Pay fine and fix emissions problem or buyback?

dogcatcher said:

After having my 2015 Passat TDI re-flashed last month, power is definitely down under hard acceleration.

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Hugh Mann said:

I can only tell you what I experienced and it was a loss of hard acceleration power. I'd have a smile on my face if I had gotten added zip.
After the dealer performed the recall and reflashed the computer on my 2013 Golf TDI, I noticed a definite loss of power under hard acceleration from a standstill.
Now, I'm curious. Did anyone else notice a performance difference (plus or minus) after the dealer reflashed your computer for the recent recall?

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Hugh Mann said:

…..
Now, I'm curious. Did anyone else notice a performance difference (plus or minus) after the dealer reflashed your computer for the recent recall?

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roostre said:

I hesitate to post, since besides being off-topic, this issue is very subjective;

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roostre said:

I hesitate to post, since besides being off-topic, this issue is very subjective; but since you asked, here is my observation.
I have a DSG, so my perceptions of the 23O6 ECM software update may be different from those with a manual.
What I noticed was a different throttle response from what I had been used to during the prior two years before the update. The throttle seems to respond faster and is not as easy to accurately control when initially starting from a standstill with the DSG.
Maybe I have a lead foot, but I have to be more gentle on the throttle when staring out from a stop after the update to avoid chirping the tires. I do not notice anymore overall power or any less power.
Some may see this as being “peppier”, but for me it seems to just be a different response with similar power and I actually preferred how it used to feel before the update.

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Hugh Mann said:

It may seem off-topic to ask if owners noticed any differences in performance after the recent recall to update their TDI's ECM. But,on the other hand, it shows how differently owners will perceive an emissions fix after it is done. This is going to be one of many challenges that Volkswagen faces after a fix is approved and the emissions recalls are installed.
Just like I'd never be the first to install an n.0 version of Windows and suffer all the bugs, I'll wait as long as possible before the California EPA forces me to do the emissions recall. I'll go to forums like this to get as much information as I can.
So here's another question: How many of you would volunteer to be the first to receive the EPA approved emissions fix?

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ATR said:

That confirms my suspicion that there was likely a change in throttle response.
…..

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The inevitable power loss from attempting to correct emissions with the ECM 23O6 update had to be disguised somehow.

An exhaustive study was conducted to determine how different people perceived engine power.

Some relied on “top speed” while others believed in their “butt dyno”.

In the end, the “butt dyno” crowd won out as usual and it is was decided to modify the throttle characteristics so the engine seemed “peppier” by accelerating faster initially (as compared to previous expectations from before the update).

Unfortunately those with more sensitive “butt dynos” were not satisfied.

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roostre said:

From the latest “VW Conspiratorialist” magazine, available only at select newsstands:

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