Was your truck a common rail 5.9? Hell even the lift pump cummins boogie with a tuner and some mild work. A 12v with no fuel plate and the pump turned up will outrun my 7tree by 1.5-2 car lengths, while I can inch out brand new ones off the lot.
The nice things about the cummins are that they are the honda civic of the diesel world, everyone has them, but they are easy and cheap(er) to make fast as lightning (pre dpf and cow ****, still fairly easy post dpf and urea)

I like my shift on the fly tuner for those towing reasons, even though I just roll around in the 140 tune even with a trailer since dont tow more than 7-8k most of the time. any higher weight it goes on the 75 tune.

I know banks makes kits for the VW products. Not sure how your state is with emissions inspections but even though in NJ diesel pickups are self inspect but diesel vehicles (under 7k gvwr, mostly cars) are standard inspection. The only good thing is banks can make power while keeping emissions compliant for the most part, but yea, dieselgate has VW in a bad light.

Friend took his brand new cruise (autotragic) to the track last week, consistent 16.6 s

Will you still have other vehicles to roll around with the family with (like the truck), if so going for the smaller, yet more powerful, car for the same price may be the way to go. Tough day at work? Who cares, find the fun route to take home hahahahaha

farther off topic, pics of the old KW? I love old semis. Shoulda seen the smile on my face when I got to drive one of my works old R-Model Macks

 

Yes, common rail, 2005 model. Bought it new and now has almost 200k on it. It stays in the shop at the farm, and usually only comes out for trailer duty now.

Do you one better than pics, 2 vids.

Second vid I had a little over 100,000 lbs gross. Hauling corn during harvest. Had my buddy film it.
Cummins NTA-88 which is a 400 big cam. We have turned it up to about 550hp.
13sp with 3.55 gears. It will run around 95mph.

 

That sounds amazing. What year is that truck, It is in beautiful shape, must turn some heads! Im guessing thats your weekend job / family farm?

 

Yes sir, family farm. 1990 Kenworth W900. Bought it from the widow of the guy that bought it new. Has 1,360,000 miles on the frame, and about 40,000 miles on an in-frame rebuild. Came with 3 inch binder full of receipts for every part and service the truck had. Paid 17 grand for it. Had to put all 10 tires on it, but it runs very well. It will start in 5 cranks on a 15 degree morning with no starting aids. The 6 in. Straight stacks are cool and all, but they make it impossible to have a conversation in the cab at interstate speeds. I want to install a stock exhaust, but I hate to throw away a thousand dollars worth of chrome. We only put about 10,000 miles a year's on it, had to justify full exhaust with that.