I believe you are getting it wrong. A diesel engine revs a lot lower than a petrol. Therefore the gearing in a diesel gearbox (ie final drive ratio) is much taller (smaller numerically). So rather than screaming its head off the revs will be lower for a given speed than for a "petrol" gear box. This would make highway cruising easy so long as the engine has the torque to pull it. A 1.8 should handle it quite well.
2001 Bora 4 Motion Sport now used by number two son
2011 Skoda Octavia Scout now with Underground Performance tune
2010 Jetta 125 tdi dsg for the misses - Impressed
2006 Polo GTI - Enhanced by some of Gav's magic - Absolutely loving it
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