Sp, you forgot to mention one thing.... adding said tuners to boost performance doesn't hurt the economy. It boosts it!!!! With my 05 F250, I would lose 2mpg hauling a 3-4 ton car trailer. In my expedition, my mpg would be cut in half! Unloaded in a lifted F250, I average 19-21mpg and anywhere from 15-18 loaded depending on weight and terrain and such.
Me... I'd have a difficult time buying a Prius with 100k, but wouldn't even blink at a diesel with 100k.
As far as your wife and the new TDi, just make sure she follows the precaustions of any turbo vehicle. 1 minute for warmup and 1 for cooldown. Do that and change the
oil at regular intervals and you won't have to worry about turbo failure. Diesel will last well beyond the typical lifespan of a gasoline car. I would even look into putting a turbo timer on it for simplicity reasons. Both my wife and I are diesel drivers, we've never had a problem finding diesel. I'm even tossing the idea of making my own!
