Return car with engine dead?

[bigdogdan2]

I was planning on returning my 09 Jetta for buyback later down the road, but my luck ran out and the engine died, got check engine light on. Its at a mechanic but it doesn't look good so far since it doesn't look like its any of the basic things.

So I was wondering if anyone was able to turn turn in a TDI for buyback by towing it to the place? I don't even mind if they took some value out of the price they were going to buy it back at.

Or do I have to fix it no matter what and then drive it there?

Thanks,
Dan

 

[misternoggin]

Everything I have seen indicates that it must get to the dealership under its own power.

 

[TDIforDays]

it has to start... even if it sounds like a bag of marbles

 

[DanB36]

Everything I have seen indicates that it must get to the dealership under its own power.

Then everything you've seen is wrong; there's no stipulation as to how the car gets to the dealer. However, it must be able to drive under its own power, which necessarily means the engine has to run.

 

[misternoggin]

Then everything you've seen is wrong; there's no stipulation as to how the car gets to the dealer. However, it must be able to drive under its own power, which necessarily means the engine has to run.

You're being a bit pedantic there.

 

[cavymeister]

You're being a bit pedantic there.

Not really. Driving 100 miles to dealer is different than towing it to 2 blocks down the street.

 

[LRTDI]

Not really. Driving 100 miles to dealer is different than towing it to 2 blocks down the street.

Makes sense. Even if you have to use the starter to get it there. Or drop it off after hours....when they are closed.

 

[Freeze Plug]

can't this poster still get the reduced in-op payment?

 

[TDIforDays]

can't this poster still get the reduced in-op payment?

no such thing exists.


Also, condition of the car depends on the buyback person. I had a car that took 3 tries to start and barely moved, the buyback person just laughed at poor condition and asked me to park it so they dont have to move it later.

My relative in CA did buyback on a 2014 with 20K miles in brand new condition - his person test drove the car around the dealership lot and checked every single function of the car!

 

[FVWVWF]

Also, condition of the car depends on the buyback person. I had a car that took 3 tries to start and barely moved, the buyback person just laughed at poor condition and asked me to park it so they dont have to move it later.
My relative in CA did buyback on a 2014 with 20K miles in brand new condition - his person test drove the car around the dealership lot and checked every single function of the car!

Very true.
My friend returned a car to the same dealership as me 2-3 weeks earlier.

His process:
- walk out with the rep, start the car, put it in reverse and move it 10 feet. Put it in drive and park it back in the same spot. Wanted to see it drive.

My process:
- walk out with the rep, turn the ignition once to read mileage, thats it. Didnt care if car started or even ran.

 

[DanB36]

...and my process: Have the wrecked car towed to the dealer about 5 hours before I arrived. They may or may not have ever started the engine (it did run, and could drive short distances under its own power, but that wasn't done while I was there).

 

[Freeze Plug]

no such thing exists.

WRONG

"If you currently own an Eligible Vehicle and the vehicle is inoperable, your eligibility depends on when the car became inoperable. If your vehicle was not operable on September 16, 2016, then you are not eligible to receive benefits under the Settlements. If your vehicle was operable on September 16, 2016 and has since become inoperable, you may be eligible to receive the Eligible Owner Restitution Payment but are not eligible for the full Buyback amount or an Approved Emissions Modification. Proof of operability on certain dates will be required. If you restore your car to operability—at your expense—you may be eligible to receive the full Buyback amount or an Approved Emissions Modification, whichever you select."

 

[jekl843]

As people have said, it really is dependent on buyback rep. Mine jumped in the car, turned ignition on to get mileage and took a few pictures. Never turned it on.

 

[bizzle]

Chances are if they see it come in on a tow bed they're going to check to see how badly it runs (or doesn't). Also, keep in mind that some of us turned our cars in during the initial weeks/months of the buyback and things were a bit looser back then so experiences are going to vary widely and not likely for the benefit of the customer by this point.

 

[fookin]

WRONG

"If you currently own an Eligible Vehicle and the vehicle is inoperable, your eligibility depends on when the car became inoperable. If your vehicle was not operable on September 16, 2016, then you are not eligible to receive benefits under the Settlements. If your vehicle was operable on September 16, 2016 and has since become inoperable, you may be eligible to receive the Eligible Owner Restitution Payment but are not eligible for the full Buyback amount or an Approved Emissions Modification. Proof of operability on certain dates will be required. If you restore your car to operability—at your expense—you may be eligible to receive the full Buyback amount or an Approved Emissions Modification, whichever you select."

No that is not wrong. There is no such language in the settlement or even the FTC agreement to indicate different buyback amounts. "Buyback" = "full buyback". Just because the word "full" is used does not mean there is anything lesser than full.

 

[DanB36]

There is no such language in the settlement or even the FTC agreement to indicate different buyback amounts.

He didn't say anything about different buyback amounts, he mentioned the "reduced in-op payment." That does exist, according to exhibit 1 to the CAS:

An Eligible Owner whose Eligible Vehicle is Operable as of the Opt-Out Deadline but which ceases to be Operable before the vehicle can be surrendered in a Buyback or receive an Approved Emissions Modification, shall receive Owner Restitution only, and not the Vehicle Value.

Sure, he could have cited his source, but did you really think he'd simply invented his quote?

 

[Freeze Plug]

What are we arguing about exactly here? I said nothing about different buyback amounts. I stated in-op payment which is directly from the FTC consent order:

“Eligible Owner Non-Operable Restitution” means the monetary compensation that Defendant will pay to Eligible Owners under the Settlement Program whose vehicle is Operable as of the earlier of the date set by the Court for consumers to opt out of the Class Action or the Effective Date, but which ceases to be Operable before the vehicle can be surrendered for a Buyback or receive an Approved Emissions Modification, specified in the second column of Attachment 1A.

 

[Freeze Plug]

well looks like Dan beat me to my own defense

 

[Freeze Plug]

can anyone confirm what the eligible owner restitution portion is in a case such as this?

 

[duratitus]

20% of the 2015 NADA clean trade-in value unless there is an eligible seller, then you would only get 10%

 

[767wrench]

It depends on the rep it sounds like. I asked mine if he denied anyone and he said yes he had because the engines were "almost gone". I take that as barely running and or making audible bad sounds.

 

[Rico567]

It depends on the rep it sounds like. I asked mine if he denied anyone and he said yes he had because the engines were "almost gone". I take that as barely running and or making audible bad sounds.

A good argument for making a video of the process. The settlement says nothing about "barely" running or "bad sounds." It just has to run and be able to move under its own power. If I were rejected I'd be right on the plaintiff counsel with my video of the whole thing.