FWIW, a modern 4 cylinder diesel drives just like a petrol V8 - gobs of grunt low down but it doesn't like to rev.
All you folk that prefer diesels would be just as happy driving big petrol engines.
Personally, much like transmissions, you pick the engine to suit the vehicle. Like Graham, I've got a 4x4 - a Discovery 1. Previously I had a Discovery 1 with a petrol V8. It had LPG which made it cheaper to run if I could be bothered to use it. However, on petrol alone it was only doing 16mpg which, for the performance, was a bit disappointing. Sounded nice, though... The diesel, in contrast manages 30mpg and isn't as quick and is nowhere near as urgent when you pull away. It also tops out at 80mph.
That being said, it does everything you want with the bonus of going twice as far on the fuel.
Other than 4x4's and commercial vehicles I wouldn't bother with a diesel.