Yes, the 83 diesel with 5 speed is a more practical vehicle but this
isn't one of those. The 82 has various of weaknesses that were addressed
in the improved 83.

I've owned multiples of both, with the stock engines.

Mark

Jim. Felder wrote:
> Ah, me, always the contrarian. Since I was not on the list until just after
> I got my 1.6 NA diesel Westy, I didn't think of it as dangerously slow
> because I had not been advised as such.....
> In the end, I did add a turbo to my rig, which was already a five speed,
> and so not quite as slow as some of them come.......