Since the car performed better in the past than it will after the fix (would it?), I'm not so sure they owe us anything for the past. So, a buy-back using current value would be the most I would think fair.
I think I want to see how bad the fix is before worrying too much about buybacks. If it makes the car less desireable, then yeah, now I'm out resale value, etc., but I don't understand how people would expect anything like a full refund. If there's harm to the environment, then let the government give them a penalty -- I don't want a NOx-tax. If they want to retrofit the car with a crummy patch, perhaps then they should give me a buyback option. I would entertain trading in for a GTI. Not sure what else they have that I would like. Beetle? CC? It would cost them a ton, but if they could convert into sales, seems like that might work out somewhat.... although, I could have traded the car in last year for a GTI -- what's the punishment? They need to sweeten the deal somehow to make it a buy-back and not just the same as if I took it to Carmax. Eh? I'm missing something...