Is the buyback rush just an urban thing?

gearheadgrrrl

Veteran Member
Joined
Dec 15, 2002
Location
Buffalo Ridge (southwest Minnesota)
TDI
'15 Golf DSG, '13 JSW DSG surrendered to VW, '03 Golf 2 door manual
The Buyback Specialist at our local small town dealer is getting bored, nobody wants to give up their TDI. Reading the threads, seems like most of the buybacks are in urban centers, especially on the coast. Could this be the urban predilection for the new and throwing out the not even old yet? Rural folks see no reason to scrap anything, heck even after a vehicle is utterly, totally, and completely worn our beyond repair we keep it out back for a few decades just in case we need some parts off it. Anybody outside the big cities and 'burbs turning in their TDI?
 

DanB36

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2003
Location
Savannah, GA
TDI
2014 Q5 Prestige TDI, Monsoon Gray
There isn't much of a buyback rush because VW isn't getting the offers out, or the returned offers approved, in a timely manner.
 

chadbag

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2013
Location
Utah
TDI
2x 2013 JSW (1 manual BOUGHT BACK 12/20/16, 1 DSG BOUGHT BACK 1/14/17), Audi A3 e-tron gas-plugin-hybrid, gas Volvo V60
The Buyback Specialist at our local small town dealer is getting bored, nobody wants to give up their TDI. Reading the threads, seems like most of the buybacks are in urban centers, especially on the coast. Could this be the urban predilection for the new and throwing out the not even old yet? Rural folks see no reason to scrap anything, heck even after a vehicle is utterly, totally, and completely worn our beyond repair we keep it out back for a few decades just in case we need some parts off it. Anybody outside the big cities and 'burbs turning in their TDI?

I think it is a matter of more TDIs were sold in the urban areas.

I live near Salt Lake City. While "urban", Utah is a rural state, and not on the coasts. Seems to be a bunch of buy backs scheduled already at the dealers here...
 

Mr. Furious

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 19, 2012
Location
North Carolina
TDI
None
I'm kind of hoping that's the case. My preferred dealer is in a city (not a huge one, just under 250K people), but there are several dealers as you go farther west that are in smaller towns, as well as ones to the east in larger cities. I'm hoping that translates into some measure of flexibility, if I ever get an offer letter.
 

jsplinter

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 24, 2016
Location
copperas cove
TDI
Jetta
If they would send my offer to me I would turn it in today and give these buyback specialists something to do. Unfortunately we are at the mercy of them not giving us the items to complete the turn in timely.
 

autdi

Veteran Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2004
Location
Alabama
TDI
2000 NB, 2003 NB, 2006 Touareg, 2015 Jetta, 2013 Beetle, 2013 Touareg
I think it is a matter of more TDIs were sold in the urban areas.

I live near Salt Lake City. While "urban", Utah is a rural state, and not on the coasts. Seems to be a bunch of buy backs scheduled already at the dealers here...
For pure volume, yes. Proportionally, rural tends to have a higher diesel tilt to the mix. Could be that when you are 90 miles to the dealer, electric can't even get home from there, gas works, but you burn through it faster, and well, diesels have had a reputation for lasting.

To the original point of the thread, if I can have a car without a payment for going on 13 years now, you bet I'm content with it. I've spent more on it than it's KBB trade in value in the last 2 years, but when that's less than 3 months of a new car payment, you bet I'll spend that. I like a brand new suspension, brakes, bearings, starter, alternator, and tires, but I don't need a shiny new body around it. The car is basically free to drive for me, so I have to fix this or that, compared to 24k+, I'll take a couple $500 hits here and there.
 

atomicfront

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2016
Location
baltimore
TDI
2013 VW Jetta wagon tdi
I don't see too many people in rural areas driving VW's. If this was an F-150 think you would see huge lines of people rushing to take them back to the rural dealer.
 

Eggieztdi

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 29, 2016
Location
Indiana
TDI
Man. 2015 TDIs
I'm kind of hoping that's the case. My preferred dealer is in a city (not a huge one, just under 250K people), but there are several dealers as you go farther west that are in smaller towns, as well as ones to the east in larger cities. I'm hoping that translates into some measure of flexibility, if I ever get an offer letter.
Same here! Evansville, IN has about 200-250k in the surrounding area. I am still waiting on my offer letter (14 Business days now). Hoping the fact that I'm not in a major city with millions makes this move faster, but If I held my breath I would most definitely die.
 

k1xv

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2009
Location
southern Vermont
TDI
09 TDI sedan, sold back 12/16. Present cars 2013 BMW X5 diesel, 2015 Corvette convertible
My buyback is Saturday at 2 pm. I think there was one other appointment slot. I am in rural Vermont.
 

Mr. Furious

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 19, 2012
Location
North Carolina
TDI
None
Same here! Evansville, IN has about 200-250k in the surrounding area. I am still waiting on my offer letter (14 Business days now). Hoping the fact that I'm not in a major city with millions makes this move faster, but If I held my breath I would most definitely die.
Within 100-ish miles of me we have:

  • Southern States VW (Durham, ~250K), 17 mi
  • Flow (Burlington, ~50K), 35 mi
  • Leith (Cary, ~150K), 45 mi
  • Leith (Raleigh, ~430K), 54 mi
  • Flow (Greensboro, ~280K), 75 mi
  • Flow (Winston-Salem, ~235K), 103 mi
  • Valley Auto World (Fayettenam, ~200K), 111 mi

I'm not going to Fayettenam, though, unless I'm forced to due to timing/circumstance.
 

scooperhsd

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 19, 2003
Location
Kansas City KS
TDI
NB, 2000, RED(5 Speed conversion) 2015 Golf SE
Within 100-ish miles of me we have:

  • Southern States VW (Durham, ~250K), 17 mi
  • Flow (Burlington, ~50K), 35 mi
  • Leith (Cary, ~150K), 45 mi
  • Leith (Raleigh, ~430K), 54 mi
  • Flow (Greensboro, ~280K), 75 mi
  • Flow (Winston-Salem, ~235K), 103 mi
  • Valley Auto World (Fayettenam, ~200K), 111 mi

I'm not going to Fayettenam, though, unless I'm forced to due to timing/circumstance.

As far as crime is concerned - I don't think Fayetteville is THAT bad - I'd be more worried going to Durham. I'm not sure which of the Leith dealers I'll be using - right now (doing fix) - I'd goto Cary where they can take me to work while they work on it. If I was doing buyback - probably Raleigh since it is by far the closest to home.

There are also dealers in Greenville and Goldsboro, and I wouldn't be surprised if there is one in Wilmington and/or Jacksonville.
 

LogicBomb

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 15, 2014
Location
SoCal
TDI
2014 Passat
Being in Southern California, I think I'd hit the character limit listing all of the dealerships within a 100~ish miles.
 

ZippyNH

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Joined
Apr 22, 2015
Location
Southern NH
TDI
2015 JETTA TDI SE
Look at the political affiliation of the typical city dwellers vs the suburban or rural area....the last election showed the difference....and I think THIS DIFFERENCE is shown on WHY the TDI was bought...
Rural and suburban drives wanted high mpg, low costs....city folks thought it was "clean" and low co2...
So the city folks are selling faster....they also tend to be more trendy, and more social aware, so are concerned about the stigma of driving a TDI....also being younger, they tend to flip cars faster, so being "stuck" waiting for a chance to SELL has left them feeling artificially trapped.....even if they had no desire to sell..
 

LogicBomb

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 15, 2014
Location
SoCal
TDI
2014 Passat
Look at the political affiliation of the typical city dwellers vs the suburban or rural area....the last election showed the difference....and I think THIS DIFFERENCE is shown on WHY the TDI was bought...
Rural and suburban drives wanted high mpg, low costs....city folks thought it was "clean" and low co2...
So the city folks are selling faster....they also tend to be more trendy, and more social aware, so are concerned about the stigma of driving a TDI....also being younger, they tend to flip cars faster, so being "stuck" waiting for a chance to SELL has left them feeling artificially trapped.....even if they had no desire to sell..

I'm not sure how, or why, political affiliation would have anything to do with it.

There's a myriad of reasons I've seen on this site why people are returning them. Some are being offered more money than they originally paid for the vehicle, and feel like they'd be stupid NOT to accept a deal that has essentially allowed them to own a car for free over the course of a couple of years. Some don't want to deal with an expensive repair, think HPFP, turbo, DPF, or even ad blue components that have been suspect in their reliability for some people.

Personally, I feel as if it's a mixed bag for me, a little bit of everything that makes it a win for me to do a buyback. I got a great 70,000 miles out of my Passat in 29 months. She's been mostly reliable, heater core failed and O2 sensor failed, but other than it's been a great car. I just no longer require the stellar fuel economy because I moved and my commute is now just 19 miles a day round trip.

I originally opted for the fix, assuming there would be a solid indication as to what the fix would entail by now. But it's been complete silence. That, coupled with living in California, which would undoubtedly make a fix compulsory, I'm not entirely comfortable with that being up in the air still. The long term effects, the degradation in performance, reliability are all things that I want to know, and I would expect anyone would prior to electing for the fix. Given that, and the fact that VW is willing to give me a stupid amount of money that I'd never get otherwise, it made the switch to buyback all the more logical.

But, that's just how this urban liberal sees it ;)
 

VeeDubTDI

Wanderluster, Traveler, TDIClub Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 2, 2000
Location
La Conner, WA
TDI
2018 Tesla Model 3: 217,000 miles
Look at the political affiliation of the typical city dwellers vs the suburban or rural area....the last election showed the difference....and I think THIS DIFFERENCE is shown on WHY the TDI was bought...
Rural and suburban drives wanted high mpg, low costs....city folks thought it was "clean" and low co2...
So the city folks are selling faster....they also tend to be more trendy, and more social aware, so are concerned about the stigma of driving a TDI....also being younger, they tend to flip cars faster, so being "stuck" waiting for a chance to SELL has left them feeling artificially trapped.....even if they had no desire to sell..
Political affiliations aside, I think you're right on the money.
 

gearheadgrrrl

Veteran Member
Joined
Dec 15, 2002
Location
Buffalo Ridge (southwest Minnesota)
TDI
'15 Golf DSG, '13 JSW DSG surrendered to VW, '03 Golf 2 door manual
VW diesels sell well in rural areas, we have a lot of folks that commute a hundred miles a day and need every break they can get on fuel cost. We also run vehicles into the ground, I was at an auction where a couple buyers took quite an interest in a Rabbit parts car!
 

autdi

Veteran Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2004
Location
Alabama
TDI
2000 NB, 2003 NB, 2006 Touareg, 2015 Jetta, 2013 Beetle, 2013 Touareg
When I'm in Michigan, the town on a good day has 8500 population, the county barely breaks 50k. Of the VWs, a large percentage have TDI badges on them. As others have said, you buy one in the middle of nowhere because you are in the middle of nowhere, so everything is a semi-long trip, nearest mall is 35 miles one way. Nearest interstate is at least 20 miles, probably closer to 25 away.
 

maybe368

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2014
Location
Phoenix
TDI
Happily none
Look at the political affiliation of the typical city dwellers vs the suburban or rural area....the last election showed the difference....and I think THIS DIFFERENCE is shown on WHY the TDI was bought...
Rural and suburban drives wanted high mpg, low costs....city folks thought it was "clean" and low co2...
So the city folks are selling faster....they also tend to be more trendy, and more social aware, so are concerned about the stigma of driving a TDI....also being younger, they tend to flip cars faster, so being "stuck" waiting for a chance to SELL has left them feeling artificially trapped.....even if they had no desire to sell..
Generalize much :rolleyes:...Mark
 

JGEO

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 27, 2016
Location
Kansas
TDI
2014 Passat TDI
The buyback rep at my local dealer in a KC suburb had one buyback this week and has two scheduled for next week. Slow as you go for sure. Wish I had an offer, seems like plenty of times to schedule a buyback. He also is not an outside ambassador, but works in the finance department at the local dealer. Thought they were suppose to be third party?
 

scooperhsd

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 19, 2003
Location
Kansas City KS
TDI
NB, 2000, RED(5 Speed conversion) 2015 Golf SE
I'm not sure how, or why, political affiliation would have anything to do with it.

There's a myriad of reasons I've seen on this site why people are returning them. Some are being offered more money than they originally paid for the vehicle, and feel like they'd be stupid NOT to accept a deal that has essentially allowed them to own a car for free over the course of a couple of years. Some don't want to deal with an expensive repair, think HPFP, turbo, DPF, or even ad blue components that have been suspect in their reliability for some people.

Personally, I feel as if it's a mixed bag for me, a little bit of everything that makes it a win for me to do a buyback. I got a great 70,000 miles out of my Passat in 29 months. She's been mostly reliable, heater core failed and O2 sensor failed, but other than it's been a great car. I just no longer require the stellar fuel economy because I moved and my commute is now just 19 miles a day round trip.

I originally opted for the fix, assuming there would be a solid indication as to what the fix would entail by now. But it's been complete silence. That, coupled with living in California, which would undoubtedly make a fix compulsory, I'm not entirely comfortable with that being up in the air still. The long term effects, the degradation in performance, reliability are all things that I want to know, and I would expect anyone would prior to electing for the fix. Given that, and the fact that VW is willing to give me a stupid amount of money that I'd never get otherwise, it made the switch to buyback all the more logical.

But, that's just how this urban liberal sees it ;)
The urban Liberal has not actually read the settlement - or he would realize that it doesn't matter if a fix ever comes or not - even in California. He can keep driving his car forever, if he really wanted to....
 

donallen

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 9, 2013
Location
Massachusetts
TDI
2011 Jetta Sportwagen 6M
The urban Liberal has not actually read the settlement - or he would realize that it doesn't matter if a fix ever comes or not - even in California. He can keep driving his car forever, if he really wanted to....
And Urban Liberal might also realize (depending on the UL IQ) that it's dumb to rush into a buyback, because he has that option until mid 2018. In the meantime, he is insured against depreciation (if he doesn't exceed the ~12k/year mileage limit). He also has the option, in mid 2018 of taking the fix, if one materializes. By then, he will likely have a clear idea of the nature of the fix and its effects (I am quite sure that Consumer Reports will evaluate it thoroughly). So it really isn't smart to make a decision now, either from a financial standpoint (because once you replace the car with something else, the something-else starts depreciating, one of the major costs of owning a car), or simply from a good-decision-making standpoint, because information that will be available then is not available now, and it pays to wait.
 

Fourplay

, TDI Parts Ninja Vendor , w/Business number
Joined
Nov 6, 2015
Location
Atlanta, GA
TDI
2014 A8L
it's dumb to rush into a buyback ... So it really isn't smart to make a decision now, either from a financial standpoint, or simply from a good-decision-making standpoint, because information that will be available then is not available now, and it pays to wait.
It only seems dumb to those who don't understand the time value of money.

Cashing out now eliminates the risk of having the car totaled, allows you to invest the money, pay off debt to eliminate future interest, etc.

Rather than looking at it as "you can own the car depreciation free for 2 years", you should look at it as "I'm giving VW an interest free loan for 2 years".


Back on topic, the reason there are no buybacks at the OPs dealership is because VW is glacially slow with approving offer letters and allowing class members to schedule buyback appointments. There are literally hundreds of thousands of people waiting to have their offer letter sent/approved.
 

maybe368

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2014
Location
Phoenix
TDI
Happily none
Back on topic, the reason there are no buybacks at the OPs dealership is because VW is glacially slow with approving offer letters and allowing class members to schedule buyback appointments. There are literally hundreds of thousands of people waiting to have their offer letter sent/approved.
That is probably true, but I think the real explanation is just the sheer numbers. There are more people in my neighborhood than in the entire state of Wyoming. That alone would explain the difference in the numbers...Mark
 

gearheadgrrrl

Veteran Member
Joined
Dec 15, 2002
Location
Buffalo Ridge (southwest Minnesota)
TDI
'15 Golf DSG, '13 JSW DSG surrendered to VW, '03 Golf 2 door manual
At 0% Interest?

It only seems dumb to those who don't understand the time value of money.

Cashing out now eliminates the risk of having the car totaled, allows you to invest the money, pay off debt to eliminate future interest, etc.

Rather than looking at it as "you can own the car depreciation free for 2 years", you should look at it as "I'm giving VW an interest free loan for 2 years".

If you were not replacing your TDI that might be true, though at the less than 1% interest currently being offered, there ain't much "time value of money" to lose. But most of us will turn around and spend the buyback money and more on a replacement car, which will depreciate at way more than 5 cents a mile. The risk of a "totaling" a car will exist with a replacement car, too. So your "economics" only work maybe if you're giving up a car permanently.
 

scooperhsd

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 19, 2003
Location
Kansas City KS
TDI
NB, 2000, RED(5 Speed conversion) 2015 Golf SE
And possible "catastophic failure" of some component exists on every vehicle - so again - the time value arguement fails.

If the car is totaled at this point - you get the value of the car from your insurance company, and the restitution from VW.

It makes FAR more sense to WAIT and see what happens rather than rush into the buyback. If you REALLY need to get out of the car - you can suffer with the lines and VW getting a grip on how to deal with the volume of claims.

If I would decide to take the buyback - I'd wait until summer 2018 to take that option - it's the only way the money works for me - pay as much as I can so I have more payout coming so I can take out a smaller replacement car loan.
 
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