Thoughts on the State of VW Diesel Situation

[Boomer]

Well, I finally got my $1000 X 2 for my two VW diesel cars (see signature). Each $1000 is divided into $500 on a card that can be used anywhere for anything and $500 on a card that can only be used at a VW dealership. That gives me the funds to get the 40,000 mile DSG transmission service done on the Passat and the 30,000 mile service on the Sportwagen (the 20,000 mile service was included in the purchase of the car).

I asked the service manager at the local dealership where I had to get the cards activated if I had to get any recall changes made to my cars if I did not want to. Since I live in a county in PA with no diesel emissions checks, she said absolutely not. Only thing is, when I go to trade in the car I would have to get it done or if I traded it on another VW, that dealer would have to do it before it could be resold.

Since I live very near Penn State, a Penn State employee laughingly told me that several profs who own the VW diesels are screaming at the dealer to fix their cars as they are "killing people on campus" by driving them.

So we will see what all happens. I saw an article recently that said a fix for US VW diesels may be a year away!!

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: Boomer

Since I live very near Penn State, a Penn State employee laughingly told me that several profs who own the VW diesels are screaming at the dealer to fix their cars as they are "killing people on campus" by driving them.


That does not surprise me. People in education, especially higher education, are so disconnected from the world it isn't even funny.

 

[demarpaint]

If I understand this correctly it means to me you take the loss when you sell the car or trade it. Avoiding the loss would mean keeping the car until it has to be junked. What is the cost of the fix?

On a trade I would expect to have them take the cost of the fix off the price they offer you for the trade. Honestly I think VW is getting off easy. The better thing to do would have been sending owners impacted by this the actual cost of the repair and let them decide what to do with the money.

 

[Kira]

demarpaint said, "Honestly I think VW is getting off easy. The better thing to do would have been sending owners impacted by this the actual cost of the repair and let them decide what to do with the money."

I disagree. VW lied about emission levels. They made machines which pollute excessively.
They should fix their products by bringing them up "to code".
If the fix leaves the vehicle in a less desirable condition (say, burns too much fuel or performs badly) the option to return the vehicle should be open.

They lied. Fix the lie and its resulting impact.

Giving people money who may elect to leave the car "unfixed" is risky to say the least and definitely immoral. Kira

 

[Andrew1972]

Originally Posted By: Miller88
Originally Posted By: Boomer

Since I live very near Penn State, a Penn State employee laughingly told me that several profs who own the VW diesels are screaming at the dealer to fix their cars as they are "killing people on campus" by driving them.


That does not surprise me. People in education, especially higher education, are so disconnected from the world it isn't even funny.


Agree on disconnected but who cares they have incredible jobs.

Two of my brother in laws who are both professors happen to own the TDI wagon which is apparently the new "in" car with that crowd. VW won't be getting return folks anymore. Previous in cars seemed to be Volvo, Saab, Subaru(still somewhat). Not sure what is the next one out there.

To the OP the $1000 seems paltry when if you wreck or trade these vehicles. No one wants them and those that do are taking advantage of fire sale out there.

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: Miller88
Originally Posted By: Boomer

Since I live very near Penn State, a Penn State employee laughingly told me that several profs who own the VW diesels are screaming at the dealer to fix their cars as they are "killing people on campus" by driving them.


That does not surprise me. People in education, especially higher education, are so disconnected from the world it isn't even funny.


While I don't disagree that many prof's may well be disconnected--if it was anyone on here who had to deal with a dealership who was not being helpful, we'd tell them to scream bloody murder at the dealership to make it right. I see it as the same sort of tactic.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: Kira
demarpaint said, "Honestly I think VW is getting off easy. The better thing to do would have been sending owners impacted by this the actual cost of the repair and let them decide what to do with the money."

I disagree. VW lied about emission levels. They made machines which pollute excessively.
They should fix their products by bringing them up "to code".
If the fix leaves the vehicle in a less desirable condition (say, burns too much fuel or performs badly) the option to return the vehicle should be open.

They lied. Fix the lie and its resulting impact.

Giving people money who may elect to leave the car "unfixed" is risky to say the least and definitely immoral. Kira


I think we partially agree.

It is clear they lied and got off easy. Fixing the problem would cost them far more than giving out cards, one of which has to be used at a VW dealership. What a joke.

The way I see it is the consumer got part of the money and a choice of what they can do with that partial payment. You're right let VW fix each and everyone of them. That lesson would be much more valuable.........

 

[weasley]

Did acceptance of the vouchers require you to waive your right to make any future claims or join any class action suits?

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: weasley
Did acceptance of the vouchers require you to waive your right to make any future claims or join any class action suits?


From what I've read, no, which I found surprising.

*

On my 2004, I recall early on there was a problem with the ceramic glowplugs. VW did a recall, going from a 7V plug to a 5V plug. Some dealerships would fail to do the ECU reflash, so guess what? 5V plugs burn out pretty quick doing that. Those 5V plugs didn't last too long either, and then they decided to NOT come up with a fix (dragged their heels, took forever, whatever). So some owners had to deal with a full winter with a car that would barely start. Took a couple of years to get a 7V steel plug replacement that truly fixed the issue.

I decided I'd wait it out until it was sorted out, lived with the risk of the ceramics failing; but realized just how VW stands behind their product (far, far back).

 

[rshaw125]

Crazy. The government should have given VW a one time waiver. Fix the problem on new cars and move on. No problems with resale values and VW could concentrate on new cars meeting the standards.

 

[4wheeldog]

Originally Posted By: rshaw125
Crazy. The government should have given VW a one time waiver. Fix the problem on new cars and move on. No problems with resale values and VW could concentrate on new cars meeting the standards.


Why reward VW for cheating? It wasn't accidental, it was premeditated side stepping of the regulations. VW should be on the hook for the entire cost of bringing the cars up to standard.

I would actually think it would be fair to require a buy back program for unhappy owners. Give them a choice.....VW either fixes their car, or VW buys it back....Owner's choice.

 

[440Magnum]

Originally Posted By: Miller88

That does not surprise me. People in education, especially higher education, are so disconnected from the world it isn't even funny.


I bet none of those 'screaming' profs are Engineering, Chemistry, Math, or Physics profs. Guarantee you its only liberal arts airheads doing that... and *maybe* a few biologists.

 

[HerrStig]

Originally Posted By: Miller88
Originally Posted By: Boomer

Since I live very near Penn State, a Penn State employee laughingly told me that several profs who own the VW diesels are screaming at the dealer to fix their cars as they are "killing people on campus" by driving them.


That does not surprise me. People in education, especially higher education, are so disconnected from the world it isn't even funny.
But, since they HAVE to get to the Shrillary rally, they keep driving.

 

[HerrStig]

Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
Originally Posted By: Miller88

That does not surprise me. People in education, especially higher education, are so disconnected from the world it isn't even funny.


I bet none of those 'screaming' profs are Engineering, Chemistry, Math, or Physics profs. Guarantee you its only liberal arts airheads doing that... and *maybe* a few biologists.



Don't forget the "Journalism" department.

 

[440Magnum]

Originally Posted By: rshaw125
Crazy. The government should have given VW a one time waiver. Fix the problem on new cars and move on. No problems with resale values and VW could concentrate on new cars meeting the standards.


Let me get this straight... VW should get a waiver for knowingly violating the production standards in place at the time of sale (not just violating, but violating and HIDING the violation)...

But the government is already making 1990s SUV makers install rear trailer hitches to add impact protection to the fuel tanks... EVEN THOUGH THEY MET EVERY SAFETY STANDARD IN PLACE AT THE TIME OF MANUFACTURE???? (What's next, airbags and ABS on every 57 BelAir out there?)

Why not grant a waiver to all the early diesel pickup emissions systems (DPF and DEF or EGR) that were so trouble prone. Let the owners rip 'em off and be done with it, no harm no foul, no more inspections.

I'm not saying the regulations didn't get a bit ahead of the available technology, I'm saying its not in any way right to "waiver" VW for cheating, while Ford, GM, BMW, Benz, Dodge, and all the others took a reliability/economy hit *because* they forged ahead and met the standards at the time of sale.

 

[rshaw125]

Yes they should have gotten a one time waiver. Puts out the fire. Ends the drama and they can concentrate on meeting future standards.
Remember the US government has done much worse. CIA creating ISIS ring a bell? They have no position to preach.

 

[Bamaro]

Originally Posted By: rshaw125
Yes they should have gotten a one time waiver. Puts out the fire. Ends the drama and they can concentrate on meeting future standards.
Remember the US government has done much worse. CIA creating ISIS ring a bell? They have no position to preach.

Absolutely not.
The rest is politics and I will ignore it.

 

[OneEyeJack]

Is all this proof that it's easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to ask for permission?

VW as a corporation is getting better treatment for willfully violating laws pertaining to the environment than an individual that gets a red light ticket.

As far as those professors, if they are killing people by driving their cars there is a solution they could implement that would show that there is some kind of connection between anything that they say and the truth........stop driving those cars.

 

[wemay]

Originally Posted By: Bamaro
Originally Posted By: rshaw125
Yes they should have gotten a one time waiver. Puts out the fire. Ends the drama and they can concentrate on meeting future standards.
Remember the US government has done much worse. CIA creating ISIS ring a bell? They have no position to preach.

Absolutely not.
The rest is politics and I will ignore it.


+1

 

[Win]

Originally Posted By: OneEyeJack
Is all this proof that it's easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to ask for permission? ....


At the local level, no doubt.

At the EPA level, I doubt it. I can't imagine EPA approving any "fix" that leaves the vehicle non compliant or allows the owner to revert the vehicle back to a non conforming state. It would be illegal.

What the states do with registration of these vehicles will be interesting. It will be easy enough to make a list of vehicles that conform and those that don't conform.

The people who bought these cars were the victims of an intentional fraud on a massive scale over a long period of time. The fix will be a hack job bodge if they can even come up with one. VW should do the right thing and buy all these cars back without any depreciation, interest on the refund at the market rate, and an additional sum to each owner / victim as a penalty for the fraud.