[bucketfoot]

Not a TDI, but I went from a turbocharged BMW (N20 engine) to the 86 and there are definite pluses and minuses.

The biggest minuses are definitely power related. First and foremost you are talking about a relatively low powered naturally aspirated vehicle at 5000 feet above sea level. So right there you are talking a 15% power decrease versus ratings. The mid torque really depends on you. Myself I love that I can wring the car out to 7K without getting myself in trouble. But if you really like that mid torque, you will miss it.

The positives are real simple... the car is plain and simply something that is fun to drive whether on the track or just in an everyday commute. With my BMW I risked a ticket anytime I had even a little bit of fun on city streets.

Another big positive is that it will make you a better driver. I tracked my BMW and could always lean on its added power to cover up my mistakes. You absolutely cannot do that in a twin. It will expose every error you make and force you to become better.

I haven't gone through a winter yet with mine (I'll actually be buying my snow tires in the relatively near future), but I was able to survive my first 5 years in Colorado with a RWD pickup on all-season tires just fine, so I'm not really concerned about it.