Sounds like you've done your homework. To be fair, my friend's never left him stranded. Without brakes, yes, with a cracked exhaust manifold, sure, with all manner of electrical gremlins, you bet, but never "stranded," strictly speaking. He got fed up with it (which is saying a lot, as he's monkeyed around with MG's, Jags, and Triumphs for years) and sold it at a significant loss, in the end.

Hope it turns out to be a good truck for you, anyway. They are neat, and can be had for next to nothing, so I guess it can't hurt to give one a shot!

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1992 300D 2.5T
1980 Euro 300D (sadly, sold)
1998 Jetta TDI, 132K "Rudy"
1974 Triumph TR6
1999 Saab 9-5 wagon (wife's)