Firstly, there are no VW diesels on the market right now. There will be next year (which is very very soon.) The diesels that will be on the market then will be entirely new, and feature a common rail injection system instead of a direct injection. What does this mean? We know nothing of how many kinks will need to be worked out. They may be great. They may really suck. But they're supposed to have more power, and get better fuel economy while being 50 state compliant.
Secondly, VWs in general and TDIs in particular seem to be cars that can last a lifetime, but require maintenance. I have over 100k on both of my cars, and plan on keeping them to 400k at least. But I spend a lot of time doing the little things. The oil MUST meet spec, the fuel filter needs changing, the timing belt must be done on time and correctly (or piston meets head in the first, or the engine literally falls out of the car in second). The sunroof drains need cleaning (or your back seat fills with water). etc.
Thirdly, If you want to drive a TDI, there is little reason not to do most of the work yourself. It costs too much to go to the shop (400$ oil change, seriously!), and there is a great website (
www.tdiclub.com) that tells you exactly what to do when and how to do it.
I have two tdis, and right now don't care to drive anything else. They run very well, get great fuel economy, have power right where you need them, have the feel of a more expensive car, and are very safe (I've seen cars that rolled over several times and drove away, and cars nailed by tractor trailers and had people walk away). But I don't recommend them to everyone. They definitely take care.
Also, while I think most TDIs on the road are capable of doing 60mpg, very few do. This is not because of the car, but the driver. A huge improvement in fuel economy may be realized with any car given the right change in driving style.
