>Alan, I've noticed the new common-rail diesels have a characteristic clatter at idle. Quiet, but different from a petrol engine. Does yours do that?

Unfortunately, I have a gas car. My friend Lynn as a Jetta Diesel, and when her car is idling, it definitely sounds different than a gas car. There is a distinctly different rumble to the sound. But it is reasonably quiet. Starts up pretty quietly too. Of course, her car is a 2001 model, and I'm pretty sure the newer ones are much quieter again.

Had I not been desparate for a car back when mine got totalled, I'd have looked longer and tried to find a diesel. Even the old '86 VW Golf I had was getting over 900 Km (about 560 miles) to the 55 litre tank (approx 14.5 gallons) in mostly city driving.