Engine runs poorly when first started?

Your car is an '82 which means it has a carburetor, not fuel injection. The carb. may need to be either rebuilt or adjusted. If it runs ok after it warms up, the choke may be out of adjustment. Take the car to a good mechanic who has experience with carburetors, and he will fix it right up. You saying it runs better if you rev it up tells me the carb. is loading up with gas, more than it needs, which again points me toward the choke. Revving the engine wont really do any damage as long as your not revving it ridiculously high. Get your carb. rebuilt, and it will run better cold, and get much better fuel economy. Good luck.