Diesels are disturbingly different - they have more torque, but in a different power band, so pulling away is AWFUL because you get to the point where in a petrol car, you would be accelerating away from the junction and at least OUT OF THE PATH OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC, and in a diesel, you suddenly have no more power. (The van was a diesel, I think that was more disturbing than the fact that it was a van.)

I hope your repairs get done quickly, I think it probably depends most on whether they can get parts quickly? Which is probably not helpful. *hugs*