Many of the "bad" battery packs can be reconditioned. There's a dude on the web who does this for a reasonable charge. (i've got the link somewhere)

I wonder if the reason why no automaker has a turbodiesel/electric hybrid avaable in the USA is still because of 'merrikun consumers not liking diesel because they think it's smelly & noisy & smoky.

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1982 300sd from craigslist $800 greased on one tank with NO CONVERSION in the Hot Texas Sun. (currently dead & awaiting engine damage investigation and/or longblock swap)
new daily: '03 vw 5speed jetta tdi wagon. bagged&chipped