What VW needs to do is put in the PD130 engine rated at 134 bhp into the new VW Jetta and Golf coming out in a few months. I believe that this engine will be available in California once the US switches to low-sulfur motor fuels in September 2006.
"But alas, no power in the higher rev ranges"
True enough. But I no longer am a mad power freak.
I'm happy enough to get to where I'm going at a good clip and inexpensively, even if I can't go from 0-60 in 4.0 secs.