Many years ago we had a 1996 Golf TDi with the 90 bhp engine. Never let us down once in 7 years, just needed a cambelt at 60,000 miles (£85 fitted) and oil changes. Would do what at the time appeared to be great mpg figures, 57 ish on a holiday trip.
Having said that the more recent common rail engines (non-VW) we have owned have been way better and just as reliable and with chain cams no need for belt changes. The Golf used to kick out huge clouds of black smoke when you booted it, embarasing back then, even without DPF's modern engines don't. It sounded like a tractor (we have it on an old video), modern diesels, don't and a 110 bhp (non-VW) engine in a bigger heavier car still does 57 mpg on a holiday run and accelerates better when needed.
Times have moved on, fortunately.
Had a 64 bhp non-turbo 1.9 diesel in a Polo, now that was a slow car and not economical either.
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