Hope you didn’t buy the automatic.
Also, the ‘old’ cars with diesel engines are either Mercedes... or they’re crap. (See: GM 350 diesel.)
Actually, the DSG automatic is spectacular. The DSG is the reason I bought new rather than used. It only came out in the middle of ‘09. The DSG has two clutches. When you’re accelerating the unengaged clutch transitions to the next gear and the opposite happens when you decelerate. The acceleration is seamless and, once you’re past the first to second transition, you can’t tell it’s switching gears. Also, there’s a computer that uses engine breaking the same way I would with a clutch.
I looked at old Mercedes, as I had a 220D and loved it. But they were all either too old or out of my price range. The VW was $28,800 for a new car. I’m 56 and I’ve never had a new car before. I’m just sorry I had to get it when we’re in the middle of this center-console fetish. (Oh, and some plush would be nice. I carry a variety of pillows.)