Yup - I've had an L plate phase one hatch, and a P plate phase two estate
It can be... just budget for having the belts and oil done on the dot, accept it will need bushes now and again, and is likely to need a new fuel filter housing more often than not due to the diaphragm having a tendency to split now and again.
Not overly noisy, but you'll find a phase one very laggy by comparison with some of its contemporaries such the PSA group TDs.
My phase two was a lot less laggy, and what I'd term as quiet - it also seemed to do more to the gallon, but then it had just had a reconditioned pump fitted, and all the injectors cleaned.
Look around... the phase twos go for peanuts these days, and mine was still dead quiet and smooth with 179k under its belt.
-- JackH