MW 1982 The Chevrolet Chevette Diesel Road Test | Retro Review

[@bnewland1958]

Bought my Vette Diesel new in 1984, $6900.00 Drove it for 270,000 miles, 50 miles per gallon. Never had a problem on the freeway or dirt roads in the mountains. Loved it.

[@fernandorocha-dx1wv]

Very nice the Chevette diesel. Economy, solid and great car

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

Man that’s a rare car now! If you can find one!

[@ront769]

I bought the same model year but in 1995 and it was a 5 Speed. Still my sentimental favorite. Thanks for that perspective on where mine came from and how it was for you. Long live the Vette'

[@nodak81]

Only reason it was so reliable is because you really bought an Isuzu.

[@ront769]

@nodak81 What I drove through the 90's was not an Isuzu. That was simple Chevy personified.

[@audiemurphy4948]

Legend has it the test car still accelerating from 0-60mph...

[@stevebot]

I knew a guy that had one with an automatic and aftermarket air conditioning. Don’t think it could hit 60 with the ac on high.

[@Joesmusclecargarage]

@@stevebotA/C blower motor speed has zero effect on the horsepower output or potential of an engine. Once the compressor is engaged, blower fan speed is irrelevant.

[@tonebonebgky2]

At least it's getting there soon, the Pontiac 1000 still has a lot more years to 60 😂

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

​@@stevebotknow that air conditioner was known as the emergency brake

[@drmnishikawa]

Legend says Secretariat - with only one horsepower - could do the quarter mile faster than the Chevette.

[@johnreitz5676]

I bought one as a work car for $95.00 when it was 15 yeats old. It did not start, but I sprayed the contacts for the glow plug system and it was able to stat it with no problem. I drove it back and forth to work with an occational road trip. During that time the only actual repair it needed was having the alternator rebuilt. Of course i took care of it. It had at least 150,000 miles on it when i bought it. I put on about 125,000 more miles.

[@GeeEm1313]

$95? Sheesh.

[@gregorymalchuk272]

What ended up killing it?

[@1heavyelement]

$95 is a bargain. i guess you talked the previous owner down from $100? i paid $4500 for my 84 ss vette (chevette lol) in 86. it was in my price range as a young buyer. i drove the hell out of that thing for 5 years.

[@dkt1976dt]

I remember watching MotorWeek on Saturday afternoons in the 80s, my Cousin and I never missed an episode.

[@h8troodoh]

Was a good show huh..

[@dkt1976dt]

​@@h8troodohIt sure was and I still watch it here on KZbin, it brings back a lot of great memories. My Cousin and I loved when the new cars came out.

[@jasoncarpp7742]

So do I. It was my favourite show to watch.

[@dkt1976dt]

same here, we were always excited to see the new cars and technology coming out.

[@timkis64]

i knew a diesel mechanic who bought up several isuzu diesel pup rolling chassis when for sale.his drivetrain out lasted 2 pup chassis that rusted out.he'd just swap drivetrains to the next rolling chassis.isuzu made some EXTREMELY LONG lasting diesel drivetrains.they were slow but run forever & RARELY break down.

[@benruether8294]

To this day, their diesels are my favorite. I service a variety of large diesel generators and its always basic service and minimal headache with Isuzu 4cyl diesels. Never had one come in for warranty repair, only an occasional EGR cleaning.

[@danieleregoli812]

I personally miss cheap, solid, basic cars that would simply do what they said on the lid.

[@HondaRally300]

Buy a Corolla

[@empressadria7009]

There's definitely a market for that now. Too bad the feds won't allow it anymore.

[@NorthernChev]

@@empressadria7009 Jayzus, knock off the conspiracy stupidity. There's TONS of small, fuel efficient cars available. Definitely WAY more than there were back then. Fer eff's sake.

[@JeffDeWitt]

I just watched a review of a base Nissan Versa. Simple, basic, with a stick for about $18k.

[@sailingspark9748]

"2440 pounds, it's no lightweight." My how things have changed...

[@1dariansdad]

Yeah, people actually survive accidents now.

[@KartKing4ever]

"About all that can be said for its looks is that they appear efficient."

[@pkzenk2158]

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”.. especially the visually challenged.

[@GMCTIM]

I had a 83 chevette, fun little car, taught my now wife how to drive a 4 speed with it ! 😂👍

[@landyachtfan79]

As if Chevy thought that the gas Chevette wasn't slow enough!!!!!!

[@devinbiz]

This was during the time when many folks were prioritizing fuel economy

[@b-genspinster7895]

0 to 60 could have probably not be achieved. They didn’t tell us what it was. If they even tried.

[@landyachtfan79]

They probably would have had to measure 0-60 with a sundial rather than a stopwatch, @@b-genspinster7895!!!!!

[@danmccarthy4700]

They tested a gas-powered Pontiac T1000 after this that had a 30 second 0-60 time.

[@the_spada]

0-60 in 14 seconds "It might get scary merging into 4 lane highways" 😂😂😂

[@pl5624]

Might as well had fitted a 16hp twin Briggs..

[@jessebrook1688]

The same was true of the gas engine. It had only 10 more horsepower, and with an automatic, was deadly slow. My dad rented one in the early 1980s, and it would barely make it up grades, never mind getting up to speed.

[@97GibsonsgOhyeah]

46bhp to the screws, actually.

[@alb12345672]

@@jessebrook1688 Dont laugh but a twin briggs opposed was the first electric car. You can google it. They designed it with an auto in mind. My tractor has a 21 hp version, the max.

[@Rocksoup77]

Aka..."the optional engine upgrade".

[@kennethburton9165]

This was a great car for teenagers, the diesel model had a top speed of 65MPH. I learned to drive in a 1980 Chevette.

[@ce9345]

One thing that John said that was incorrect. The chevette had rack and pinion steering, not ball type steering.

[@marko7843]

Well, he said 'power' ball type... If they indeed put power steering in a Chevette, they probably didn't have any power rack and pinion setups yet.

[@for2utube]

He alluded to it, when nailing the brakes the back end had a tendency to pass the front end. After years of denial GM issued a recall and fit a different proportioning valve with less power to the rear.

[@MrTheHillfolk]

1:38 that tire squeal had to be dubbed in,theres no other explanation other than maybe a neutral drop from redline. WHATS IT GOT STUNTMAN 😂

[@jonathankent5898]

GET OVER HERE!!! Ha! What happened to those guys?

[@woohunter1]

Haha, I had an old Honda accord 5 speed, it had around 75HP, I beat the crap out of that car when I first got my license. I did more full throttle neutral dumps than I can count, I even used to ‘slip’ the clutch while driving to get a little boost! Also, it was easier to do when you’re running pizza cutters for tires.

[@snowrocket]

Well, their car was a 5-speed manual, so no neutral drops possible. The driver probably held the engine near redline and engaged the clutch quickly. Any sense of acceleration on one of those was done after 30 feet.

[@MrTheHillfolk]

@@woohunter1 sounds like my old Nissan 200 that I had for 8yrs ,40k and no oil changes. It would clatter the rods at every startup if it sat more than 4 hours. Tried an OEM filter ,and decided it's not worth going further on a 1200$ car. Oh the joy of a flatfoot cold start redline clutch dump is glorious...just glorious I tell ya 😂🤣

[@MrTheHillfolk]

@@jonathankent5898 yeah man ,it's been a couple months of no uploads 😞

[@DSC800]

My wife had a Chevette when I met her. Looking back we like to say I was attracted to her because she looked great driving her "Vette" (both were true).

[@pfcwar5150]

I loved my vette….4 spd gasser… was very reliable… Took a beating, and still drove like a champ

[@Koexistence13]

Gold, gas 4 speed with a front shock tower that punched through the top of the wheel well into the engine bay. 200 bucks just over 30 years ago.

[@Koexistence13]

@@jkeelsnc bought it that way. It was being used to carry and haul heavy items on the roof rack and in back. Drove it for like a year

[@the_jazmin]

I knew a coworker that had a diesel chevette. For an almost 40 year old car, he still managed to get around 50 mpg. He offered to sell it to me for $2k, and I wish I took him up on the offer. Hell, I think Chevettes are just neat, and I’d love to own a gas one too.

[@POVwithRC]

The older vintage Motorweek gets, the better it gets. Like fine wine.

[@lannynavitka8949]

I had a 1983 Pontiac Acadian with an Isuzu diesel with a standard transmission. Cost me like $7 to fill it up, and it went 300 miles. Lasted until it rusted out, and then I used it as a generator and farm engine for 25 years.

[@bigphat200]

My Band Teacher had one. I thought that was the coolest car on the planet. I was also 13 at the time so ....what did I know.

[@nodak81]

It was and is cool. Especially now that they're rare and unusual to see. I love cars like that.

[@snowrocket]

It's OK to like different stuff than other people. I liked Wankel Rotary engine Mazdas after they were cool (1974-1978), still do, and think old Citroens are cool.

[@acadian76]

GM's answer to a question no one asked. I remember production/sales figures being really low, especially for 1986 the final year for the diesel. GM would have probably sold more V6 Chevette's than they did diesels.

[@nlpnt]

Their skunkworks built a 2.8 V6 Chevette but it could never have been greenlit to build because it was faster than not only a Citation X-11 but the malaise Corvette of the time!

[@MistahJigglah]

​@@nlpnt Ahh yes, fear of "self competition", the winning strategy that made British Leyland the success it was.

[@gregoryh9442]

That 2.8 was a hot mess. Now drop the later 4.3 in, and then you’d have something😎

[@gregorymalchuk272]

​@@gregoryh9442 What was wrong with the early 2.8? The MPFI 2.8 and later 3100 became a really good engine family.

[@YippeeSkippie426]

No apostrophe on plurals. Duh.

[@williambrennan5701]

these are basically all gone now. they were powered by isuzu diesels and a buddy of mine was just one of many that bought up all of them he could find in the late 90s and early 2000s for export to mostly Belize

[@TAVOAu]

We had a similar T body car down under, the Holden Gemini, also available in Diesel. Same platform, same engine, different body design. And yeah, its performance was everything the Chevette was.

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

Wow! That’s one rare car if you can find one now!

[@jimh4375]

2:34 "We were quite pleased however with the braking ability" I can agree with that, my parents had one in 1982 and the one thing it did well was break. The transmission was rebuilt three times at the dealer under warranty, they decided to sell it before the warranty ran out.

[@YippeeSkippie426]

*brake*

[@RS-cd9cf]

@@YippeeSkippie426 no I think he meant to say Break !

[@lylehart3744]

I remember a couple years ago I was at a diesel Dyno event watching one of these on the Dyno painted like the General Lee with a turbo and exhaust through the hood.

[@gnatsum-uy4fo]

My parents helped me buy a used six month old Chevette CS 4-door in late '86 off the front row of a Ford dealer's used car lot. Original owner was a soldier that had a problem with the cigarette lighter blowing fuses (I never saw that). He traded for a new Tempo. I had the car for 12 years (issues with the car passing Texas' state inspection lead me to abandon the car at a former employer)

[@norcalben2001]

Bought a new one after driving a gas powered model for 2 yrs. Found it a good fit for me, comfortable enough, pleasant to drive. Don't think the testers used full throttle, I recall a bit of smoke when pushed hard. My final diesel experience was a 98 Peugeot 305 1.9 turbodiesel.

[@mikemcintyre9494]

All the car you need, no frills... And great mileage to boot

[@MrTheHillfolk]

We used to annihilate these things in diesel rabbits, those were like a rocketship in comparison.

[@snowrocket]

I drag raced our 5-door automatic Diesel Chevette against a friend's 1981 Rabbit Diesel 4-speed manual twice in one night. He easily beat me both times. We did it on the Parkway East at Penn Hills in Pittsburgh, PA starting from a stop. After roughly 1/4 mile slightly uphill we were both doing around 55 MPH. I theorized that if a cop had seen us, he may not have even pulled us over due to feeling sorry for us and laughing.

[@rannyacernese6627]

@@snowrocketwouldn’t even realize you were racing

[@1dariansdad]

Well, the Rabbit did tip the scales at a svelte 1815 pounds so there's that. My gas Rabbit was quick as hell to 60 - beat Z28s out the box all the time.

[@dannork1240]

Now go find a diesel Escort and race again

[@MrTheHillfolk]

@@1dariansdad Used to smoke late model 5.0 mustangs to around 60 here in town,circa 87-89. I didn't believe it until the buddy took me for a ride in his rabbit GTI. Then I had to buy one. There's a road thru town called the arterial ,it's a 30mph zone and the lights are spaced about 500-700 feet apart. As soon as I'd hit 3rd gear ,the mustang would start reeling in the 3 fender lengths I'd have him by. But by then ,it's time to hit the brakes for the next light. Want some more ? I can do this all day.

[@chrisdooley1184]

My pop had a brown one that was a petrol automatic and boy oh boy was it slow AF lol

[@gregoryh9442]

We had one in our family. I still remember my dad telling me the starting procedure. And it sounded like it had a valve ticking all the time😂

[@user-ob7ix6uz6t]

"Rated at a dyno-melting 51 horsepower from the factory, it's one of the few cars that wasn't offered with Air Conditioning because the engine couldn't maintain the car's road speed and spin the A/C compressor". I miss the way we were!

[@audubon5425]

They sold them air conditioned here in the deep south.

[@jasoncarpp7742]

Awesome video! Although I was way too young at the time to drive a car, I remember the Chevy Chevette. Despite the negative reputation they had, I would've gladly driven one, particularly if it was available with a diesel engine powering it, or preferably a turbo diesel engine.

[@SGTJDerek]

What I wouldn't give to have a decent Chevette today. 40+ years of advancement would turn it into one hell of a sleeper. Especially in my neck of the woods where the last one probably rotted into the ground 30 years ago.

[@drf-1382]

I think they built the diesel chevette to help GM’s CAFE rating. Ford released the diesel Escort and Tempo in 1983 for the same reason. I had the Tempo diesel 0 to 60 in 30 minutes

[@billj8527]

The gas Tempo wasn't much quicker. Had an 84 that would scare you trying to get on the expressway.

[@chrisbrass8930]

My parents had a 1984 model 4 door with diesel engine. I was stationed in Germany in the late 80s and saw this as the ideal car to transition to American driving after spending three years on the autobahnen with a Z28 Camaro. 0 to 60 in three days, top end speed of 70 MPH, and able to drive for a week on a tank of diesel, but it did require me to adapt to its lackluster performance, i didnt just need room to cross on coming traffic, i needed acres. Truth is i loved that car more than people could fully comprehend. Sadly my brother used it when he was home on leave and got into an accident crossing a busy street because it didnt have the acceleration that he had become accustomed to driving a toyota pick-up truck

[@randallburgess46]

The people who are slamming the Chevette for being slow are just showing their ignorance! It’s not designed to perform like a sports car anymore than a Cadillac Fleewood Broughm was made to be a great stock car at Daytona. I had one for years with the four speed manual transmission and only changed oil and greased it. Just as a safety measure, I replaced the u-joints on it in my driveway,not that they even needed it. It was the best little car I ever owned and kept and drove it longer than any other vehicle I’ve ever owned, and I’m 66 years old and have had a lot of different cars and pickup trucks. I would trade my low miles 2010 Dyna Wide Glide for a like new Chevette two door with the 4 speed.

[@chfpontiac5849]

You sure like heavy things with low horsepower.

[@POVwithRC]

It's not ignorance. We just don't wear the same rose tinted glasses you seem to have on.

[@hotpuppy1]

They were meant for in town slow driving. Interstate travel? NOT a good idea. Uncle leased a cheap 2 door one with automatic and A/C for his business deliveries. It was not very comfortable to drive if you are tall. The pedals are close together. It did what it needed to do.

[@cellpat2686]

The first stick car I ever drove. I'm willing to bet its owner still drives it today.

[@djkenny1202]

Had a girlfriend with a red 85 4 door automatic .when I was a Sophomore in HS. Her moms. It made more sounds than acceleration when I tried to floor it.

[@rayjohnson863]

I had a 1986 CHEVVETTE 2 door model with some sport package that was included on its last year run. I loved the car but sadly the engine was not rebuilt correctly. We sadly had to junk the car. I should have kept it as the 2 door model was rare to find even back then.

[@BigRob829]

America needs a car like this now... Sadly the environazis have made it so that we'll never be able to get one ever again. Just look at VW's Dieselgate.

[@randellgribben9772]

you really think that diesel exhaust is good for you, of your kids?

[@BigRob829]

​@@randellgribben9772 Holy shit you mean automobile exhaust isnt good for me??? Like I said... Environazis.

[@cnnw3929]

Exactly. The environazis are the the full reason why we can't have nice things. I would take the Chevette diesel over the Toyota gas hog I have now any day.

[@mikewasfaret9563]

I worked at a small chevy dealer in 83/84. The boss drove a diesel Chevette. Definitely noisy from the outside.

[@nagosnell]

This is the kind reviews to post! The more horrible the car the better.

[@440mgnm]

Agreed!!

[@ChevettesoftheCanadianNorth]

I got a daily driver diesel, + 13 more diesel Chevettes.

[@Doobie1975]

Looks a lot like the Chevette my mother used to own except hers was a gasser automatic.

[@CarringtonHollister]

My mother also had a Chevette when she worked at the nursing home I think her’s was also a gasser

[@murdiesel]

Rt 30, Reisterstown Road, Owings Mills, Md! I wonder with a turbo how it would do?

[@JustinJenseninCurrentEvents]

Thanks to Isuzu for the engine.

[@h8troodoh]

It was actually a well-built diesel it just needed to be turbocharged, and they'd have a much better performance record. Isuzu is well known in the diesel world btw.

[@davidtoups4684]

Rode in one once. You could time the 0-60 with a sun dial

[@BenKlassen1]

Saw one of these on the road recently which brought me to this video. I wasn't aware of a 1980's GM diesel Chevette before. It was smoking like a chimney.

[@christopherstory2136]

As did most diesels of the time. Back then never follow a 300D or full-size GM (Toronado, Delta 88, Seville etc) while driving up a grade 😂😂😂😂

[@Marklin15]

@@christopherstory2136As a 300D owner your Mercedes has serious problems if it’s making a black cloud smoke.

[@thirdpedalnirvana]

"At 2,440 lbs, it's no lightweight". Wow... Have times changed. Anything under 3000lbs is considered lightweight, and the benchmark of lightness (the miata) is 2300lbs.

[@BryantButler-i3j]

Right after that he says "what diesels are not expected to do is accelerate". Times have changed there as well. Now you hook a 10k pound trailer to your 3/4 ton diesel pickup, and it will merge into Interstate traffic easily. Adding turbochargers to little diesels was a game changer.

[@snowrocket]

I think I read a couple years ago that the Mitsubishi Mirage hatchback was 2,100 pounds.

[@davidgalyean9116]

Had a blue ‘80 hatchback with automatic (non diesel) for ten years from 1987 to 1997

[@grosbeakmc]

One of the cars I did driver's ed in was a Chevette diesel. Only one I've ever come across!

[@WisdomVendor1]

You would need a calendar to measure the 0 to 60 time.

[@SKANK_HUNT49]

I'm gonna order one today

[@randellgribben9772]

are there any still on the road?

[@snowrocket]

I still see one a year here in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

[@randellgribben9772]

@@snowrocket i guess the club meets are very quite

[@baldbastardo]

Did he say 55mph? Did they toss it off a cliff or something?

[@seand2711]

What a great little car.

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

I'd love to have another Chevette

[@mattt198654321]

Can you imagine paying an inflation-adjusted $27,000 (!!!) for this turd???

[@nlpnt]

Former Chevette owners who bought them new seem to remember them much less fondly than those who had them as old cheap beaters. But yeah, diesel was an expensive option.

[@Stressless2023]

@@nlpnt You got that right lol I walked in the Chevrolet dealership in 1986 a couple months after getting my first job at Burger King completely ready to buy a new Camaro... No dice - Cavalier Z24? Denied - The only thing they approved me for was either a new Chevy Sprint or Chevy Chevette. I didn't want a used car and the Sprint looked even more like a dorky clown car to me so I drove off the lot with a grey 86 Chevette 2-door stick shift with zero options for about $5,300 with tax, abused it for two years and never had to have any warranty repairs done but man that thing felt like poverty on wheels - Traded it in for a new 88 Chevy Beretta GT that my father co-signed with me for and never looked back.

[@dankline9162]

​@@Stressless2023 You dont see those anymore either. Love the tail lights.

[@jagboy69]

@@Stressless2023 I used to bang a girl in high school that had a sprint. To say it was challenging is an understatement.

[@Thedaleb1]

Sweet ass diesel vette

[@edwardpate6128]

They were great little cars both gas and diesel. GM sold these T body cars all over the world for many years.

[@jamestamu83]

We had the OPEC oil shortage problem solved 42-years ago!! Now we've gone backwards in terms of fleet average MPG.

[@Joesmusclecargarage]

Excellent reliable and economical transportation, and very enjoyable to drive. I’ve owned many over the years, and I’d buy one tomorrow if I could find one locally.

[@grabasandwich]

I was shocked when I did the brakes on mine and they were solid rotors! 😂

[@davidgalyean9116]

Yes my ‘80 chevette had one of best brakes after Firestone fixed it, billed me for $500

[@gregg9672]

Josucarsnews cal you please find the retro review on the 1989-1997 road test the only one i can find is the convertible

[@rideshareog]

People all hate on the low and slow diesel. Befriend someone with one so you can get around later.

[@donaldsalkovick396]

Wow how did they actually chirp the tires?

[@dieselguy62]

Had the chevette. And my salesman for the shop has the ford escort wagon, with the mazda diesel. Both ran hundreds of thousands of miles

[@billpimentel-vm6cu]

I had a mint white diesel chevette in 1986 . My lawn mower had more horsepower.

[@Kgio-2112]

Before John sounded like a sports announcer.

[@cavailerpugman702]

If only a guy could find one of them now a days

[@new2000car]

If they put this engine in the monza, they’d have a reliable and comfortable fuel efficient car. Chevette had a terrible ride and uncomfortable after about 15 minutes of driving. Back aches and leg aches, it was semi torturous.

[@teresapflaumer5717]

True. My ex had a 1980 Chevette gasser in automatic and the seats were quite hard while the ride was slower than a turtle.

[@GMCTIM]

😂 that depended on age,walking or riding also ! 😂✌

[@snowrocket]

The Monza was larger and heavier than the Chevette. This 1.8 in the Monza would have been a disaster.

[@sntstafford]

I drove a 4dr diesel AT as a pizza delivery vehicle in 1985. Returned between 35 to 40 mpg every shift; never shut it off and let it idle all night. Mom had an 86 gasser AT; to get up a hill with any speed, had to turn off the a/c. College girlfriend had an 83 4 speed; we drove that thing from Rexburg, Idaho to Idaho Falls, Pocatello and SLC all the time.

[@russmt4181]

My parents had one, diesel automatic. Was unbelievably slow.

[@snowrocket]

Mine did too. 0-60 MPH in 22 seconds according to Car & Driver.

[@sponk2112]

$8,000 for this thing in 1982 was bonkers. ($1 might have been to much, though). If I recall correctly, my Mom bought a new 1980 Chrysler LeBaron for $7,000.

[@misterwhipple2870]

True. You could get the Isuzu for much less, even from Joe Isuzu.

[@sponk2112]

@@misterwhipple2870 You're lying.

[@robedmund9948]

Drop a turbo on that little oil burner! 0-60 times will drop considerably.

[@Paul_Wetor]

Hey, my 1977 Monza Spyder had the same style of steering wheel. I thought it was unique to the Monza.

[@dougsmith9571]

Great MPG! But LETS BE CLEAR! The Sh*tvette was a rolling , trolling , hellion of a trash heap.. As a mechanic in the late 70s we had a frustrated customer set his 3 yr old Chevette on FIRE on the lot when he was informed the transmission failure wasn't covered under warranty!

[@h8troodoh]

Nice arson charge.

[@JohnSmith-yv6eq]

@@h8troodoh Not if he did not claim insurance... and it was not a danger to any other property on that lot.....

[@thatcarguy1UZ]

Their test cat was $8500 in 1982. That is $27,800 today. 😮

[@michaelmurphy6869]

One thing to think about at that time was the interest rates. New car rates even with good credit were around 12-20%. Crazy.

[@vinzclortho7766]

I wonder how these cars would do with a slightly later, DOHC 4cylinder, and maybe a turbo.

[@snowrocket]

Tons better. 90 HP in something like that is quite good.

[@SuperRobbie1976]

my first car was a 1981 chevette gas job

[@jayjackson-xo1nu]

I had one years ago wish I still had it

[@juansaladzar]

What is a mini station wagon brah?

[@snowrocket]

No, it's a four-door hatchback.

[@mitch4527]

Can’t imagine trying to merge into a busy highway.

[@sntstafford]

Don’t have to imagine; Mom had an 86 gasser AT and I drove a 84 diesel AT as a pizza delivery driver. Wasn’t fun.

[@snowrocket]

I did a few times in my parents Diesel Chevette automatic in Pittsburgh, PA, USA. You floor it from the VERY start of the onramp and NEVER let up unless a crash is imminent! You put on your turn signal, act decisively, and merge. It isn't fun or pretty. My 1981 Mazda GLC 5-speed was a rocket compared to this thing.

[@rubinthomas8586]

This was one of my first cars. I got it free and put a clutch in it. It was so slow, but I had fun with it. It was really cheap to drive.

[@szr8]

1:28 40 to 55 MPH in 9.1 sec, while my 1995 Astro, that weighs about twice as much, with over 250k on its original 4.3L [1], can do that happily in just a couple seconds without breaking a sweat. It's a stark reminder how EPA (over)regulations ended up completely crippling so many engines. [1] Yes I'm comparing gas vs diesel, though the gas Chevette, which we had in the 80s (a four door), wasn't much faster in that range, if not slower, from what I can recall, but it's been a while, as we sold it in the late 80s.

[@cactuswillable]

Nothing that a turbo can't fix

[@RaymondHaley-bi8lx]

Thanks to Isuzu the diesel chevette was 2nd only to the Volkswagen rabbit diesel when it comes to good fuel mileage.

[@flukedogwalker3016]

53 mighty horses under the hood, it accelerated like a rocket sled entombed in frozen jello. It's chief advantage was that you would never go fast enough to get into trouble and no girl would ever be caught in one at a drive in theater.

[@thebrain7065]

I think the only thing in that era that beat it's mpg was the Dodge Colt...with the "economy" lever..lol My uncle...I believe got around 55 or 60 mpg with the Colt. Then again...he never drove it past 45 mph.

[@ryank5688]

Needs a TDI... 3x power and same mpg!

[@davidfrench5407]

Over $8000 for a 1982 Chevette? Lord. I got a Ford Escort 2 door in 1986 for about $6000. That Chevette was horribly overpriced.

[@dave30076]

That was expensive for 1982. Over $8000 as tested. I got a Ford Escort (4 speed manual, no A/C) for about $6000 in 1986. That $8000 in 1982 is about $26,000 in 2024. Also I chuckled at the idea that 2400 pounds was heavy. Cars now are VERY heavy.

[@dant.6364]

The line of cars following @0:50 lol

[@cnnw3929]

Today's Toyota Corolla is a gas guzzler compared to that Chevette diesel. The Corolla only gets half the gas mileage!

[@snowrocket]

Yes, and the Corolla has nearly three times the power, double the acceleration four times the standard equipment, and is probably twice as safe.

[@bobbbobb4663]

@@snowrocket The only good metric of the era to compare to modern day would be something like the Mercedes 240D (which was crash tested and safe) and those can get around 30 mpg. That said, engine technology has come a long way in 40 years.

[@billk9628]

Back then I was a lot younger lol. My two best pickup lines, that worked were,,: "Nice dress, can I talk you out of it?" And: "Wanna go for a ride in my Vette?" If she had a sense of humor, I got in those pants every time!🤣🙏😇

[@sinkrust1]

I didn’t realize that it was a Japaneese engine!