said by LazMan:I'd expect to pay 5-6k for an '05 Jetta TDI, probably on the upper end for a wagon... Just as a ballpark.
That struck me as rather low, so took a quick look around. Found a 2004 TDI Wagon for $9K asking, and a 2006 for just under $14K. Closer to what I would expect.
On another comment about diesel longevity, true, but in most cases of average driving a modern engine will outlast the rest of the car anyway. The real selling point of a diesel is fuel economy, plus potentially lower maintenance, but at the tradeoff of higher initial cost.