GO FOR IT. Having owned a 1981 Caprice Classic Diesel for a awhile I loved those cars. I dont think it was as much the engineering as it was the people that bought them didnt know how to care for them. Most bought the diesels because of the oil crisis, and didnt maintain properly. I think there may have been some weaknesses but overall I didnt have any trouble with mine. It burned some oil, but started every morning even in winter without being plugged in.

__________________
Dennis
2006 E320 CDI Black/Black Leather. Nav, HTD Seats HK stereo 32000 miles.
2000 VW Passat 1.8t 300,000 miles as of Dec 09, 2009 original owner
1997 E300d Silver 300,000 miles As of Jan 05, 2010
3rd owner SOLD