If you want my advice, get a late Mk4 Golf with the 1.9TDI 130ps engine
This.
Had both engines, the 1.9 was FAR more economical, averaged 56mpg over 140K of faultless performance. The 2.0 is smoother but drinks more (in a heavier car). Ultimately you are motorway commuting. Journey time is dependent on traffic conditions not car performance.
I agree,
We have in our family a mk4 1.9 gt-tdi and a 2.0L 140bhp GT Sport(tdi)
the 1.9 avg 50mpg while the 2.0L is hitting 43mpg with a mxture of town and A roads driving, on the motorway the 1.9 can hit 60 and 2.0L 50.
The 2.0L has DSG box (great gearbox by the way) so a manual might make a bit of difference.
But driving them, they are miles apart, if you went from the 2.0L you would be so dissapinted in the way the 1.9 handles, but for overtaking the 1.9 feels brisker and safer, not sure on paper it is, but on the road, the way the turbo kicks in it does feel brisker for some reson?
Neither have had any problems so far and have clocked up 90k & 80k so far.
Next car for me (well not for a long time yet anyway) will be a mk6 140bhp dsg tdi golf 😉