At one time, I was a big VW enthusiast. I owned one, and was proud as punch of my custom-ordered Tropic Orange 2000 GTI VR6. When it was in full working order (more on the "when" part to come) it was great fun. The VR6 had an addictingly unique warble which was amplified by the Neuspeed exhaust I put on it. To this day, I still think the VR6 was and is one of the best-sounding six-cylinder engines on the planet, and one of the best-sounding engines, period.

The engine had an almost perfectly linear power and torque curve from just off idle to redline, and I freely dipped into the generous power reserves every chance I got. Of course, I paid the price with an average fuel economy of about 18.5 mpg. This from a "compact" car. Unfortunately, the honeymoon period soon came to an end once the car started throwing its Teutonic temper tantrums. Over the course of three years, I replaced two oxygen sensors, two MAF sensors, three or four window regulators (I lost count) two strut bushings, and each time, had to deal with a surly, arrogant dealer service department. I traded the VW in for a much more humble Mazda Protege 5, and other than the drastically reduced power, have been much happier overall.

You're probably wondering what my rambling has to do at all with diesels. Well, stay with me. Up until recently, there was little if any reason for me to go back to Volkswagen. Its models, though the vehicles of choice for recent female college grads, and the hip West LA set that really wanted a BMW or Audi but had to "settle" for a Jetta, had limited appeal to me. Especially considering all the other competitive compacts available. Well, VW will soon have one secret harpoon in its arsenal that could lure me back into one of its showrooms. VW will soon offer a 50-state turbodiesel engine.

I have long been interested in owning a compact diesel, but since I have the pleasure of living on the Left Coast in the bureaucratic mecca of California, CARB has not allowed the sale of new diesel passenger cars for nearly a decade. The TDI has always had a reputation for economy and reasonably good power, but this new-generation engine is poised to kick up the game a notch or two. With 140 horsepower and a healthy 236 lb.-ft. of torque, the new 16-valve 2.0L TDI promises spirited performance, as well as 40+ miles per gallon.

Now, to pick my packaging of choice. The engine will be available in the Rabbit (known everywhere else as the Golf, still) and the Jetta sedan and Wagon. The packaging of the 5-door Rabbit would suit me fine, but the pedestrian trappings leave something to be desired. So if I want navigation and some of the other associated bells & whistles, I might have to step up to the Jetta. Of course, if I were to do that, I'd get the new Jetta SportWagen. Since I've had the Protege, short of getting a full-on sports car or pickup, I could never see myself going back to a 2-door. The practicality of wagons & 5-doors is hard to give up once you've experienced it.

While it's not a sure thing that I'm going to go back to VW by any means, at least they have a fighting chance for my business again, if they prove themselves worthy with improved reliability and customer service.