Taking all points into consideration but 1.8k shouldnt be knocked until you have tried it. Are you talking from experience or hearsay? What are the problems with the engine you speak of? Yes hgf is common but then so do a lot of other car manufacturers have weak points.
My 1.8 hippo had 750kg lead (Pb) in the back and no probs on steep inclines. mind you sat on the deck with the weight.
LRM did a re-working of the valve and ports on the head of the 1.8k, in fact this can be done routinely in most engineering shops, and turned out to be much better for power than original castings. The original engine never achieved its full potential.
The only time someone should buy a diesel hippo is for torque if they do alot of towing trailers or horse boxes. Petrol hippo will tow one horse and horsebox but not two horses. Thats when I would recommend a diesel but they aint half slow.
As MHM said KV6 was great on power but gas guzzler, not to mention only came in automatic transmission.
