cav i'd buy the 2.8 0r the 2.3
2.3 is sluggish but with a decent tool kit & all the help from fog,most of it is fixable yourself & if you can work on a v6 you will be able to work on one of them as there not so complex,i've read up on the 2.5 too & wouldnt buy one to complex......what you gotta think is a fronty isnt a speed machine anyhow & i gotta say i used to own a 2.8 trooper only thing i miss against my 2.3 fronty is the accelaration other than that nothing coz frontys like troopers aint really made for speed.
mind saying all that if the 2.2 petrol will do 28mpg as drift says,then thats as good or better than a 2.3 td,think the 2.8 can do upto 40mpg
my frontera 2.3 td is a slug in snails clothing ha