[metroschultz]

Diesel motors have been used for long haul trucking since mass production of long haul trucks. This is where i work every night. They used gas and diesel in the beginning but soon found operation cost of gas motors to be too costly. That said.
Most of the operations for maintenance on a passenger diesel are the same as a gas engine. And VW is one of the most user friendly for maintenance out there. Many of your routine ops. are so easy they can be done right in the driveway.
Many people shy away from the small diesels for fear of the unknown, also, the motors tend to get really dirty really fast. So if you have access to a pressure washer, and are not afraid to try something slightly to the left of what you are accustomed to, maintenance on your personal diesel is no more hassle than on your gas motor.
Basically a timing belt is a timing belt(yeah i know some are a little more difficult, they still all do the same job) and an oil change is an oil change.
OK i got really wordy this time, shutting up now. S.