Modern diesels are superb engines. More and more manufacturers are putting them in performance cars instead of a petrol version. For one thing you get better fuel consumption with no loss in power, and they are very quiet these days. It's really weird to be pulling away from the lights on the edge of wheel spin and have the revs so low - it's almost hazardous, if you are used to high revving petrol cars.
My boss has a BMW 330 diesel and it shifts. Same model that Jensen Button lost his UK license in. I believe the Seat Ibiza GTI model has ditched its petrol engine in favour of a 1.9 TDI motor - and they are quick cars.