yes..they are great vehciles..
the 82 just needs 'more' engine and a better-geared trans,
and the 83 only needs a better engine.

common choices are
1.6 TD,
1.9 NA
1.9TD .
  Either of the 1.9's are fine, the 1.6 TD is all right.

They don't fit in our driving patterns at all really ..
on the unsafe sideeven.
when I first got mine ..
I think people just like to get near it ...like that felt cozy maybe .
even slowingdown for astop at the end of an off ramp ( where DV's are
just fine about being at about the same speed as other cars ) people
would be right on my butt.
  I think they wanted to be close to that brown van, like it was a teddy
bear.

I have also noticed this ...
whole other subject ..
I have noticed some people, one gender more than the other.......
actually feel better driving closer to other cars.
Mostly the one gender wants to run their own race and zoom along
indepently ...in front of everyone if they can ..the other
gender.....with internal wiring that is a lot about nurturing close-in
things ....may actually 'feel better' when closer to other cars. I'm
quite sure of this factor ..though it is not recognized anywhere that I
know of.

the navy also identifed that one gender with a natural built-in killer
instinct makes fine fighter jet pilots ..
their mindset is way out there...shoot that thing down 50 miles away.
  The other gender didn't really have that..
very good at close-in things like what's in the cockpit ..not so good at
'way out in front' or killer instinct.

Same in driving..
especially with a nice cute  brown cozy looking teddy bear of a van
....going about an average of35 mph much of the time.They just want to
be close to it.
Doesn't happen with faster vans ...or lighter colored ones , or at least
not nearly as much.

they just need decent power and gearing is all.
Most poorly marketed car ever sold ...besides maybe Yugo or AMC Pacer ...
people scooped up 82 DV's ..
found out how awful there were......
VW improved the 83 by a good 40 % with just the trans , but it was too
late by then .( in the US )
not many of those sold, compared to 82's.
they are such a great overall vehicle though ..
so we all keep them alive , all this time !