How Many VW Owners Will Weigh The DieselGate Buyout Options And Refuse To Do ANYTHING?

I spent much of Tuesday poring over news reports and court documents to figure out the options for my 2015 Volkswagen Sportwagen TDI under VW’s proposed $14.7 billion make-good for skirting emissions rules.

The takeaway: There won’t be a quick and tidy resolution to this mess for many VW owners.

I had assumed that, because my car has the newest of the three affected 2.0-liter turbodiesel engines -- a Generation 3 that introduced a new diesel-exhaust after-treatment system -- it would be easier for VW to fix.

Read Article

MDarringer - 6/30/2016 8:45:49 AM

-1 Boost

They won't have that option ultimately. The cars are illegal to drive because they do not meet emissions and will be unable to be licensed. They are being allowed to be on the road pending VW's solution. An owner who refuses the buy back or to allow the fix, would than be guilty of driving a gross polluter. Why would someone want to hold on to their VW until some time in 2018 for the hope of a fix materializing? Once past warranty, VW's are expensive to maintain. Take the cash and buy a much better car elsewhere.

jeffy210 - 6/30/2016 6:01:07 PM

+1 Boost

You're mistaken there. Right now a lot of states (such as TX) don't do emissions testing, let alone testing for NOx (they do for CO2) as such, I'll happily continue to drive my Golf TDI until I figure out what's going on closer to 2018. The ones most likely to be screwed are those in CA...

PUGPROUD - 6/30/2016 10:27:57 AM

+1 Boost

Au contraire. If enough owners hold out and form a class action suit there is the possibility that they could receive more in a court settlement or settle with VW beforehand. Its a risk reward assessment. Most will likely take the VW offer in hand but the much smaller group who do not usually make out quite ok eventually. Take the offer in hand or park the car and take your chances later.

MDarringer - 6/30/2016 3:44:55 PM

+1 Boost

Au contraire. A successful conclusion to a class action lawsuit will NEVER be that it is OK for the cars to break the law. Class action lawsuits can take forever get to trial. There is no guarantee that the settlement would be greater. The vehicles will likely be unable to be licensed while the idiots wait on the suit. Take the cash and buy a much better car elsewhere.

PUGPROUD - 7/1/2016 10:39:40 AM

+1 Boost

Au contraire. End game class action suits always do better because defendants pay to finally stop the bleeding, pain and bad publicity. As you point out you have to wait and forego time value of money but its an individual decision owners must make. Vast majority will take the deal on the table but there will always be some holdouts for a better end deal.