I can't comment on the OP's questions... just wanted to add my two cents.

I had an '85 golf diesel that I liked very much. It was sorta a clown car for me, since I am 6'7".... my friends would laugh at me. But despite low compression it still got 45 mpg. I was always concerned about how well it would perform in an accident. I still liked it tho. It was my first diesel.

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08 R320 CDI current

Past
95 E420
87 300D Turbo 5spd
90 300TE
83 300SD
85 300TD
92 400E
85 190D