Congratulations! You win! I have chosen you to respond to, because in this thread you are an intellectual giant compared to Michael and Banshee. Usually I just ignore those that disagree with me because they've given up on thought and have learned to "think" with emotion. And since you have been somewhat respectful, I will address your comments.
First, there's no reason to be obnoxious. If you don't like someone's opinions, argue against them based on the facts you have, don't attack them. If you want to believe they're "trolls", or whatever, that's your prerogative, but if you're making personal attacks - whether starting or retaliating - you're the very kind of troll you're labeling others.
Also, as far as "intellectual giants" - I'm not one, and I wouldn't think to assume anyone's level of intellect based on what they think and feel about one situation. My own personal thought is that it's a bad idea indeed to judge anyone based on a conflicting opinion to my own.
1) The time I spent in spending doing research was, of course, time I had chosen to spend because the "prize" was worth it. If the car HAD been what it was advertised to be, then there is no damage. Here is what I think you are missing. I did elect to spend time doing it, but only because it was something that it turned out not to be.
You've got a chicken and egg scenario here. You can't say time spent discovering what a product is promised to be is "worth" it. Had you done your research and determined that it wasn't all it was cracked up to be, dieselgate or not, would you be entitled to compensation? I just replaced my Jetta TDI with a BMW - but I looked at the Mazdas again, read a lot of things, and even test drove it before deciding it wasn't for me. Should Mazda now cut me a check? Whether or not you want to research anything is on you, regardless of what claims are being made by the products being researched. Again, at no point in time did VW make you do your homework before you bought.
2) Again, I did elect to deal with the greasy/slicky salesmen, but only because they showed me a product that, in essence, did not exist. Let me put it to you this way, and maybe this will help you to understand. This is about cause and effect. Without the cause there is no effect.
The product did exist. It's a pretty extreme point of view to say "hey, it puts out more emissions than it said, this doesn't exist!". If the emissions were such a major factor in the decision for you, and you did so much intensive research to get the perfect car, why not get the emissions tested independently?
3) Here is the comment that you just made that I just cannot understand how any thinking person can rationalize this. You said:
"You made that choice. Nobody put a gun to your head. You opted for a TDI - bad luck. I myself traded in a brand new 2014 Mazda 3 with less than 10,000 miles for my TDI. That's not VW's fault"
How in the world is this BAD LUCK??? The last thing this is is bad luck. This was caused by deceit and lies. If VW did not use deceit and lies, then who did? If you traded your mazda in for a lexus or something and regretted it, then that is your fault, but when you trade you car in for a car that, in essence, NOT THERE, then that IS VW's fault. You really can't see that???
It's bad luck that I chose a car that wasn't what it was promised to be. Yes, VW lied. And I had absolutely no reason to take them at their word. Just as I have no reason to take anyone, or any company, at their word. But when I make a purchase, that's the risk I am taking, that someone is pulling the wool over my eyes. Caveat Emptor.
Also, to be clear, while "clean diesel" was a big part of my personal decision process, it wasn't the whole process. Would you be up in arms, torch in hand, when you buy your next car, and it doesn't get the advertised fuel economy? Very many don't. Is it right that that happens? Of course not. And it doesn't excuse the bull****. But at the end of the day, it was my money, and I made the choice to spend it based on facts that I believed in, but could not verify myself. It sucks, and I can burn in righteous anger over it, but it's not going to get me anything.
4) VW is good because other companies lie? Since they all lie, then why take any benefit at all from VW? If all the other companies are lying like VW is, then why aren't they in court, too? You are no different than these college fans that love their own team who cheats because other teams, they believe, do too. This really is nothing more than justification and makes you looks like you are branded by VW and have become prone to intentional blindness.
Some of the people in this thread seem like they are grateful for what VW is giving them. By golly, I think they should go out and buy a couple more cars from them! By golly, we need to reward this corporation for their self serving greed!
No. Absolutely NO. At no point did I say VW is good. They lied. They're being punished. What I was trying to bring to mind is that this is **** you (and everyone else on this planet) has to deal with daily. I'm not excusing the behavior. I'm merely pointing out that there are plenty of undiscovered untruths, massaged statistics, and flat out lies from every other car manufacturer out there, and if you're going to climb on your horse and start shouting Crusade, you should be aware it's not just one company you need to crusade against.
And yes, I bet some people are grateful, as they have every right to be. Some people are getting good deals. Some people were thinking about trading in anyway, and are now getting more money than they might have otherwise. Some people see this as a way to put it behind them without too much loss, and are now grateful to know they won't make the mistake of buying a VW again for quite a long time (hint - one of them just told you he bought a BMW). Your situation, your personal beliefs, and how you're left feeling are *not* everyone's situations, beliefs, or feelings.
. I'm Penny.
