Sounds like it could be that an intake hose blew off. I was checking and fine tuning the timing on my beetle the other day. I hooked up the VAG com and it said coolant temp too low.
Long story short. I took the clamps to the intake hose near the timing belt off to make it ready to remove for getting at the sprocket bolts.
Anyway to warm up the engine I held it at fast idle to help warm it up. At one point I goosed the pedal a little and "POP! GORWL!!!!!" I blew the hose off. It was very loud and the engine growl was really loud but not so much at idle.
Just a long winded thought.