Anybody thinking of getting a new VW?

[visionlinx]

Nope - going for full size pick up, 1500 or 2500, gas or diesel. bye bye VDubs

 

[RoadRunnerTR21]

To the OPS question regarding would I get another VW the answer is no. It is a great car but not if it is not a diesel.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

P.S. I picked up my new e-Golf on Monday. I splurged for the DC fast charge model and paid a little more. $1499 down and $59/month for 30 months. My commute is 7 miles round trip, so I just got the 7,500 mile allowance.

Dealers here are flooded with e-Golfs. The dealer I got mine from had 110 on the lot. Others have 150 or more. With the '17's coming out soon with the larger range, they're basically giving away the '16's. MSRP was $31,625, but the capitalized cost was only $24,400. Over $7k under MSRP. Add in the $10k in rebates and the new car only costs $14,400. If you want one, it would probably be cheaper to buy it here and have it shipped to VA.

I was looking at buying a Chevy Spark in EV in Maryland, but GM dealers are unwilling to sell to out-of-state buyers due to how ZEV credits work. In order for the ZEV credit to be applied, the buyer must present an in-state driver's license and register the vehicle in that state. I would imagine that there is a similar situation in California. Even if the ZEV credits aren't an issue, I wouldn't qualify for the state rebates that California is offering since I am not a resident.

At this time, I'm not interested in buying a new vehicle. I'm going to wait for longer range EVs to become available.

 

[toasters]

I was looking at buying a Chevy Spark in EV in Maryland, but GM dealers are unwilling to sell to out-of-state buyers due to how ZEV credits work. In order for the ZEV credit to be applied, the buyer must present an in-state driver's license and register the vehicle in that state. I would imagine that there is a similar situation in California. Even if the ZEV credits aren't an issue, I wouldn't qualify for the state rebates that California is offering since I am not a resident.
At this time, I'm not interested in buying a new vehicle. I'm going to wait for longer range EVs to become available.

Good point. Didn't consider the ZEV credits needing to stay in-state. Oh well. I'm excited to try this thing out for 30 months.

 

[05GLX4MoWgn]

Yep,
2017 GSW SEL

 

[thorpatterson_ritz]

I know I only bought vw for TDI. Wonderful gas mileage but after this mess no way in hell would i buy another. I am going with either american or jap car that has some reliability to it. I keep reading VW track record isn't great and I just don't want to deal with anymore headaches from them.

Feel bad for the dealers as they also got the shaft. Nice sales person and service department good.

 

[aja8888]

At this time, I'm not interested in buying a new vehicle. I'm going to wait for longer range EVs to become available.

Based on the way the electrics drop in value (people afraid of battery deterioration factors and no fed/state credit), it may be smart to buy a one or two year old low mile car.

I know a guy that picked up a one year old Leaf with just over 10K miles for about 1/2 the new price.

 

[HBarlow]

Based on the way the electrics drop in value (people afraid of battery deterioration factors and no fed/state credit), it may be smart to buy a one or two year old low mile car.

I know a guy that picked up a one year old Leaf with just over 10K miles for about 1/2 the new price.

If a buyer waits until one of those electric golf carts is two or three years old with 30k miles someone might pay him to drive it away.

 

[aja8888]

If a buyer waits until one of those electric golf carts is two or three years old with 30k miles someone might pay him to drive it away.

I'd be suspect of it if it had the OE battery by then. I have seen 3 year old Volts going for $12 - $13 K around here with ~30+K miles. And they are a hybrid of sorts.

 

[raff]

In answer to the OPs original question --
After 4 VWs in the last 14 years -- mrs raff will be going for an AllTrack as #5.

 

[LogicBomb]

I'll see what kind of offer they can make me. If they make me an offer I can't refuse, I have no problem buying another VW. I don't expect it however, and I have a nice low mile S2000 lined up.

 

[BudMan5]

I bought my first VW forty-six years ago so yes, at one point, I was thinking of getting another VW. But then, I started looking at what this is costing VW and then reading about their internal financial problems. Mainly with attaining new operating financing leading up to a 30,000 employee layoff and I realized, that there is a chance that VW may not be doing business much longer in North America.

I can't see anyway that VW is going to recover from this.

 

[DouginNC]

Bought an Audi as a replacement.... still in the same family.

 

[Clark Addison]

I rented a GTI for a week in August, drove it in Northern California, and loved it. But my wife wanted a hybrid. We both liked the Audi A3 e-tron, a luxurious version of the Golf. The VW buyback, combined with state and fed bribes for buying a plug-in hybrid, made it very affordable. So tomorrow I'm turning in my Sportwagen. We've had the e-tron 3 months and love it.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Based on the way the electrics drop in value (people afraid of battery deterioration factors and no fed/state credit), it may be smart to buy a one or two year old low mile car.
I know a guy that picked up a one year old Leaf with just over 10K miles for about 1/2 the new price.

The values on the low range EVs are tanking. This is partly due to them not meeting the driving requirements (or perceived requirements) of many people, and partly because affordable 200+ mile EVs are coming just gearing up for production (Chevy Bolt EV, Tesla Model 3, next generation Nissan LEAF).

My roommate picked up a used 2012 LEAF with 24,000 miles for about $8,500 earlier this year. It's serving him well, but his battery capacity is at about 75% of new (55 mile range when fully charged). Nissan goofed when they decided not to do any sort of thermal management on the LEAF (combined with a very temperature-sensitive battery chemistry). Other vehicles (Chevy Volt, Smart ED, Kia Soul EV, Tesla) don't suffer nearly as much battery degradation as LEAFs are. Even Toyota Priuses have active fan cooling for their hybrid batteries. Tesla owners are reporting less than 10% degradation over 100,000 miles, which I feel is perfectly acceptable... and technology continues to improve with each passing year.

 

[chadbag]

The values on the low range EVs are tanking. This is partly due to them not meeting the driving requirements (or perceived requirements) of many people, and partly because affordable 200+ mile EVs are coming just gearing up for production (Chevy Bolt EV, Tesla Model 3, next generation Nissan LEAF).

And you'll see this 200+ mile cars dropping in value quickly in a couple years when the 400+ mile cars are right around the corner. New technology drops fast as it gets leapfrogged. It will be quite a while before EV technology plateaus more where the cars have a longer market life.

 

[TDILeo]

I'm not ruling it out, but the ONLY 2 models I would be interested in would be a Wolfsburg Edition Golf or an S series GTI. Since it does not appear the buyback will occur in 2016 for me, I do have some time to mull things over. Don't care much for the leatherette in the Golf...would much prefer a cloth interior.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

And you'll see this 200+ mile cars dropping in value quickly in a couple years when the 400+ mile cars are right around the corner. New technology drops fast as it gets leapfrogged. It will be quite a while before EV technology plateaus more where the cars have a longer market life.

I expect 200-300 mile EVs to stay relevant for a while (larger batteries are heavy and more expensive). The thing that will change is charging speed, which will undoubtedly increase dramatically in the coming years. 300 miles that can be replenished in 15 minutes (800 volt batteries and charging). Porsche is working on 800 volt battery and charging technology right now, with Porsche Turbo Charging, and I expect that it will take root in the coming years. It'll be interesting to see what Tesla's next move is with high speed charging.

 

[Jimmy Coconuts]

Yes, although it would take a very good deal. Not the best deal ever made, but well below invoice. With that I would think about a GSW S 4Motion MT, hopefully MT is available by the April/May timeframe I am thinking about.

2017 or 2018 Golf Sportwagen S 1.8T with 4Motion and 6MT is currently #1 on my list by a wide margin. MSRP around $25K. Fuel economy isn't the greatest, but it's at least comparable to a Subaru Outback.

I've been driving my 09 JSW lately, and have really fallen in love with the ride quality, interior space, and especially the sightlines. I just hope the build quality of the '17/'18 model years won't disappoint. That's the only thing that gives me pause.

 

[Redgrom]

Bought a V60 and haven't looked back (yet I still see the vw in the driveway) after driving my wife's BMW diesel a bit more I am not likely to go back to vw. Looked at Audi before deciding on the Volvo but they just seamed to be missing something for the price.

 

[nutfinn]

NEVER another VW

 

[phrinda]

I got a pretty good deal on an Alltrack SEL. It's basically the car that I have been looking for and I haven't been able to find another one like it. I wish that it could have a TDI engine, but that will never happen. The mileage will be worse, but the car is much nicer than the '11 golf that I have now. I've been driving VWs since 2000 and they have always been good cars. The fit and finish has always been better than other vehicles in the price range and I've never had anything more than a bad MAF sensor in nearly 17 years. I like them and they've always been good to me.

 

[rfortson]

I expect 200-300 mile EVs to stay relevant for a while (larger batteries are heavy and more expensive). The thing that will change is charging speed, which will undoubtedly increase dramatically in the coming years. 300 miles that can be replenished in 15 minutes (800 volt batteries and charging). Porsche is working on 800 volt battery and charging technology right now, with Porsche Turbo Charging, and I expect that it will take root in the coming years. It'll be interesting to see what Tesla's next move is with high speed charging.

Charging speed and infrastructure are the two big sticking points. It will be a long time before I can recharge my car to ~400 miles range in less than 5 minutes in over 100,000 locations all over the US, including the boonies. EVs are great, but with the US being so spread out, they still have limitations compared to ICEs and will for a long time.

To me, that's why I like PHEVs.

I got a pretty good deal on an Alltrack SEL. It's basically the car that I have been looking for and I haven't been able to find another one like it. I wish that it could have a TDI engine, but that will never happen. The mileage will be worse, but the car is much nicer than the '11 golf that I have now. I've been driving VWs since 2000 and they have always been good cars. The fit and finish has always been better than other vehicles in the price range and I've never had anything more than a bad MAF sensor in nearly 17 years. I like them and they've always been good to me.

Saw a couple of Alltracks at my turn-in dealer. If they had those back during the summer, I'd have thought hard about them. Plus, they were both red with the black trim. My favorite.

But I'm muddling through with my e-tron. I just can't haul as much stuff.

 

[ZvwiZ#10]

I jumped the gun and how enjoy a 2017 Golf Sportwagen SE. Wonderful once the tires got broken in, it feels athletically light on it's feet compared to the tank-like TDI. My only concern is how it handles in the snow. This car makes it VW #9 since 1983.

 

[chadbag]

Looked at Audi before deciding on the Volvo but they just seamed to be missing something for the price.

That is true. We got one of each, A3 e-tron and V60, and the V60 is nicer for the coin. Audi was putting everything really nice in the "Prestige" model but no dealer has a prestige model that I could find (at least on the e-tron) and I have heard from others who have a Prestige that they had to special order it. (I did notice two Prestiges later in searches -- 1 in the LA CA area / across 11 dealers -- and 1 in Tulsa -- and I was searching across the whole US within 1500 miles from Utah). For example, the Audi, with 12 position electronic seat, has no memory function. Volvo does. (We got a Platinum trim, equal to Prestige, but Volvo actually ships them and dealers have Platinum models).

ETA: I've been told that Audi is filling out lower trims with niceties in 2017, so you seem to do better with 2017 Audi models in terms of value for the dollar. Audi trying to keep their customers I think.

 

[chasingleprechauns]

I drove our (now parked) 2014 Passat and already replaced it with a 2016 Chevy Impala. Similar class, just a bit better on the goodies, and got a fabulous end-of-month deal (~$8K off sticker, 0.9% financing). Gas mileage sucks, but then again, I never got more than 34 in my Passat TDI (I drive 70 RT daily, all highway). Hubs also parked his 2014 Jetta, but his dad just passed, so he's driving his pristine '05 Camry to and from work (6 miles RT for him). We are staying away from VW -- hubs is going to get a Silverado. We are in Texas, after all.

 

[rfortson]

That is true. We got one of each, A3 e-tron and V60, and the V60 is nicer for the coin. Audi was putting everything really nice in the "Prestige" model but no dealer has a prestige model that I could find (at least on the e-tron) and I have heard from others who have a Prestige that they had to special order it. (I did notice two Prestiges later in searches -- 1 in the LA CA area / across 11 dealers -- and 1 in Tulsa -- and I was searching across the whole US within 1500 miles from Utah). For example, the Audi, with 12 position electronic seat, has no memory function. Volvo does. (We got a Platinum trim, equal to Prestige, but Volvo actually ships them and dealers have Platinum models).

ETA: I've been told that Audi is filling out lower trims with niceties in 2017, so you seem to do better with 2017 Audi models in terms of value for the dollar. Audi trying to keep their customers I think.

I'll agree with this. I noticed going from VW to Audi that VW includes lots of goodies that Audi makes you go to the higher trim levels for, such as adaptive cruise control and lane assist. Audi is a nicer car overall (as it should be) but they hold back on the goodies.

 

[chadbag]

I'll agree with this. I noticed going from VW to Audi that VW includes lots of goodies that Audi makes you go to the higher trim levels for, such as adaptive cruise control and lane assist. Audi is a nicer car overall (as it should be) but they hold back on the goodies.

In all fairness we are comparing 2017 VW (ACC etc) to 2016 Audi I think. From what I've been reading, the 2017 Audi are a bit better apportioned.

 

[Dizzrah]

And the deceptions continue....

So many people angry over this deception like they have never been deceived by a government or a manufacture!

EPA and VW, what a team....

"An almost $15 billion settlement was partially approved a few weeks ago by a federal court over Volkswagen AG’s emissions-cheating scandal, which involved the company installing defeat devices in more than 500,000 vehicles.

But the terms extend beyond the scope of Volkswagen and the federal agencies involved in the case, and appear to be unconstitutional.
The Obama administration has essentially found a workaround for extracting $1.2 billion from the automaker to go toward a zero-emissions vehicle technology slush fund (officially called the National ZEV Investment Plan), to be managed by the EPA. Congress has repeatedly voted to reject the fund."..........."But the VW settlement funds are constitutionally directed to the Treasury, to be appropriated by Congress — not the EPA."


http://www.detroitnews.com/story/op...-settlement-expands-executive-power/93946952/

If you read the EPA response to this charge, you get a real belly laugh.

 

[phrinda]

Saw a couple of Alltracks at my turn-in dealer. If they had those back during the summer, I'd have thought hard about them. Plus, they were both red with the black trim. My favorite.

But I'm muddling through with my e-tron. I just can't haul as much stuff.

I've taken several looks at the e-tron. There are some good deals to be had on what looks like a really good vehicle. The biggest thing is that I've been looking for AWD and the Alltrack gives me exactly what I want. And, just to be clear for those who like to get into poo flinging over AWD (not directed at rfortson), I said "want".