Would you consider buying a VW gasser with your buyback money?

[bizzle]

Our next VW will be either a plug-in hybrid like the GTE or a full electric minibus like the Budd-e.

After the lease is up on the eGolf, might get an Audi eTron.

 

[2015vwgolfdiesel]

Might consider a Golf gasser
problem is they do not offe gassers (now) with DSG
Also depends on the price of a new one
BIG discount off of MSRP mandatory

 

[dropnosky]

Seems like you have problems deeper than a car loan. Work it out or you will be very unhappy in your future years.

And whoosh, the joke flies right by.
I guess humor is lost on you.

 

[Rico567]

OK, I finally voted in the poll. I don't like the specificity of the choice that applies to me, though. I don't know exactly how much of a discount it would take for us to replace our '13 Passat TDI with a nice new Passat TSI. It would have to be significant. We bought this car that had a sticker at about $33,XXX (if I remember correctly) for $29,XXX, so about $4K off.
Let's just say it would take a greater percentage off sticker than that to get us into a gas VW, since the diesel was our first, and the FE (that now turns out to be part of the scam VW was running) was a big part of the point in buying the car. The way it looks to me now, an Outback for about the same money makes a lot more sense to me than a Passat. But that's just me.

NB: I'm assuming for the state of this post that there will be no new TDIs, which I think is merely realistic.

 

[Marsupial]

If I take the buyback, I'll most likely replace my 2015 Golf with a hybrid -- depending on pricing and other issues, probably a Toyota Prius, or maybe a Ford C-MAX. One of my main reasons for buying the TDI was the fuel economy, and it would be hard to give that up. (FWIW, I haven't 100% decided to take the buyback; it would probably be financially better in the short term to keep my Golf and have it repaired.)

I know that VW offers a Jetta hybrid, but I want a hatchback, and I've heard that the Jetta hybrid is being discontinued for 2017, so it's not really in the running, particularly if this drags on much beyond October.

Of course, the big issue is: Why would I buy from a company that committed massive fraud on an environmental crime and made me an unwitting accomplice? Buying another VW would therefore be like somebody who keeps going back to an abusive spouse.

Still, if the pot were sweet enough (25% off MSRP might not be enough), and if my needs were to change or if VW were to deliver a hybrid Golf, I might consider another VW as a replacement. The odds of these conditions being met are vanishingly small, though.

Wow, this is my thinking exactly. Check out the new upcoming Hyndai Ioniq too: hatchback hybrid with dual clutch transmission that's expected to beat Prius mpg numbers at a lower price. It should be available around the time that buybacks start.

 

[showdown 42]

Once the diesel is out of the equation there are many other better choices. Toyotas are my go to brand because of reliability even if they are boring and not state of the art engineering wise. I have owned 5 Toyos and have had no issues with any of them. I would love a MB diesel,but don't want the expensive service upkeep.

 

[MrSprdSheet]

Dead. I hate feeling like a chump.

Our next VW will be either a plug-in hybrid like the GTE or a full electric minibus like the Budd-e. After the lease is up on the eGolf, might get an Audi eTron.

I just checked VW's build site. They advertise 126/105 miles, for e-Golf, somehow leaving off how its an 83 mile EV. MPGe is confusing, and once again it looks like VW seeking advantage. The attitude of the company hasn't really changed. They don't see a forest of viability, through the trees of regulation. Pay $47,000 for an e-Tron with 9kwh? No thanks. 200 mile GM/LG Bolts will be driving around in 5 months.

Unlike fictitious product, like Budd-e or Mission-E, settlement money arrives in months. On the ground, VWG hasn't delivered on most "e-Tron" promises, and just pulled the Jetta Hybrid. Diesel? You can do diesel, for several hundred more spent on SCR. So, why won't VW bring the 1.4ltr diesel to the U.S.? They will. This is VW we're talking about. Lower Saxony isn't about moving the company forward, and neither are the Piech's or the Porsche's progeny. That's all it takes, on the road to a GM style bankruptcy.

 

[dropnosky]

Dead. I hate feeling like a chump.



I just checked VW's build site. They advertise 126/105 miles, for e-Golf, somehow leaving off how its an 83 mile EV. MPGe is confusing, and once again it looks like VW seeking advantage. The attitude of the company hasn't really changed. They don't see a forest of viability, through the trees of regulation. Pay $47,000 for an e-Tron with 9kwh? No thanks. 200 mile GM/LG Bolts will be driving around in 5 months.

Unlike fictitious product, like Budd-e or Mission-E, settlement money arrives in months. On the ground, VWG hasn't delivered on most "e-Tron" promises, and just pulled the Jetta Hybrid. Diesel? You can do diesel, for several hundred more spent on SCR. So, why won't VW bring the 1.4ltr diesel to the U.S.? They will. This is VW we're talking about. Lower Saxony isn't about moving the company forward, and neither are the Piech's or the Porsche's progeny. That's all it takes, on the road to a GM style bankruptcy.

I think hugely overestimated mileage estimates on these electric cars is the depressing norm, not that VW shouldn't be learning from their current difficulty and setting a trend for honesty.

More likely the Bolt will have a sub 200 miles range, probably sub 100 with real time use. I was considering one for a work vehicle in a 150 mile range with approx 30 stops a day returning to home base every night, but real world power usage in varied driving killed that 200 mile range estimate compared to other electric car range estimates vs real world.

I think they should dispense with the city/highway classification business for electric cars. Just tell us the worst and best estimate range. E-Golf would then become something like 40/83

 

[GretchenTDI]

It'll take a huge discount to get me into another VW.

 

[bubbagumpshrimp]

It would have to be such a ridiculous deal that it would be stupid to pass up on it. It would take $5k+ off in addition to what the general public is getting as a discount to make me even consider it. ex. Passat R-Line MSRP $23,975 - Standard end of year ~$3,500 discount - $5,000 "Our Bad" discount = $15,475.

Edit: To be honest though...that doesn't even really get me excited. I had this thought with the Touareg last night and ran some numbers. Even assuming $10k+ off...that's a lot more than I'd be willing to spend on a VW. I could easily get a nice GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab for that price ($43k-10k = $33k) and the Sierra would at least be worth a decent chunk of money 10 years later.

 

[Mike_S]

As for "not rewarding" VW, I would think that the other 650,000 world wide VW employees might feel differently about that. This army of people happen to make quite well engineered cars these days with high assembly standards and not bad design. Get over it.

Fuel cost is only an additional $250 in 14,000 miles per year for the new 1.8t gasser. And, the gasoline 1.8 TSI has solid low end torque. But, that is not telling the whole story by a long chalk when it comes to the changes made to the 2015+ model Sportwagen. VW has just simply lost the thread when it comes to this concept.

In the case of the 2010-2014 Sportwagen, the fact that they were TDI was not the only selling point. In fact, these cars were so special, I sold our 2010 TDI and bought new 2014 TDI, just because of changes unrelated to TDI in the 2015-6 Mk7 Sportwagens.

Basically the 2015-16 Sportwagen is no longer a sport wagon.

1) No more DSG transmission. VW USA must be clueless how desirable this is for an experienced performance driver. 3 second per mile quicker than a manual gearbox and effortless. The gasser has a decent automatic 6-speed, but it is nothing like driving a DSG. I also short shift for excellent fuel economy in town. DSG is made for this use as well.

2) Loss of large, GTI sized front and rear brakes. There are times when smoke just pours off my brakes coming down a mountain. The bigger GTI brake surface dissipates more heat between slowing down for corners. Add ceramic pads, Audi TT front control arms bushings and these are serious performance brakes. There is a reason Bilstein offers their yellow "B6" sport shocks for the 2009-2014 chassis. It can do the job.

3) TDI Sportwagen lost its IRS (independent rear suspension) to a DEF tank. This was sinful. Put the tank up in the rear fender on the left side and keep the IRS. IRS tracks in corners, where the solid beam axle can cause unwanted surprises.

4) The 2015 MK7 chassis no longer has fold flat seats. I bring fitted boxes to job sites, and carry large RC aircraft in that 66 cuft. The 2009-2014 fits a 40 gallon water heater, the 2015-16 does not. Again, what was VW thinking.

I understand the 2017 Sportwagen will have DSG, but only with 4-motion. This only in a stripped model with cloth only, no heated seats, nor driver assist package available. A day late and a dollar short again. The ugly, totally poser AllTrack will also be way over priced. But, it has headed seats, and a better auto-control heater.

How I do wish Japanese and German car makers would just sell Japanese and German sedans without clueless attempts at translation for the American market. They also hire American sales executives who come up through the dealer chains and then trust them to make marketing decisions, all based on feedback of how the dealers want to pack their cars and increase their profit margins. Let those guys sell trucks and leave the sedans alone. Bummer.

 

[coolbreeze]

Y bvdude_jqdl3849nf@members.ebay.com v bho5l

 

[bizzle]

It would have to be such a ridiculous deal that it would be stupid to pass up on it. It would take $5k+ off in addition to what the general public is getting as a discount to make me even consider it. ex. Passat R-Line MSRP $23,975 - Standard end of year ~$3,500 discount - $5,000 "Our Bad" discount = $15,475.

Edit: To be honest though...that doesn't even really get me excited. I had this thought with the Touareg last night and ran some numbers. Even assuming $10k+ off...that's a lot more than I'd be willing to spend on a VW. I could easily get a nice GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab for that price ($43k-10k = $33k) and the Sierra would at least be worth a decent chunk of money 10 years later.

That's the rub isn't it? Even after massaging a 10k discount we could just as easily go to a competitor and get into a comparably priced but fully optioned and years ahead technology-wise vehicle with less hassle.

 

[ytjetta]

I might go for the 2017 Passat R line...

 

[Lewshel]

I bought my first VW Rabbit in 1976 (2 Door with SR, MT and cloth seats, carb engine) kept it for 100,000 plus miles. Then we had a slew of Mazda and Toyota products (including a great 1992 Geo Prizm GSI that I still wish I owned) and went back to VW in 2003
(Golf GLS TDI 5 spd whose engine blew in 2013 with 187,000 miles) and a Passat 2004 GLX with 130,000 which we gave to our son.) In 2012 my wife bought a CP Audi A3 TDI which now has 55,000m (it has 10,000 at time of purchase) for which she paid $30,000. We have gotten good service from Westwood Audi.

I replaced my Golf with a CP JSW 2.5 that gets 35 mpg on the highway with regular gas. It had 18,000 at time of purchase
(12/13) and now has 60,000. It is a big improvement in comfort and noise over the diesel. 2 window switches and the radio were replace under warranty. It holds much more cargo than the A3 and the ride comfort is so much better.
We will opt for the buyback and I would hope that we could get a loaded Golf Sportwagon for $26,000. or maybe a GTI if we could get 16" or 17" wheels. If you live in Boston the potholes can be death to low profile tires. VW keeps adding useful standard equipment to even their base models and a SEL VW has a more complaint ride than the A3.

 

[bubbagumpshrimp]

That's the rub isn't it? Even after massaging a 10k discount we could just as easily go to a competitor and get into a comparably priced but fully optioned and years ahead technology-wise vehicle with less hassle.

Yup. That's not even getting into the fact that the typical inventory is pathetic. I can go down to my local Honda dealer and get an Accord in any package and color combination that I want.

My VW dealer...I would have to go drive a car that resembles what I was looking for (ex. I had to test drive a lesser equipped manual TDI because they didn't have a Premium manual on the lot), order what I actually want, and hope that when it shows up...I'm happy with it.

You can summarize VAGs attitude towards U.S. consumers with one phrase..."buy our s***." That's the attitude that they've shown the U.S. for years, in terms of vehicle lineup and product availability. Take one look at their lineup...it's pathetic. Hell...Fiat and MINI will field a pickup truck in the U.S. before VW gets with the program and introduces one.

 

[ottomatic]

Need a 5th choice - I would not considerbuying a gasser from *ANYONE* . . . another TDI, no problem (or other diesel) . . . no issue with VW whatsoever - this is nothing more than EPA/CARB burocratic poo flinging at it's finest . . .

X2.
The only gas vehicle I have owned since 1986 is a motorcycle.
XR650R which is plated & titled.

 

[ibsam2005]

I wouldn't get another VW for the reason of build quality. It doesn't seem that my MkVI is anywhere near the quality build my MkIV was. I already have a few of rattles and creeks. Just seems as though a car designed by German engineers made in Mexico wasn't the best of ideas.

The thought of a 20-30% discount on every car is kind of a silly one. The big 3 do this with about all their cars. After about 2 months of the release date, you can get several grand off any of their cars. The question is, if they take off 5k from every 30k car, was it really ever worth 30k? Just a sales gimmick.

 

[DB TDI]

Yup. That's not even getting into the fact that the typical inventory is pathetic. I can go down to my local Honda dealer and get an Accord in any package and color combination that I want.

My VW dealer...I would have to go drive a car that resembles what I was looking for (ex. I had to test drive a lesser equipped manual TDI because they didn't have a Premium manual on the lot), order what I actually want, and hope that when it shows up...I'm happy with it.

You can summarize VAGs attitude towards U.S. consumers with one phrase..."buy our s***." That's the attitude that they've shown the U.S. for years, in terms of vehicle lineup and product availability. Take one look at their lineup...it's pathetic. Hell...Fiat and MINI will field a pickup truck in the U.S. before VW gets with the program and introduces one.

I've had the opposite experience here in NoVa. The largest VW dealers (Sheehy, Lindsay) have very good inventories - whereas, of the dozens of Honda dealers in the DC area, I've found one (1) with any 6-spd Accords, which is the only Honda I'd be remotely interested in.

 

[bubbagumpshrimp]

I've had the opposite experience here in NoVa. The largest VW dealers (Sheehy, Lindsay) have very good inventories - whereas, of the dozens of Honda dealers in the DC area, I've found one (1) with any 6-spd Accords, which is the only Honda I'd be remotely interested in.

Trying to sell a manual transmission Honda Accord sedan in Arlington, VA. They'd be about as successful as someone trying to sell ice to an Eskimo. Dealers stock what sells well. A six speed manual Honda Accord sedan is not going to sell well in Arlington.

I've been commuting up to Arlington everyday for the past year with a manual transmission.. I'll never get another manual daily driver again, as long as I live in this area.

 

[DB TDI]

Trying to sell a manual transmission Honda Accord sedan in Arlington, VA. They'd be about as successful as someone trying to sell ice to an Eskimo. Dealers stock what sells well. A six speed manual Honda Accord sedan is not going to sell well in Arlington.
I've been commuting up to Arlington everyday for the past year with a manual transmission.. I'll never get another manual daily driver again, as long as I live in this area.

I'm afraid you're only too correct. Your typical Arlington or Fairfax County resident is highly unlikely to be interested in a manual.
That said, I commute into DC every day and, despite occasional cursing, I'll be replacing my 6-spd JSW with another manual. At this point, my top choice is a GSW Alltrack when the manual becomes available next Spring (or whenever).

 

[JCTDI]

I also want to trade for a manual transmission gasser, and none of the VW dealers have them on the lots here in NJ. Would be great if VW unveils a plan to allow dealers to have us come in months before the buybacks happen, sign a commitment sheet, and let us order the exact car we want, so its there when we come back.

 

[EskiLvr]

We're hoping to find a used Golf (preferably not a GTI), because our Jetta is going to be going to college with an 18 year old boy. Crossing our fingers that our dealership is going to be willing to work with us on this one. If we can't find a Golf, then a hatchback Focus is also in the running... But *used* is the key here. I don't want to think about what insurance rates would be for an 18 year old male on a new car, regardless of his "good student discount".

 

[bizzle]

We're hoping to find a used Golf (preferably not a GTI), because our Jetta is going to be going to college with an 18 year old boy. Crossing our fingers that our dealership is going to be willing to work with us on this one. If we can't find a Golf, then a hatchback Focus is also in the running... But *used* is the key here. I don't want to think about what insurance rates would be for an 18 year old male on a new car, regardless of his "good student discount".

A well maintained ALH Golf would be a great option.
You should be able to buy one outright with the '09's settlement money.

 

[RollingCoal]

Good luck with that.........with all this anti diesel hate goin' on. Dream on Bro

I would replace with a GTI or an R if I could find a dealer who wouldn't gouge on the price. Since the loss of the TDI business, these are probably their most valuable cars to sell so I am not holding my breath on a deal. VW could win me back by building a lot of GTIs and Rs. Either that or find a way to get the GTD into this country.

Yeah I really don't get the price gouging on the R's. I would be very interested in getting into one but I'm not paying 5k over MSRP under any circumstances. For 40k I can be in a lightly used bmw 335i or an Audi of some kind.

 

[deuxdiesel]

Massive discount (25%) at minimum for me, otherwise what is the point? I think we are getting screwed on the buyback numbers, so this would be the only way to equal that out. I can get a Mazda 3 with the 2.5, 6 speed plus other options for the same price as the GTI, so VW needs to step it up.

 

[Rico567]

Massive discount (25%) at minimum for me, otherwise what is the point? I think we are getting screwed on the buyback numbers, so this would be the only way to equal that out. I can get a Mazda 3 with the 2.5, 6 speed plus other options for the same price as the GTI, so VW needs to step it up.

This is pretty much what it would take to put us into a new Passat TSI....and this will basically have to be done by VW, not the dealer. In essence, a massive loyalty discount on top of the buyback for our '13 TDI (I am completely pessimistic about any new VW diesels).
Do I expect it to happen? Not really, hence my previous comment that I see a nice shiny new Outback in our future.

 

[bubbagumpshrimp]

Yeah I really don't get the price gouging on the R's. I would be very interested in getting into one but I'm not paying 5k over MSRP under any circumstances. For 40k I can be in a lightly used bmw 335i or an Audi of some kind.

Exclusivity...or at least the illusion of it.

The R32 (back in the day) and R/hopped up GTI were never intended (I don't think) to be a "best bang for your buck" type deal. They were intended to give VW fans a "step up" model when they get to the point that they're willing to spend more than $25-30k for a vehicle.

There are any number of options that could be had for a similar amount of money to a R that would meet or exceed its performance. However, none of those options will give you that VW "feel" that enthusiasts are after.

 

[wmichaelis]

I need another option in the poll - not at all right now, but talk to me again in 5-10 years. I see too many question marks in VW USA's future right now, which I'm sure can be chalked up to my own paranoia, but I don't really trust them with that kind of purchase for now.

I'm hoping they get this behind them, recover, and make TDI what it was supposed to be, and bring it back in a few years. If they can pull that off (under what will surely be added scrutiny), then I might be willing to give them another chance. But not for quite a while.

 

[wmichaelis]

This is pretty much what it would take to put us into a new Passat TSI....and this will basically have to be done by VW, not the dealer.

I highly doubt that's going to happen. It's my understanding that a lot of dealers are getting screwed pretty hard by this (a bunch have banded together to sue VW themselves) - I've also heard that the settlement itself includes language that forbids the buyback offer be in any way, shape, or form contingent on purchasing a new VW. That's likely the reason why the settlement doesn't include an option of "dealer credit equal to full buyback price plus x percent".