IMO, the 87 turbo diesel is a nicer car than the 84-85 2.2. I also like the 2.5 better than the 2.2 (1986-1989). Fuel economy is slightly better on the 2.2, but they're a bit gutless, especially with the auto transmission.

You'll probably get different opinions on this one.

When a car gets 15-20 years old, it's probably best to look for the one in best condition, since the condition can easily outweigh any inherent advantages of one model over another.