My view is that current legislation has now rendered the diesel engine inappropriate as a prime mover for private transport.
Your 1.9PD engine is from the "golden era" of the diesel - high injection pressures with pre-injection and multi shot delivery made possible either by the use of the Bosch unit injector with EDC16 control, or by a common rail system, each giving superb efficiency with manageable technology.
It all went wrong when DPFs became almost obligatory to meet Euro IV together with electrically operated actuators with closed loop control fitted directly to the engine, needed to give "position on demand" operation. These typically control boost, EGR and throttle flaps - all of which tend to fail very expensively on later engines.
Your 1.9PD simply has vacuum capsules to move the required controls (without the complication of self-ingesting throttle flaps) which are both rugged and comparatively cheap to replace.
I don't think it's entirely fair to knock VAG/Audi for their latest offerings. The complexity of any diesel engine specified to meet current regulations is such that its reliability is liable to be seriously compromised.
I think we've been here before with gas boilers - I'll stick to my 1.9PD and cast iron Potterton thanks. The Eurocrats have shot themselves in the foot as more modern offerings increase rather than reduce overall pollution. As usual, the consumer suffers.
659.
Edited by 659FBE on 16/03/2013 at 15:04
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