I also was on the fence for a long time, fix vs buyback. I always had the intentions to keep the car forever. Over the last few months I've had things slowly breaking down on me. Now some of it is regular wear and tear on a car, like ignition switch, wheel hub assembly, cracked leatherette seats, along with regular maintenance like DSG service. I'm at 140k miles and still haven't done the timing belt. With my wheel hub assembly going out on me, I figure I rather not do anymore repairs on the car. I know I'd make money if I kept the car (even after doing timing belt, wheel hub, p2015 intake manifold flap code), but I rather not have to deal with them anytime soon again.
I finally talked some sense into my wife and found a 2015 Passat TDI SEL for under $17k, with the color I preferred. In the end it'll cost me $3.7k, but I get a much newer car, a bigger car, Bluetooth (2010 only worked with phone), extended warranty on lots of engine parts, and still have a powertrain warranty. I know I'll have issues again down the road, but it's nice having a car without all the dings, dents, scratches, cracked seats, etc that our car currently has. I am sad to know what will happen to the car, but I'll still have a TDI.
Tonight I'm uploading the final paperwork we got notarized and will be waiting to hear back from them.