Need advice...Keep LC or VW? (1 Viewer)

[DJCloz]

we returned my wife's 2012 VW TDI sport wagen, took the $20k, saved it, and bought a used TDI q7 at a very low APR used car loan rate ( 1.75%). this is a super rare opportunity to come up. I wanted to get her in a TDI Q5, but she like the 7 better. Not as good MPG as the jetta sport wagen, but still pretty good for a mid sized Sports SUV.

 

[Kofoed]

I'll probably get blasted for this, considering this is a LC/LX forum, but here I go. I have a 2012 VW Passat TDI with 106k that is part of the VW emissions scandal, and a very clean 2001 LC with 198k on the clock. We have a 7 month old, I need to sell one of them before my wife kills me.

Both options should yield a nice return since the VW has a strong buyback/fix offer from VW, and the LC is, well it's a LC so it would sell easily.

I really like both cars, for different reasons. Obviously the VW has phenomenal fuel economy, and has all the newer amenities (bluetooth, steering wheel controls, keyless entry/start, etc). It's pretty fun to drive with power to spare. I assume it's a safe car and it's very comfortable. It also has side curtain airbags. On the other hand, the LC is pretty dated on the convenience front, gets awful fuel economy, is slightly less comfortable (the drivers seat), but drives solid and I assume it's altogether safer? Sitting higher is nice, too. All wheel drive is a nice plus, but not a deal breaker in the South where winters aren't too bad. I also do not do much off road.

As you can see above I'm overanalyzing this, so please help!

**Should also add I have a 2010 Tundra 4x4, wife has a Pilot

I had a 2011 TDI. Don't be silly, sell it back. The car will be a POS once the repair is done to it. Re sale will be zero

 

[Kofoed]

I stressed about the well-known TDI HPFP failure almost daily with that thing.

An acquaintance had the HPFP let go a week before his scheduled buy back appointment. He had it delivered a block away form the dealership via flat bed and idled it into the parking lot and got paid.

 

[NoogaCruiser]

I work for VW. Take the money for the Passat buyback. Its an INSANE amount. If something happens and the car gets totaled you loose out on thousands. Take the money and move on from the car. Im a HUGE VW guy and thats what id do. It is way too much money to roll the dice on. Ive had clients get back more than what i sold them their cars for 2 years into ownership. Yours is a little older but id imagine youre getting upper teens to 20k for it. You have to look at this as a once in a lifetime scenario to basically drive a car for 100k miles for free. You also got the $1000 goodwill money 2 years ago and will get $350 from bosch after your but back is complete. Just my 2 cents

This seems to be the case for most, but my buyback isn't extraordinary due to the high mileage. The original owner put 60k on it in 2 years. Therefore the incentive to sell it back is only around 6k (amount above current value), which matches the restitution payment if i decided to fix it. They're both nice options, just not great in my particular circumstance. I feel like VW is undervaluing the upper trim levels (mine's an SEL), while overvaluing mileage. After all, they're diesels. Seems like mileage should be relatively less of a concern.

Either way, it sounds like the consensus is the VW presents more concerns down the road. Anyone have any thoughts on wether it's safer than the LC?

Thanks for all of the advice. I haven't thought about a lot of these issues until now.

 

[NoogaCruiser]

I had a 2011 TDI. Don't be silly, sell it back. The car will be a POS once the repair is done to it. Re sale will be zero

That's what I was afraid of too, but I'm reading reports that most people aren't experiencing any power loss, and only 1-2 mpg loss. Also, higher engine noise and 2-3x more DEF consumption. It seems like the biggest concern at this point for the TDI's is not if, but when the exhaust fails. Hopefully within the first 48k or 4 years for those who chose the fix.

 

[Kofoed]

I sold mine in March. The repair had not been approved, and the court hearing was set for January 2018. So the older models have not been fixed, nor is there even an approved fix. The later models were a software update. The older models will likely get a urea injection system and new exhaust emissions....and reduced performance. Beware. I was tried of VW BS-ing around, and I was going to have to replace some big $$ items (namely catalytic converter) and sold and moved on. No regrets. I have only seen a couple TDI VW stil around, and I live in LA