I think anyone wanting to trade out or sell back their TDI for something else has to consider.... Do they want stellar MPG or just a good functional car or something else?
I bought my TDI strictly for the MPG. I drive alot on the weekends ( I have a truck I use monday through friday for work ) and alot of that driving is to and from motorcycle rides and races and I tow the bike or bikes behind the car on a small trailer. Sure I could throw the bike in the bed of my Toyota Tundra and drive that, but it only gets 13-16 mpg. And my truck is hitched up to a big enclosed trailer I use for my lawnservice business and I hate to unhitch it anytime I need to go somewhere not work related, hence why I have a 2nd vehicle.
Ive had a Toyota Echo, Corolla, Camry, Mazda 5, and a Honda Accord... and ultimately ended up with the Jetta TDI. I could get 28 to 30 mpg towing with the echo and or corolla, and only slightly less with the Camry. The Mazda 5 was only good for 22-25 mpg, same as the accord. With the TDI, I get 35 to as much as 42 mpg towing.... Big difference! and of course right now fuel prices are much lower than a year or two ago, but its still a substantial savings.
Before buying the TDI, I had considered a Prius or some other hybrid, But since I tow and do alot of towing down the highway, I felt like any hybrid would end up depleting the battery rather quickly and have to run the bulk of the time on the gas engine.... and doing so, it would not do much better than the echo or corolla did, plus it would have low torque since they have such small engines and would have to downshift and scream the engine on hills and the such. I felt like the TDI with all the torque they produce would have no troubles pulling my bikes and still be able to return good MPG and I was right.
So if I were to be tempted to let VW buyback my car or were to consider selling it or trading it in for something else, I would first have to decide is 35+ MPG towing still super important to me? If it is, I feel like there is only one choice out there that I would consider and that is the latest generation Accord Hybrid. It has a large enough engine under the hood that it should be able to pull my bikes without much trouble, it is a large luxurious good looking car and we all know Honda makes a reliable product. Not towing these cars equal or better the TDI in fuel economy.
If MPG isn't as important to me then the skyis the limit. And honestly, with gas costing 2$ a gallon or less... and if there was any certainty it would stay at this price level, I would be happy with anything that can do at least 20 mpg... I have two kids of my own, and have a semi new girlfriend who also has two kids. Other than my tundra both of our cars only seat 5 people tops. So anywhere we go we have to take two cars. I might look at a 3 row SUV like a highlander... or even might consider a MINIVAN! yeah no cool points for me.
I also have a slight urge to get something with performance. Ill be 44 in less than 2 months and I have never owned any kind of cool performance type car. Never had a mustang or camaro, never owned a BMW or performance Benz, No sports cars of any kind... I do have a slight itch to possibly get a 5.0 mustang or a BMW 335i or something along those lines. So who knows....