are reliable honest cars and can even be decent for drag tuning, but saying old VWs are unreliable is straight retarded. There are no electronics problems in a pre 90s golf because there are practically no electronics. They're both great reliable cars, but I'll take an iron block over cast aluminum any day if you plan to do tuning. If you can find the old iron block non vtec civic mills, fine and dandy, but it still wont be as balanced in handling as a nice GTi or even a jetta. Parts are about the same for both cost-wise and theres a lot less gadgets and wires on a golf to break.