Anyone NOT thrashing their TDI or skipping maintenance/upkeep?

[kitarkus]

If you're interested in continuing to drive your car for another two years, you may be able to trade wheels and tires with someone who is doing the buyback and has a good set. We just did traded our 17" wheels and tires for a friend's 18" wheels and tires off of his SEL... they'll get us through 2018.

That is a great idea. Unfortunately I do not know any other VW drivers around here. I'm the poor guy on the block

As for the other posts. Ya...I understand that I'd get my $6000-$6500 in restitution even if the car is totaled and not driveable....but that would be a serious loss when compared to the buy-back imo....thus the risk. I do not estimate that the insurance payout + VW restitution = buy back amoung. Not even close. As far as being totaled....your car may not have a salvage title and get full buy back compensation from VW...or so I'd thought anyway. The vehicle must drive in under its own power and have a clean (lien aside) title.

The least risk is to take the buy back asap...and move on. With some added risk...I could continue to drive the TDI for almost 2 years with zero depreciation. Risk vs. reward. I'd have to sit and tally the pros/cons of new tires, oil service, and DSG service...still making (0%) payments for the next 18 months (which is just money payed to myself each month basically).....vs. cutting away and taking the $18K...putting it towards a late model used car worth $35K. If I were more excited about my new (used) car options.....I'd be in a new car already.....thus the continued contemplation on my part. Aside from the damage that VW has done (to itself and others)....this buy back is a great deal for me any way that I look at it. My nature makes it difficult to keep the car and be greedy in an effort to maximize my total restitution (whether in money or utility)....at the expense of others by keeping the car on the road. It isn't popular to be a tree hugger these days...but I do still care about the pollution that I am spewing.....a bit anyway....I mean I am a conscious being.

I'm going to have to decide soon. Winter is nearly here and my tires are seriously dangerous. I am nearly at 40k...thus DSG service if I plan to drive much longer. Also ready for an oil change shortly. If I do these items....I'll keep the car to Fall 2018.....so the long term decision must be made ASAP.....and I'll need to stick to my decision.

 

[2015vwgolfdiesel]

Time will tell how literally we can take the thought that the only condition on buy back is that the car be able to be driven under its own diesel power. I have no doubt that a cracked windshield won't matter. But a car that has been smashed to the point where it is unsafe to drive may turn out to be a different story.

unsafe is not noted in the buyback conditions.

...... as it is less than safe to have a broken windshield

...... or 4 very worn tires.

...... or lights out,

...... or no brakes

...... ETC

 

[*zepman]

have an appointment for a $69.99 oil change at the dealer, because the last thing i need is a turbo failure before turn in. 10K on the current oil - not bad

 

[VeeDubTDI]

That is a great idea. Unfortunately I do not know any other VW drivers around here. I'm the poor guy on the block

As for the other posts. Ya...I understand that I'd get my $6000-$6500 in restitution even if the car is totaled and not driveable....but that would be a serious loss when compared to the buy-back imo....thus the risk. I do not estimate that the insurance payout + VW restitution = buy back amoung. Not even close. As far as being totaled....your car may not have a salvage title and get full buy back compensation from VW...or so I'd thought anyway. The vehicle must drive in under its own power and have a clean (lien aside) title.

The least risk is to take the buy back asap...and move on. With some added risk...I could continue to drive the TDI for almost 2 years with zero depreciation. Risk vs. reward. I'd have to sit and tally the pros/cons of new tires, oil service, and DSG service...still making (0%) payments for the next 18 months (which is just money payed to myself each month basically).....vs. cutting away and taking the $18K...putting it towards a late model used car worth $35K. If I were more excited about my new (used) car options.....I'd be in a new car already.....thus the continued contemplation on my part. Aside from the damage that VW has done (to itself and others)....this buy back is a great deal for me any way that I look at it. My nature makes it difficult to keep the car and be greedy in an effort to maximize my total restitution (whether in money or utility)....at the expense of others by keeping the car on the road. It isn't popular to be a tree hugger these days...but I do still care about the pollution that I am spewing.....a bit anyway....I mean I am a conscious being.

I'm going to have to decide soon. Winter is nearly here and my tires are seriously dangerous. I am nearly at 40k...thus DSG service if I plan to drive much longer. Also ready for an oil change shortly. If I do these items....I'll keep the car to Fall 2018.....so the long term decision must be made ASAP.....and I'll need to stick to my decision.

Are you interested in picking up a set of steel wheels with excellent condition snow tires (only used one season) for a good deal? Located near Columbus, OH. If so, PM me and I'll send you the details.

 

[k1xv]

unsafe is not noted in the buyback conditions.

...... as it is less than safe to have a broken windshield

...... or 4 very worn tires.

...... or lights out,

...... or no brakes

...... ETC

How about wheels pointing in different directions, and a hood so smashed that you cannot see forward from the drivers seat? Or the airbags blown? Or a drivers door that is so smashed, it cannot be opened or closed?

 

[Tenebrae]

I would at least do the oil change. You don't want the engine dying on you.

Last oil change was at 36k miles. I'm at 38k and some change now.
What's the 40k service again? They quoted me some gawdawful amount at the dealership. I was unemployed at the time and about out of money on my loyalty card so I told 'em I'd wait.
Also, they charged me > $200 for an oil change + new fuel filter.

-T.

 

[DSL HED]

I've been driving my car like I stole it since new, so not much difference for me. I've done all the maintenance on-time and even replaced the battery on election day (because I had to, it would only crank with a jump).

I just hit 56000 miles on my car and plan to keep it until late 2018. I'll do my 60K and 70K services at home. I likely will be dumping it before the next DSG service is due, but if I do hit 80K I won't be doing the DSG maintenance.

About the only thing I don't care about now is the outside. I've drastically cut down on washing it, and probably won't bother to detail the outside in the spring. I'll just wash it but likely won't decontaminate the paint, as there's no need to now. I also don't need to care about taking it through automatic car washes. If I get swirl marks in the paint, it's not my problem! It's kind of liberating in a way.

It sounds like a lot of us still care about our cars, including their physical appearance. That being said, I saw 14 buybacks at the back of the local dealer yesterday and several of them were in rough shape. Disgusting interior surfaces, scratches all over the paint, wheels crusted with ancient brake dust, etc. So our turn-ins will probably be some of the better cars VW gets back!

 

[DanB36]

Ya...I understand that I'd get my $6000-$6500 in restitution even if the car is totaled and not driveable....but that would be a serious loss when compared to the buy-back imo....thus the risk.

Understood, and agreed, but it's still far from "losing out entirely", which is what you said earlier. Keep in mind that insurance payouts are negotiable, and some here have already reported success in getting their insurance to agree to the buyback amount, or something close to it.

As far as being totaled....your car may not have a salvage title and get full buy back compensation from VW...or so I'd thought anyway.

Then you'd have thought incorrectly. There's a very narrow exclusion for branded titles: if the car (1) had a branded title on/before 9/18/15, and (2) was sold by a junkyard or salvage yard after 9/18/15, then it's excluded. Otherwise, as long as it meets the other requirements, it's eligible. And in my particular case, there's no salvage title anyway.

The vehicle must drive in under its own power and have a clean (lien aside) title.

Neither of these is correct. I've addressed the clean title above. As to condition, it must be able to drive under its own power, but there's no stipulation on how it makes it onto the dealer's lot. You could beam it down from the Enterprise, and as long as you can start the engine and drive it around the lot, it would be eligible.

The least risk is to take the buy back asap...and move on.

I'm not sure this is the case, because much of the risk that you avoid on your TDI, you then pick up on the replacement car. Most of the costs that you're contemplating with the TDI would apply to any car.

 

[DSL HED]

Last oil change was at 36k miles. I'm at 38k and some change now.
What's the 40k service again? They quoted me some gawdawful amount at the dealership. I was unemployed at the time and about out of money on my loyalty card so I told 'em I'd wait.
Also, they charged me > $200 for an oil change + new fuel filter.
-T.

40K includes oil/filter change, air filter change, fuel filter change and DSG service (if equipped). The dealers around here charge about $700 for everything including the DSG service.

Oil and filter on Amazon is about $40, and the fuel filter is about $25.

 

[DanB36]

Also, they charged me > $200 for an oil change + new fuel filter.

Learning to swing your own wrenches can save you a lot of money, albeit at the expense of some time and occasional frustration. Oil, DSG fluid, and all the filters for the 40k service should be $200 or less.

 

[Tenebrae]

That is a great idea. Unfortunately I do not know any other VW drivers around here. I'm the poor guy on the block

I just noticed you're in KC as well. It's funny - I was thinking the same thing about myself! It's all luxury SUVs and CUVs around here. Oh, and an Audi A8 or two.
I saw a Jetta over by the diesel pump the other day at Holmes and Red Bridge. Was that you?

-T.

 

[Tenebrae]

Learning to swing your own wrenches can save you a lot of money, albeit at the expense of some time and occasional frustration. Oil, DSG fluid, and all the filters for the 40k service should be $200 or less.

Yeah, I'm handicapped and don't have great mobility. Hubby does his own oil changes on his Evo, though, so I bet he'd be willing to take a look to save us some dough.
The air filter...is that for the cabin? I bet I can google info on it if I know what I'm looking for.
The DSG stuff, I have no idea. I have automatic transmission. I used to help a guy with car stuff back in the 80s in high school, but those were all Chrysler / Dodge / Plymouth vehicles...and I was also a bit more "spry" back then.

Thanks for the info, people. I want to keep the car running and cared for well enough, but I have stopped investing in the expensive detailing work and don't even do a regular wash on it anymore. Also, it's cold out. Not about to get frost bite on my hands for this car, as much as I love it.

-T.

 

[DanB36]

The air filter...is that for the cabin?

The cabin air filter gets changed every 20k miles. It's a pain on my 2013 JSWs, very convenient on the A3. I'm thinking your 2014 is likely to be the same as the 2013s. Fortunately that won't harm the car if it goes too long.

The maintenance schedule calls for doing the engine air filter every 60k miles.

The DSG stuff, I have no idea. I have automatic transmission.

Yeah, that's the DSG. It's a good transmission but does need more regular maintenance than a traditional automatic--though I found the fluid change on that to go more smoothly than the "traditional" automatics I've done.

 

[S2000_guy]

I'm maintaining my car just like I did before the scandal. I did a good wash, all-in-one polish/wax, etc. a couple of weeks ago. I'll keep washing it just like I always did. I even spent the last $300 of my VW Dealer Goodwill card on a sunroof motor.

I plan on driving it until late 2018; I like a clean, shiny car and I miss the sunroof on nice days.

I'd also like to keep all my options open in the unlikely event they come out with a fix that would be acceptable to me.

 

[garment69]

Just hit 100k miles, actually at 101,500. I thought I would have had my offer by now and would have picked up the new car so I skipped the 100K service. Probably going to schedule it now based on the progress of the buy back program.

 

[kitarkus]

I just noticed you're in KC as well. It's funny - I was thinking the same thing about myself! It's all luxury SUVs and CUVs around here. Oh, and an Audi A8 or two.
I saw a Jetta over by the diesel pump the other day at Holmes and Red Bridge. Was that you?
-T.

One Volvo dealer in the entire city...blasphemous Nope...wasn't me...but you might see me filling up at I-435 and State Line Quicktrip on occasion. Usually I have to maneuver through the commotion of landscaping trucks to get into one of the 4 diesel pumps. I'm the red faced guy shaking my fist in the air at the gassers using the few diesel pumps. I see a few TDI'ers there on occasion...but we are few and far between.

 

[kitarkus]

Are you interested in picking up a set of steel wheels with excellent condition snow tires (only used one season) for a good deal? Located near Columbus, OH. If so, PM me and I'll send you the details.

I do appreciate the offer. The time and miles between us negate any benefit which could be presumed by this transaction. I do appreciate the idea.

 

[2015vwgolfdiesel]

I've been driving my car like I stole it since new, so not much difference for me. I've done all the maintenance on-time and even replaced the battery on election day (because I had to, it would only crank with a jump).

I just hit 56000 miles on my car and plan to keep it until late 2018. I'll do my 60K and 70K services at home. I likely will be dumping it before the next DSG service is due, but if I do hit 80K I won't be doing the DSG maintenance.

About the only thing I don't care about now is the outside. I've drastically cut down on washing it, and probably won't bother to detail the outside in the spring. I'll just wash it but likely won't decontaminate the paint, as there's no need to now. I also don't need to care about taking it through automatic car washes. If I get swirl marks in the paint, it's not my problem! It's kind of liberating in a way.

It sounds like a lot of us still care about our cars, including their physical appearance. That being said, I saw 14 buybacks at the back of the local dealer yesterday and several of them were in rough shape. Disgusting interior surfaces, scratches all over the paint, wheels crusted with ancient brake dust, etc. So our turn-ins will probably be some of the better cars VW gets back!

The no bother condition "CONDITION" of the buy back is an uneven approach to the owners of non-road killed junkollas.

.... but over all did well ~~ but mainly because I bought it at a less than MSRP price.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

I do appreciate the offer. The time and miles between us negate any benefit which could be presumed by this transaction. I do appreciate the idea.

No problem. Someone else sent me a PM expressing interest.

 

[DSL HED]

The no bother condition "CONDITION" of the buy back is an uneven approach to the owners of non-road killed junkollas.

.... but over all did well ~~ but mainly because I bought it at a less than MSRP price.

I'll do okay too, overall. I'll be able to drive it just over 6 years and still get about $22000 back out of the $29474 OTD price I paid in 2012.

 

[26point2]

I haven't washed the car since the buyback was announced. I'm not going to waste good detailing products on a car that will be worth exactly the same clean, dirty, scratched, water spotted, rock chipped, brake dusted or on fire (as long as it drives into the dealer). And I do plan on stripping the car of badges, floor mats, and grocery hooks. When I sell back the car I'm going to do my best to run it right to the dealer on the last drop of diesel...let them prime it.

 

[Redgrom]

I used mine to test my rock chip repair and scratch removal skills, I need further practice before I try and touch up a few spots on the wife's BMW. I'm also overdue for a oil change and dsg filter change but I can't see spending the money on something that's bound for the crusher. Although I was pretty happy with my first time wetsanding a car without concequence. Hopefully I get more time to try again before I turn it in. I'm not trying to make it worse or intentionally damaging it but don't think it actualy matters if I mess up either.

 

[dccase]

I used mine to test my rock chip repair and scratch removal skills...

Same here. My '09 was used to practice machine compounding and polishing. Tried a few waxes and detailing techniques. Cleaned out the interior.

Now it looks fantastic. I'm in no rush to turn it in.
But I probably won't change the oil again.

 

[butterme]

My car is going back in excellent condition.

Since the scandal broke, I've changed my oil like I should. I did stop adding a diesel additive I have used since day one whenever I fill up.

 

[2015vwgolfdiesel]

I haven't washed the car since the buyback was announced. I'm not going to waste good detailing products on a car that will be worth exactly the same clean, dirty, scratched, water spotted, rock chipped, brake dusted or on fire (as long as it drives into the dealer). And I do plan on stripping the car of badges, floor mats, and grocery hooks. When I sell back the car I'm going to do my best to run it right to the dealer on the last drop of diesel...let them prime it.

...... so,

...... how do you pry the front badge off?

..... and they will get it with 'bout one gallon of fuel

..... but CLEAN

 

[dchristi]

My check engine light has been on for about 6 months. (Not flashing.)

I took it in, used part of the dealer card to get a diagnosis, and decided it was silly to replace an intake manifold at this point.

It's not due for an oil change yet, and I sort of forgot to rotate the tires. But I don't put that many miles on it.

 

[hex_915]

I've got 4 other cars to maintain. The Jetta hasn't seen a vacuum since July after I took the air ride out. Normally I never went a week without washing/vacuuming the car.

 

[thorpatterson_ritz]

I parked mine as I could afford two payments and went with a ford hybrid. Not as peppy but not bad. Mileage is ok but miss the TDI mileage to be honest but boy VW has always demanded outrageous service prices. I finally started doing it myself for 1/3rd of the price. But I can get a Ford oil change for $31.95 at the dealer so its not worth crawling under the car to me. When VW charges $125 plus then it was. I will drive the tdi periodically to keep battery charged but no repairs, no oil changes, nothing to help vw survive at this point.

 

[NAZ TDI]

I am NOT thrashing my car, I am maintaining it, and I am keeping it! It's a great car, I don't care what some whacked out government agency claims.