I had a 2003 Jetta TDI for about a year and actually wish I hadn't sold it. Returned around 48 mpg when babied on a long trip. Comfortable and fairly quiet for such a small car. I put around 30k on it so my experience isn't vast, but with the power of it, and how quiet it was, I'd recommend it. Don't know what the older ones are like, except that the early 90s versions were noisy and are mostly rust buckets by now - here in the midwest anyway.

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DS
2010 CL550 - Heaven help me but it's beautiful
87 300D a labor of love
11 GLK 350 So far, so good
08 E350 4matic, Love it.
99 E320 too rusted, sold
87 260E Donated to Newgate School
www.Newgateschool.org - check it out.
12 Ford Escape, sold, forgotten
87 300D, sold, what a mistake
06 Passat 2.0T, PITA, sold

Las Vegas NV