OK post the year, type and location of vehicle in the Subject line please. :-) Is this an '87 Golf like that link of the dist. vac. advance unit? Did the '87 Golf even have an EGR valve? Is this some CA or non-USA vehicle? Well I know it is not a 16V since they did not have a vac advance on the distributor.
Back to the basics: Check the timing belt alignment. Also check for TDC with the #1 piston in it's highest position. Check the firing order of the spark plugs. Rotor rotates in a CW direction. Check for any cracks in the intake manifold boot and make sure it is clamped down. BTW You could do a compression test too. ;-) Sometimes a "tune-up" does wonders, new plugs & wires, cap, rotor, fuel+oil+air filters, oil. ;-) Is the oil level too high, too thin feeling and smell of gas? What do the electrodes of the spark plugs look like?
A weak spark can cause running problems too. Bad ign. coil or one wired backwards?
later, dave (One out of many daves)