I think the oil temperature is the most important thing for the 2.1 boxers.
Waiting for the temperature to reach 90�Celsius is better when you want to
drive at the upper speedlimit of your vanagon than forcing the engine to go
very fast at 50�celsius.
Also, I had a very common pressure problem (many other drivers had this
problem, too) that the oil pressure warning light goes on and the beeper
shrieks when leaving high RPMs because the oil temperature is far above
120�celsius (I also had the oil cooler). The oil gets too thin.
Now, with my Audi V6, this problem is gone, but I still wait for
80-90�celsius before breaking RPM records.

>IMHO, an oil temp gauge is redundant, as both the 2.1 gasoline and the
>diesel / turbodiesels have a watercooled-oilcooler; in my past experience
>with a GTI, the oil temp never rose more than 20 degrees above the coolant
>temp anyway. Oil pressure is a wise addition for me though. With the
>turbodiesel and the modifications to boost pressure I will make ( for more
>power), I think the exhaust temp and boost gauge are rather important.
>
>Karl
>