[turbo6bar]

Thanks for the comments. I really want to consider the TDI, but the reputation is so poor. Not sure what to make of it.

My garage now is a 3/4 ton Dodge diesel truck (when I have to haul), E36 M3 BMW, and a dual sport Suzuki motorcycle. The motorcycle has rendered the M3 useless to me. I can get my kicks on the motorcycle and get 60 mpg, so why keep the M3. If I drove the motorcycle like a hooligan, I know I'd get well over 50 mpg, because I already use the throttle liberally.

My brother wants to buy a first-generation Honda Insight, and he'll probably sell his 85 Merc 300D. I considered buying it and running homebrew biodiesel, but am really wanted something newer. Seems like the cars that got great gas mileage are older cars like the Civic CRX. Despite technology leaps, today's non-hybrid cars don't get better mileage. At this point, I'd like a well-built car that isn't finished like an econobox, but is well short of a luxury car. The Chevy Cruze and non-hybrid Civic are on the list. Fall back is 300D Merc with biodiesel, and crazy man says TDI VW on biodiesel.