Who's keeping, who's selling?

[Colville]

Keeping mine...Good luck replacing it...Kerma tune and life is good...
55mpg and more power...

Reading this really saved my VW from getting bought back and torn apart… Heres my short story…

I bought a 2012 TDI Sportwagen after going to Germany in the military and seeing them, having nothing but cars from the 1950s and 1960s I wanted a rather interesting modern car for my family. I came back to the states and we bought the JSW, hoping one day VW would just name it what it really was which is the Golf. Then the GSW comes out and I said ok, this is perfect, I will buy this car and drive it until the wheels fall off.

Got a 2015 GSW SEL, my modern take on a VW Squareback (pictured above in a previous post) and have absolutely loved it ever since, its different, it performs, and its great gas mileage. I bought this car with no intention of ever getting rid of it, like literally until its no longer drivable, so resale value was something I've never worried about.

Then this whole emissions lawsuit thing comes along and I'm like well, here in North Carolina we don't do emissions testing so I'm not worried about it. Then comes along the "buy back" and it hit me at a time when i've been low on money and the VW $500 payment a month is quite a bit, so I thought of selling my beloved VW back and looking for a cheap modern car since I mostly drive my vintage cars anyway. After searching and searching and tons of research I could find nothing that compared to my VW but everyone kept saying id be dumb if I didn't take the buy back, but none of them own one of these cars nor do they understand how great they are! Although I was starting to think it was my best option

Fast forward to this recent Thanksgiving and my family and I taking the Golf Sportwagen on a 600 mile trip that cost us less than $30 in diesel! The love of driving this wonderful machine also set back in my system I kept peering out the window when the car was in the driveway thinking, I don't want to get rid of this car, I love this car! Its my only modern car and there isn't anything else like it, especially since station wagons are few and far between as it is.

Then comes tonight, I sat in front of my computer researching cars again, looking for more opinions on the buyback vs fix after already signing up on the "portal" VW site thing to do the buy back. Now I have reconsidered…

I have always wanted to do a tune on the GSW but thought, well I'm happy with what it gets now so i'll just leave it alone and maintain the car the best I can. Well with the whole "fix" VW is offering, possibly loosing performance and gas mileage led me to think I should get rid of it… until I decided to call the guys at Kerma, or what I like to call them… TDI Therapists! haha After talking to them and learning I can keep my TDI after the so called fix, have a tune done on it and get better performance and MPG than what I'm getting now I was sold! Yes! I get to keep this wonderful machine and all its uniqueness.

I will use the money VW is giving for the fix to put towards my car payment and then re finance for a lower payment to also fix my needing more money problem at the moment. So this is all working out pretty well, I get to keep the only "modern" car out there that I like, get better performance and better gas mileage than I'm already getting! I mean what car guy doesn't like more horsepower and especially TORQUE! LONG LIVE THE TDI!!! Heck yes.

 

[cane929]

Reading this really saved my VW from getting bought back and torn apart… Heres my short story…
I bought a 2012 TDI Sportwagen after going to Germany in the military and seeing them, having nothing but cars from the 1950s and 1960s I wanted a rather interesting modern car for my family. I came back to the states and we bought the JSW, hoping one day VW would just name it what it really was which is the Golf. Then the GSW comes out and I said ok, this is perfect, I will buy this car and drive it until the wheels fall off.
Got a 2015 GSW SEL, my modern take on a VW Squareback (pictured above in a previous post) and have absolutely loved it ever since, its different, it performs, and its great gas mileage. I bought this car with no intention of ever getting rid of it, like literally until its no longer drivable, so resale value was something I've never worried about.
Then this whole emissions lawsuit thing comes along and I'm like well, here in North Carolina we don't do emissions testing so I'm not worried about it. Then comes along the "buy back" and it hit me at a time when i've been low on money and the VW $500 payment a month is quite a bit, so I thought of selling my beloved VW back and looking for a cheap modern car since I mostly drive my vintage cars anyway. After searching and searching and tons of research I could find nothing that compared to my VW but everyone kept saying id be dumb if I didn't take the buy back, but none of them own one of these cars nor do they understand how great they are! Although I was starting to think it was my best option
Fast forward to this recent Thanksgiving and my family and I taking the Golf Sportwagen on a 600 mile trip that cost us less than $30 in diesel! The love of driving this wonderful machine also set back in my system I kept peering out the window when the car was in the driveway thinking, I don't want to get rid of this car, I love this car! Its my only modern car and there isn't anything else like it, especially since station wagons are few and far between as it is.
Then comes tonight, I sat in front of my computer researching cars again, looking for more opinions on the buyback vs fix after already signing up on the "portal" VW site thing to do the buy back. Now I have reconsidered…
I have always wanted to do a tune on the GSW but thought, well I'm happy with what it gets now so i'll just leave it alone and maintain the car the best I can. Well with the whole "fix" VW is offering, possibly loosing performance and gas mileage led me to think I should get rid of it… until I decided to call the guys at Kerma, or what I like to call them… TDI Therapists! haha After talking to them and learning I can keep my TDI after the so called fix, have a tune done on it and get better performance and MPG than what I'm getting now I was sold! Yes! I get to keep this wonderful machine and all its uniqueness.
I will use the money VW is giving for the fix to put towards my car payment and then re finance for a lower payment to also fix my needing more money problem at the moment. So this is all working out pretty well, I get to keep the only "modern" car out there that I like, get better performance and better gas mileage than I'm already getting! I mean what car guy doesn't like more horsepower and especially TORQUE! LONG LIVE THE TDI!!! Heck yes.

Well said and with VW announcing no more diesels in the US we will own a classic

 

[Colville]

Well said and with VW announcing no more diesels in the US we will own a classic

Ah yes… and I do love classics Thanks!

 

[darwin1234]

Ah yes… and I do love classics Thanks!

 

[darwin1234]

Reading this really saved my VW from getting bought back and torn apart… Heres my short story…

I bought a 2012 TDI Sportwagen after going to Germany in the military and seeing them, having nothing but cars from the 1950s and 1960s I wanted a rather interesting modern car for my family. I came back to the states and we bought the JSW, hoping one day VW would just name it what it really was which is the Golf. Then the GSW comes out and I said ok, this is perfect, I will buy this car and drive it until the wheels fall off.

Got a 2015 GSW SEL, my modern take on a VW Squareback (pictured above in a previous post) and have absolutely loved it ever since, its different, it performs, and its great gas mileage. I bought this car with no intention of ever getting rid of it, like literally until its no longer drivable, so resale value was something I've never worried about.

Then this whole emissions lawsuit thing comes along and I'm like well, here in North Carolina we don't do emissions testing so I'm not worried about it. Then comes along the "buy back" and it hit me at a time when i've been low on money and the VW $500 payment a month is quite a bit, so I thought of selling my beloved VW back and looking for a cheap modern car since I mostly drive my vintage cars anyway. After searching and searching and tons of research I could find nothing that compared to my VW but everyone kept saying id be dumb if I didn't take the buy back, but none of them own one of these cars nor do they understand how great they are! Although I was starting to think it was my best option

Fast forward to this recent Thanksgiving and my family and I taking the Golf Sportwagen on a 600 mile trip that cost us less than $30 in diesel! The love of driving this wonderful machine also set back in my system I kept peering out the window when the car was in the driveway thinking, I don't want to get rid of this car, I love this car! Its my only modern car and there isn't anything else like it, especially since station wagons are few and far between as it is.

Then comes tonight, I sat in front of my computer researching cars again, looking for more opinions on the buyback vs fix after already signing up on the "portal" VW site thing to do the buy back. Now I have reconsidered…

I have always wanted to do a tune on the GSW but thought, well I'm happy with what it gets now so i'll just leave it alone and maintain the car the best I can. Well with the whole "fix" VW is offering, possibly loosing performance and gas mileage led me to think I should get rid of it… until I decided to call the guys at Kerma, or what I like to call them… TDI Therapists! haha After talking to them and learning I can keep my TDI after the so called fix, have a tune done on it and get better performance and MPG than what I'm getting now I was sold! Yes! I get to keep this wonderful machine and all its uniqueness.

I will use the money VW is giving for the fix to put towards my car payment and then re finance for a lower payment to also fix my needing more money problem at the moment. So this is all working out pretty well, I get to keep the only "modern" car out there that I like, get better performance and better gas mileage than I'm already getting! I mean what car guy doesn't like more horsepower and especially TORQUE! LONG LIVE THE TDI!!! Heck yes.

You will really like the Tune...Have fun!

 

[Judson]

I gotta tell you folks, the 2015 Golf TDI is a sharp car. It's the only car out there, as a commuter, that I'd be interested in selling my 01 Jetta MKIV for.

And since I live in Wyoming, I'm pretty tempted.

It's going to be very interesting to see what they go for once they start hitting the market. It would be nice if a 4-door manual, if it exists, with lots of bells and whistles, could be had for under $13k.

The only other car that's tempting is the same Golf with the 1.8T motor. That's a great motor, but unfortunately, the Golfs seem to be non-existent on the market (front range Colorado).

 

[badufay]

My wife and I caved and are selling back our 15 Jetta TDI and 15 Golf TDI. She just doesn't drive her car enough to warrant a diesel, in fact it struggles to reach normal temp with as little as she drives. For me and my golf it was the lack of everything. No heated seats, the vent selector was a complete craps shoot depending on what vent if any air would blow out of (replaced the entire blower assembly once under warranty), no CarPlay, no backup cam, and the dark blue just didn't play well out here in Washington state (car was filthy the second it left the car wash). We just ordered a 17 Jetta SE TSI manual transmission for her and a 17 Golf Wolfsburg manual transmission for me! Of course it will be another 2-4 months because no one knows how to drive a manual transmission anymore.

 

[solBLACK]

As of last night my car now has two more warnings. AdBlue engineer will shutdown in 550 miles and Diesel Particulate Filter needs replacing. Been stuck on step 17 for 3 weeks. Just need this thing gone!

 

[bluebus]

I gotta tell you folks, the 2015 Golf TDI is a sharp car. It's the only car out there, as a commuter, that I'd be interested in selling my 01 Jetta MKIV for.

And since I live in Wyoming, I'm pretty tempted.

It's going to be very interesting to see what they go for once they start hitting the market. It would be nice if a 4-door manual, if it exists, with lots of bells and whistles, could be had for under $13k.

The only other car that's tempting is the same Golf with the 1.8T motor. That's a great motor, but unfortunately, the Golfs seem to be non-existent on the market (front range Colorado).

I think the 2015 Golf TDI only came in a manual in the lowest trim level. I could be wrong, but that's how I remember it because I ended up with the DSG. I like the DSG though, still fun, or possible to just leave it in drive and be lazy.

 

[Asam9]

I think the 2015 Golf TDI only came in a manual in the lowest trim level. I could be wrong, but that's how I remember it because I ended up with the DSG. I like the DSG though, still fun, or possible to just leave it in drive and be lazy.

I have a 2015 golf tdi SE with a manual transmission. I have the lighting package, sun roof, fender sound system, and back up camera. I have yet to find another 2015 golf tdi manual in SE model though.

 

[tdispeed]

2015 Golf TDI SEL here with a 6 speed manual.

 

[TDI BR]

I have a 2015 golf tdi SE with a manual transmission. I have the lighting package, sun roof, fender sound system, and back up camera. I have yet to find another 2015 golf tdi manual in SE model though.

Mine is a 2015 golf se manual, stage 2 with deletes. Im going for the buyback very shortly. Going to use the buyback money to get a 2017 subaru WRX.

 

[BryanK]

VW Canada finally apparently came through with an offer comparable with the US. Well, just in the news reports as of now, still no "official" word from VW.
So I have until March 2017 to decide. Looking at the Toyota Corolla IM, comes in manual, nice looking hatch:

http://www.getyourtoyota.ca/ontario/2017/corolla-im

 

[Sunnyb]

I have a 2015 golf tdi SE with a manual transmission. I have the lighting package, sun roof, fender sound system, and back up camera. I have yet to find another 2015 golf tdi manual in SE model though.

All models offered a manual transmission. They were harder to find on the SE or SEL model line.

 

[Stew 2015]

I ordered a 2015 Golf TDI SE, manual with the lighting package. Took delivery in December of 2014. It has 40k miles on it now. Love the car. Still haven't decided what my next move is.

 

[bluebus]

All models offered a manual transmission. They were harder to find on the SE or SEL model line.

I stand corrected. Maybe it's just that there weren't any available in the area at the time.

 

[marcusku]

Maybe you were thinking to the 1.8T gassers. Those are only available with a 5-speed manual in the S model.

 

[bluebus]

Maybe you were thinking to the 1.8T gassers. Those are only available with a 5-speed manual in the S model.

It's possible. I looked at every hatchback that existed at the time. I know I drove a gasser as well.

 

[solBLACK]

In my area you had to order a manual as they didn't carry any in SE or SEL. Dealer was probably not making that clear when you were looking. Unfortunately I couldn't wait the 3 months they said it would take so I got an automatic.

 

[WhatFloor]

Honestly what do you replace it with?
Diesel is dead
Gas is min $700 more fuel/month (a fun car)
Electric cars freeze, need garage/home base

My biggest concern with keeping 15 Manual TDI S is future cost of maintenance.
Could it not skyrocket?

 

[GWbiker]

I downloaded and printed my paper work from VW claims for the buyback plan. Gonna' have it notarized this week.

Now, what to buy to replace my '15 VW TDI?

I'm thinking of a 10 year old Buick for basic transportation. The motorcycle for out of town fun and games.

With today's traffic flow with brain dead motorists, it's no longer fun mixing in with the daily commute.

 

[narongc73]

Honestly what do you replace it with?
Diesel is dead
Gas is min $700 more fuel/month (a fun car)
Electric cars freeze, need garage/home base

My biggest concern with keeping 15 Manual TDI S is future cost of maintenance.
Could it not skyrocket?

How is diesel dead? Plenty out there to be had. they will still make parts for them. Dunno what you all are on about.

 

[narongc73]

After searching for a replacement car when the "By back" takes place, I'm leaning toward the "fix + cash" plan for my '15 Golf TDI.

Nothing I found came close to the MPG I get at highway speed with the TDI.

My dealer told me those who choose the "fix" will receive 2/3 cash up front and remainder cash after the car is "fixed".

You could just sell and buy an older tdi. I take it you and the rest like to drive newer cars and don't diy. i can get a tdi for 3k and drive it another 200k miles. i guess some of us are more frugal than others. Some like car payments I suppose. For the amount to buy a new TDI i can get 10 tdi's

 

[Stealth TDI]

Hello,

My TDIs are all Jettas. I'm turning in mine on January 26th. I already have its replacement, a 2017 GTI Sport. So I guess I've joined the ranks of the Mk7 Golf crowd, just with a different engine. I will slowly move my mods and electronics stuff from my Mk6 to my GTI. Check out my new webpage at http://StealthGTI.com/ if you're interested in seeing more.

My wife's Mk6 is a really low miles car. So we can hold it for another 18 months without it depreciating. It'll be nice to turn-in a four year old car and get $26k for it. HOWEVER, she doesn't currently want to give up her TDI. Time will tell if she still feels the same. It's possible that she may jump on a chance to have a 2018 Jetta SE with 1.4T without car payments.

I have been pleasantly surprised by the GTI mileage. I bought a 6mt, seeing between 32-36 on my commute. 400 miles per tank is fairly easy. I still get on the throttle every day but don't race from light to light. Mix of city,rural and highway on my 50 mile one way commute.

My driving style is similar; I'm averaging a very solid 32 mpg. I'm looking forward to a good road trip so I can see what some boring driving will return. Getting 36 mpg or more would be sweet. I plan to flash the ECU with an APR tune. Having a 300+ hp car that still gets in the mid-30's on the highway isn't bad at all.

Scott

 

[Drnknmnky13]

You could just sell and buy an older tdi. I take it you and the rest like to drive newer cars and don't diy. i can get a tdi for 3k and drive it another 200k miles. i guess some of us are more frugal than others. Some like car payments I suppose. For the amount to buy a new TDI i can get 10 tdi's

Meh. I have a 2012 Passat SE. I also have a 2001 Beetle 5 speed.

Yes the Passat is more expensive. Yes the beetle gets better MPGs. BUT.... driving the Passat is MUCH more enjoyable than driving the beetle.

I mean if you want to just be frugal. A mid 90s honda civic or Toyota Camry is the way to go.

 

[TurnOne]

VW has made the decision very very hard. I have nothing but love for VW as they are being more than FAIR.
I bought my 2015 Golf SEL 3 pedal with lighting package in September 2014. Loved it so much I was begging my dealer to sell me a 2016 GOLF SEL 3 pedal with lighting package and drivers aid package. 2015 drivers package was nothing special, but 2016 it had the lane keeping stuff. They couldn't and now we all know why. I have about 55k miles on mine now. No trouble at all.
I'm confident it doesn't use DEF or barely any. The dealer filled it at 10k miles on the free service. They do free oil changes for life and I've taken it in about every 5k miles since then. I decline every time they offer to top up DEF fluid as their pricing was/is ridiculous. My local fueling station sells DEF at the truck pumps in the back. I even bought the magnet thing thinking it wasn't allowing me to fill the tank. I haven't bothered in about 30k miles. Never seen a low DEF warning. I need to hook up the VCDS and see what the level is. Not sure how to do this.
But the delima, the car is fantastic. I drive a varied path for work (self-employed) and routinely do trips that are 100-200 miles each direction. I have averaged 48 mpg since new and that includes all the cold weather time.
The buyback for me is about 26k after 4 years of ownership and 100-105k miles. Throw in the 1000 cash and the free oil changes, VW is willing to give me back approximately 90% of what I have into this car. I bought the 100k VW top of line warranty and the wheel and tire protection package. I normally don't buy those, but I was nervous with the new EA288 engine. The wheel package has paid off too with 3 new tires.
So the smart money seems to say take the money at the last possible moment.
But what else do I buy? If a 2017 or 2018 Golf TDI SEL with drivers aids are available, it's an easy decision if I keep driving a lot of miles. I'll buy the newer one and just pay the upgrade price for newer/better/no miles. But I'm not even close to confident that this car will be available.
I have a deposit down on a Tesla Model 3 since they offered that. But I drive way too many miles for electric to be my DD. Some days I drive a few miles, others a lot, and I don't always know in advance. Plus I have tools and parts I don't want to move from car to car as needed.
The keep and fix option may be the ticket. I think its $6.9k they are offering.
Like others, I hope the 'price' of the fix is just more DEF usage.
I have other vehicles but none that I seem reasonable to drive daily:
Wrangler that gets 14mpg
Porsche that gets 19 mpg on premium
Scooter 70+ mpg
RV 8 mpg
My two remaining teenagers both have 2003/2004 Civic Hyrid Manuals and I love those, but I'm getting spoiled and love the better quality ride/safety of the 2015 Golf.
It's hard to predict things, especially the future
I only plan to be working and drving this type of mileage for 4-5 more years.
Thanks to those who have responded to this thread so far. It's interesting to hear how others feel and decide.

 

[AlexNJ]

This forum has been a fantastic resource for the two years I owned my 2015 Golf TDI, my first VW and first diesel car. I absolutely loved it, especially during the first year when I had a job that required a lot of highway commuting. But in the past year, coinciding with dieselgate, I transitioned to a job just a few miles from my house and consisting of commuting on local roads. The buyback settlement was very close to what I had paid for the car in the first place so, as much as I loved driving my little car with the heart of a locomotive, I decided to take the buyback, which took place over a week ago. As much as I hated VW for the fraud, I fell enough in love with the Golf to want to stay in the family, which is why I replaced it with a new Golf Alltrack. Yes, the fuel economy is lousy compared to the TDI, but I get to keep the transmission (also DSG but even smoother than the TDI's DSG) and handling but with plenty more cargo capacity. If I had owned a Sportwagen TDI, the decision would have been much more difficult.

 

[leftyserve]

What if I choose none of the above?

I have a 2012 Jetta TDI Sportwagen. At first, I chose the "fix." They'll pay me over $5,000 to make my car run worse and get less fuel economy. I came to my senses and decided "no way." Then I re-submitted my paperwork and chose the buyback option, which is $7,000 over private party selling price. Now I'm thinking, this is such a wonderful car! It gets 50mpg on the highway. It drives great, and is loaded with options. What can they do to me if I decide to keep the car and do neither? I live in SC where we have no annual inspections.

 

[dmarsingill]

I have a 2012 Jetta TDI Sportwagen. At first, I chose the "fix." They'll pay me over $5,000 to make my car run worse and get less fuel economy. I came to my senses and decided "no way." Then I re-submitted my paperwork and chose the buyback option, which is $7,000 over private party selling price. Now I'm thinking, this is such a wonderful car! It gets 50mpg on the highway. It drives great, and is loaded with options. What can they do to me if I decide to keep the car and do neither? I live in SC where we have no annual inspections.

You can get the fix, take the money, delete the DPF, drive it until the HPFP warranty runs out, upgrade it, and keep on driving.....was that a run-on sentence? OF course, what if their is no fix.......you can wait until 2018 to sell it back.



Donald

 

[kjclow]

OF course, what if their is no fix.......you can wait until 2018 to sell it back.



Donald

That's what we're doing with the jsw. We can drive about two more years and the buyback value will remain the same, or nearly the same depending on mileage. The resistitution amount won't change, so why rush it. We can survive a few more years without a car payment.