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Dear roger,
Hope you're well. How far had you driven, when the coolant was lost? If you'd just started out, then the engine might not have reached full operating temperature. The loss of coolant would be of less concern with a "cold" engine, than would coolant loss with an engine that had been running long enough to heat completely the block and head.
What was the ambient temperature, at the time of failure? If temperature was low (50⁰F/10⁰C or lower), that reduces likelihood of damage. Engines shed heat more quickly when ambient temperatures are lower.
How much time passed before you shut-down the engine, after seeing that the gauge suggested over-heating? If - on seeing that the temp gauge was pegged to the right - you at once shut-down the engine, that also minimized the extent of any over-heating.
If the answers to the above questions suggest that the engine wasn't fully warmed-up, if ambient temperatures were low, and if you were quick to shut-down the engine, it is possible that little damage was done. Thus, you could replace the heater core, and see how things go.
Based on several years of Brickboard posts, at 245-250 K miles, a turbo engine likely would be due for a headgasket change.
It's time to replace the headgasket if there are signs of: (a) water in oil (oil is milky); (b) leaks of oil and/or coolant from headgasket edges; (c) rapid coolant loss after a top-off and/or if steam comes from exhaust pipe; (d) exhaust gases in the coolant; (e) loss of compression.
Hope this helps.
Yours faithfully,
Spook
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