newbie time! few questions!

[pirate]

hi, im looking for a golf gti, decided on just the 1.8 turbo, about 2000 model. so im prob gunna get something with around 60-70k miles on it.
ive been hearing alot of storys about reliability problems and elctrics, are they that bad?
ok i know your all guna be biased,  but is this the best car to go for in its class?

[GolfGL]

My break down of what you could get;
An astra(rep car and ugly), focus(driven a few drive nice with cheap spares but are slow), a3(getting better but expensive for a golf), 3 series(rwd quick but expensive), 306/307(do you want to know more), civic (reliable but my grandad has 1 although 3doors are cool) , mazda 3(boring), mg zr( thought it was cool so drove one and is rubbish especially driving position), leon(my dads got a cupra which i love, had a few electrical faults and not as well built as golf), celica ( wouldnt mind one), xsara(badge says it all), hyundai accent ( :grin:lol i just had to add it) alfa 15? (ithink they look rubbish).

The 1.8t's have got a few faults but what hasn't with all newer cars having a million sensors. Most fixes can be diagnosed by those here and on ukmkivs forum and can be done diy quite cheaply. If i had the choice again between those above id either buy a golf turbo or ovni yellow leon cupra

[pirate]

most of my thoughts in there! suprised at what a 3 series still cost, wont buy another french car ever!
most jap stuff in my budget is boring and bland, dont like the look of the a3, the astra 2.2 was a quick car, but felt raw, and too common, dont like fords.
so it doesnt leave anything but the golf!
im not bad at diy repairs so if its mainly small troubles im happy! aslong as theres no major faults to look out for?
how often is the servicing? and cambelt changes? avg cost of service?

thanks for the advice
chris

ps is there any must have mods? tuning wise. i dont want to compramise the reliability too much, most likely going to a dealer so also not sure what will effect a warranty for the 1st year.

[GolfGL]

If you a car more than 3 years old id recommend a diy service usuing oem parts as they are suprisingly cheap from the like of eurocarparts, GSF and vwspares. If not services can range from £100-600 but apparently skoda dealers will do it for less . Cambelt change i think is every 4 years or 60k probably because the water pump falls to pieces so get them all sorted with the cambelt early as a metal propellered pump replaces the plastic one. The 1.8t's should be pretty strong and tuneable and is like a RS turbo for replacement parts just depends how much you want to spend. A remap would be a good start giving an extra 40-70bhp depending on engine code.

[pirate]

thanks for the advice,  ive not found the right car yet, but im sure its going to have 60k atleast on it, if i cant prove its had a cambelt and water pump im going to get it done straight away.
ive spoken to a company who will do a apr remap for me, so will be getting that done, along with a induction kit and freeflow cat, that will do me nicely.