Has anyone returned a stripped TDI yet?

[GyroRon]

In addition to stripping the car, I suggest grabbing a few dozen coffee K cups from the customer lounge, and a visit to the rest room to grab the toilet paper roll.

Nothing in the settlement that says you cannot do that either.

Lol, when I took mine in on thursday for buyback, I went to the lounge and made myself a bagel and two hot chocolates.... Then shoved two more bagels in my pocket to take home!

 

[rmacia]

It says "including certain options". I really fail to understand... well I fail to understand why you'd sell it back in the first place, but aside from that, I fail to understand why being paid (in most cases) MORE than the car's normal value BEFORE any news broke of this cheating is in some way "bad" for the vehicle owner in such a way as you'd want to further line your pockets by stripping the car. Or is it just a vindictive thing, and you want to do your part to kick a giant while it is down?
I think to the owners, Volkswagen is being MORE than fair in this deal. A lot of people are coming away with potentially having driven a nice new fuel efficient car for several years for free when it is all said and done.

Agreed. We had the best of both worlds. .... economy and performance.
The way we enjoyed that was against the law.
VW was caught, and being the way they are ... they admitted guilt.
30,000 people lost their jobs, because of this fiasco.
About stripping before turning in?

I don't think being a petty thief is ever justified.

Owners like myself walked with enough to buy a new car, with adding a couple of K.
More than fair.
I thought VW would simply send the cars to somewhere with less stringent regulations.
Stripping would affect that.

 

[k1xv]

When I get to within 100 yards of the dealer driveway, I am stopping and removing two wheel bolts from each wheel. Never can tell what 8 used wheel bolts will bring on eBay.

 

[visortgw]

So as a lessee, I am held to much more stringent standards as to the condition of the vehicle. That doesn't mean that I can't deliver the car sporting all six (6) anti-VW magnets from http://VWsham.com! Just need to move them from fridge to car...

 

[TDILeo]

No, I will be returning my TDI intact, less both sets of floor mats in the event I purchase another Golf. I see no reason to molest the car. I don't know what the ultimate disposition of the TDI will be, but it is certainly a very worthy parts vehicle.

 

[2015vwgolfdiesel]

When I get to within 100 yards of the dealer driveway, I am stopping and removing two wheel bolts from each wheel. Never can tell what 8 used wheel bolts will bring on eBay.

your pitiful attempt at sarcasm is 8 bolts short of a successful sabotage.

 

[scooperhsd]

My wife came across a purse someone left in a shopping cart in the wal-mart parking lot. She brought it to the customer service without looking inside.

I suspect some of the people posting in this thread would have thought "score!" leaving the poor woman desperate and wondering where she lost her purse. Or they would have rifled thru it taking the cash, etc then turned it in.

who was it that said that a true test of a mans character is what he does when no one is looking.

I don't know that wise person, but he sure nailed that on the head.

I don't remember about any purses, but I have found and my wife has done the same with her cell phone -

 

[bring]

I'm returning the extras like monster mats with the car just because I don't want to be bothered with selling them. I don't begrudge anyone for keeping the extras however. Stop making it look like people who do so are stealing because they're not.

 

[scooperhsd]

People like myself are selling, not because we are desperate for the money, but because we own a car that has a negative reputation in the resale market for many years to come based on the scandal.

It's bad enough to own a depreciating asset, tie that to a psychological profile of a bad investment and you would basically have to give the car away in the future if you ever wanted to sell. Dealers will probably give you pennies on the dollar even if you kept it with a fix because they know it would have very limited resale value in terms of audience, "Is this one of those diesel VWs that was in the scandal years ago?" -- "Yes sir, but it's all fixed, with a warranty!"

Before VW's restitution offer, I recall quite a few people trying to sell their cars private market as $4-$5k below previous scandal value and it was even difficult then.

Perhaps - but some of us NEVER sell a car, either. To me, Dieselgate is mostly a non-event. If I ever do sell it - it's going to be 15+ years old and used up in the resale market anyway - fix or not, scandel or not.

 

[nutfinn]

Open can of tuna or anjovis under the seat Maybe a raw fish

 

[flee]

The one time I removed an airbag (to fix a flaky turn signal on an A4), I stood outside of the vehicle (so I was looking at the back of the steering wheel through the windshield), with my hands in through the drivers side window to actually disconnect the thing. All of this so I didn't have to worry about the thing blowing up in my face.
Those things seriously give me the willies.

As a pyrotechnician I have removed and then set off airbags for film/TV shows.
Use the reasonable caution you would with any explosive device, mainly avoiding
static conditions and smoking.
But they are really quite stable and safe to handle compared to what we put into
cars for a given effect!

 

[vintovka]

THE only thing I would keep is the mileage

 

[NAZ TDI]

coming to the concept of entitlement---------------------

did you get what you paid for ?

a clean diesel ?

neither did I

That's strange! I got an '11 Jetta with a Clean Diesel! It does not smoke and does not stink (except it goes like stink and gets well over 40 MPG). It's a great car, and a clean one, is spite of what ignorant pencil pushers and old men in black robes say!
Pass enough silly laws and everybody becomes a criminal.

 

[NAZ TDI]

Page 13, item 21 of the Diesel Emissions Settlements booklet clearly states "your vehicle value will be determined on the "clean trade in" value for that vehicle including certain options as published in the September 2015 edition of the National Automotive Dealerss Association (NADA) Used Car Guide"
I don't know how any of that could be misinterpreted to make anyone feel that stripping a car before selling it is OK.

My car was in "clean", actually extra clean, condition in September of 2015. It doesn't seem to specify that it has to stay in that condition, just that it can start, run and move under its own power. Period!

The more parts removed, the easier and quicker it is to crush it-seems like a win-win situation!

 

[NAZ TDI]

what I say-think is squat.


EPA CARB and other gov entities differ with your opinion of clean diesel

And therein lies the source of the problem! EPA, CARB, etc. were caught 'sleeping at the switch" and as a result are all huffy-puffy with egg on their face, which is why they're making VW pay.
Technically speaking, VW did break the law, but what they did was brilliant and air quality in the real world has not suffered because of it. And no TDI's crashed because of it, unlike GM's ignition switch failures!

 

[NAZ TDI]

For those removing parts, be mindful of having a vehicle that is legal to drive on public roads. VW might not care if the headlights are missing, law enforcement will. For most, a chance encounter with police while driving to the buy back is slim, but the consequences can be major.

Just go to a rental place and rent a tow dolly or trailer for a couple hours, pull in dealer lot, fire it up and drive to the front door-"here ya' go!"

 

[PacCoastFwy923]

Technically speaking, VW did break the law, but what they did was brilliant and air quality in the real world has not suffered because of it.

We don't smoke at in the office, except this one co-worker, well technically he does but it's when nobody's around. My boss has checked him a few times to see if he has cigs, but my co-worker hides them up his bung hole -- he's brilliant, did I mention? -- and in all fairness, air quality in the office hasn't suffered because of him.

BTW, to stay on topic, what if we strip out the ash tray and cigarette lighter? What if the headliner is covered in yellow nicotine so we remove it? Will they accept it at buyback?

 

[NAZ TDI]

People like myself are selling, not because we are desperate for the money, but because we own a car that has a negative reputation in the resale market for many years to come based on the scandal.
It's bad enough to own a depreciating asset, tie that to a psychological profile of a bad investment and you would basically have to give the car away in the future if you ever wanted to sell. Dealers will probably give you pennies on the dollar even if you kept it with a fix because they know it would have very limited resale value in terms of audience, "Is this one of those diesel VWs that was in the scandal years ago?" -- "Yes sir, but it's all fixed, with a warranty!"
Before VW's restitution offer, I recall quite a few people trying to sell their cars private market as $4-$5k below previous scandal value and it was even difficult then.

A "depreciating asset"?? No car is an asset, it is an expense. They all depreciate, starting the second you sign the papers and drive away. Solution? Just keep it and drive it! Isn't that why you bought it in the first place? Nothing has changed in the way it runs; it's the same as before this puffed-up 'scandal' broke.

 

[NAZ TDI]

In addition to stripping the car, I suggest grabbing a few dozen coffee K cups from the customer lounge, and a visit to the rest room to grab the toilet paper roll.

Nothing in the settlement that says you cannot do that either.

Not a good analogy. Do you own the customer lounge where the coffee cups are? No. Do you own the dealership restroom? No! Do you own your TDI before the buyback is complete? Yes! How can you steal from yourself?? You bought and paid for and own every piece and part of your car, right? All VW requires is that the VIN matches their records and that the car start and move under its own power.

 

[k1xv]

You have license to be there. And when you sell the car, you are obligated to deliver a car. The whole car.

 

[TDIsoup]

You have license to be there. And when you sell the car, you are obligated to deliver a car. The whole car.

Doesn't mean you can't add to it!

 

[Yukon4Runner]

What did @k1xv get to become a shill for VW? Couple of floormats?

You have license to be there. And when you sell the car, you are obligated to deliver a car. The whole car.

 

[k1xv]

If having some sense of ethical behavior makes me a shill, so be it.

You folks have confused "condition" with "content". "Condition is not a factor" means if something is worn or broken, it won't matter. That does not mean that you can intentionally return a car with less than its full content.

Obviously, if a mirror has broken off and was lost, that is one thing. But if you intentionally break it off, that is quite another.

So, when they say condition is not a factor, it means things can be worn or broken. But it does not mean intentionally removed and not returned.

And maybe my point of view on these things is affected by the fact that I used to be the ethics officer for an organization of 50 people. Trying to keep a bunch of government employees from becoming crooks.

 

[meerschm]

Tthere are differences between what is legal, and what an individual can get away with.

Law and enforcement (remedy) are different subjects.

One can compare this subject with emissions modifications (violations of the clean air act).

The legal concepts clearly support the notion of fair exchange, and even if not spelled out, there is enough sense in the laws and courts, that if VW wanted to, they could seek remedy (money to pay for damages) from previous owners who have delivered part of a car.

Will they? Probably not. But they could.

Some local places have laws against fraud that would allow prior owners who deliver part of a car with the intent to defraud to be prosecuted by public officials. Will they? Probably not. But they could.

 

[CT_Gman]

If having some sense of ethical behavior makes me a shill, so be it.

You folks have confused "condition" with "content". "Condition is not a factor" means if something is worn or broken, it won't matter. That does not mean that you can intentionally return a car with less than its full content.

Obviously, if a mirror has broken off and was lost, that is one thing. But if you intentionally break it off, that is quite another.

So, when they say condition is not a factor, it means things can be worn or broken. But it does not mean intentionally removed and not returned.

Agreed. This is also what was stated to me at my turn-in by both of the buyback specialists. (I got two since I was the only appointment)

VW is buying back the car that was purchased from them, not part of the car.

 

[maybe368]

Tic, tic, tic...That's the sound of the clock running out on this thread. It is tiring to hear the same arguments over and over, with no change of opinion. Maybe we all should get out and do some exercise, oh yeah, that is what I always do. Remember that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, while expecting a different result...Mark

 

[2015vwgolfdiesel]

Agreed. This is also what was stated to me at my turn-in by both of the buyback specialists. (I got two since I was the only appointment)

VW is buying back the car that was purchased from them, not part of the car.

vw is buying back all cars that will get there under its' own power.

condition(s) are not part of any qualification. even cars with stinky "stuff" in the car

 

[tonymtdew]

The worst thing of my car is that just before I parked it in mid October, my golden retriever projectile vomited in the back seat, all over the back of the driver seat and the carpet. I was rushing to a wedding and didn't have time to clean it up fresh. I don't care about it at this point!

Maybe I'll take the TDI badge, resell the unused carpeted floor mats, and keep the Velcro blocks and first aid kit.

 

[2015vwgolfdiesel]

You have license to be there. And when you sell the car, you are obligated to deliver a car. The whole car.

not too sure about the need to have DL ~~ ID YES -- of the 500,000 some of us may have lost our DL -- for one reason or another i. e. like eye sight

whole as in all the tread on the tires?

whole as in all the rubber on the wiper blades?

whole as in all the rotor metal?

whole as in full oil in crankcase?

whole as in the original wheels? --- betting your snow tires with steel wheels will pass

--------------------------------

Good to go if it will get there under its' own power

 

[tanner]

So you're a thief because you strip a part or two after the court case.

What if I bought mine for a tdi track car and had already stripped all seats, audio, lights, everything to make it as light and also legal for the track.

The car qualifies for the buyback, am I a thief now because I did it before or after?

It's still your car till the money is given to you, do as you please with it.

Hell my driveway is a quarter mile long with a big field beside it, it's not uncommon for me to blow off the road doing 30 through the ditch to my house doing 70 mph through a field. Given I did this prior to scandal, but now i'd be totally unethical for doing it.