VW TDI Settlement - buying a TDI now

breld

@Michaell - here you go:

Purchase price: $16,662
buyback - $28,157
Costs - $1,300 sales tax, about $80/month for insurance, so about $400 - total of $1,700 I'd say
Mileage - 26,000
Docs submitted - not sure - may be 9/30?
Docs accepted - 11/15/16
Offer made - 11/29/16
Offer accepted - 11/29/16
Offer validated - 12/5/16
Buyback - 12/23/16

xwesx

It looks like the JSWs were the real bargains in terms of ROI. Nice!

kyfdx

xwesx said:

It looks like the JSWs were the real bargains in terms of ROI. Nice!

The JSW and the A3 had the biggest potential, I think, with the Passat close behind. Beetles, Golfs and Jetta sedans had slimmer margins.

If we had been sure of 100% modification money, there were a few deals that I might have jumped on, to make $4K-$6K, in addition to the one I made.

andres3

Michaell said:

Submitted my documents last Friday evening (12/9/16).

The fact they wanted the reverse side of the title slowed me down quite a bit; who'd of thunk they'd want that? Goodness gracious. Also, we have 2 names on the title so double the paperwork and application data entry.

Michaell

andres3 said:

Michaell said:

Submitted my documents last Friday evening (12/9/16).

The fact they wanted the reverse side of the title slowed me down quite a bit; who'd of thunk they'd want that? Goodness gracious. Also, we have 2 names on the title so double the paperwork and application data entry.

Care to share your prices and mileage with us?

stevedebi

It only took a couple of days from the submission to them accepting the forms and inviting me to schedule my appointment. But the first available was 10 Jan, so that is when I turn in my car...

Michaell

stevedebi said:

It only took a couple of days from the submission to them accepting the forms and inviting me to schedule my appointment. But the first available was 10 Jan, so that is when I turn in my car...

Care to share any of your other dates, or amounts, with us?

28firefighter

Looks like I should have known better than to trust the hotline - still no offer letter...

mjfloyd1

I have a turn in appointment for 1/14/2017.  Offer validated today. Earliest available appointment was early January 2017. 

stickguy

Maybe your Infiniti will still be there!

qbrozen

Same for me. 1/14. Earliest I could find at the half dozen or so dealerships in reasonable distance was 1/7 but could not make that work for me.

Approval received like 20 mins ago, FYI.

corvette

Anyone know what security measures are in place on the electronic funds transfer option? Like, if an attacker intercepts the email from Chase or hacks my email account, what is to stop them from inputting their info and receiving the payment?

qbrozen

I don't remember what I originally went through to sign up for Chase Autopay. But I'm pretty sure just clicking an email isn't going to get you the money.

28firefighter

Well this is getting frustrating....

stickguy

28, are you the last one here without an appointment now? Bad news if even QB beat you to it!

28firefighter

Not just no appointment, but no offer letter.

Michaell

Here's the updated grid:

Michaell

Anybody here with - ahem - questionable morals?

http://jalopnik.com/disgruntled-diesel-vw-owners-are-stripping-their-cars-b-1790053005

kyfdx

corvette said:

Anyone know what security measures are in place on the electronic funds transfer option? Like, if an attacker intercepts the email from Chase or hacks my email account, what is to stop them from inputting their info and receiving the payment?

Yeah.. the email gives instructions for setting up an account.. Do you pay bills online? Have direct deposit? It's no different.

qbrozen

my mileage is wrong in the chart. It is now 33,740

xwesx

Michaell said:

Anybody here with - ahem - questionable morals?

http://jalopnik.com/disgruntled-diesel-vw-owners-are-stripping-their-cars-b-1790053005

Wow; that's crazy. I have too much respect for my car to do something like that. I do agree that the rules of the game do not preclude such tomfoolery! However, if the owner has a lien on the vehicle, I think their lien/insurance language may be such that not reporting a collision or stripping parts from the vehicle could be illegal.

I don't plan to take my stock wheels with me on the trip to Anchorage, but mine is otherwise whole. That said, it does have really nice stereo.....

qbrozen

Was just thinking about the stereo myself, but it would be too difficult to wire into another car, I think.

I took my rubber mats as well as the cargo mat and the velcro cargo divider things that were in the car when I bought it. Figure that is all accessory stuff that doesn't have to stay with the car. Also thought about swiping the tools. I might still do that, I guess.

stever

I'm in with the stripper crowd.

henryn

I received my offer the same day as @qbrozen, only a few hours later, so I was hopeful, and indeed I just got my appointment scheduled. I checked all 5 dealers within 25 miles, and the earliest date was Tuesday, January 17.

Interesting that 4 out of the 5 dealers showed the same starting date, January 17. The 5th one started on January 18th.

xwesx

henryn said:

I received my offer the same day as @qbrozen, only a few hours later, so I was hopeful, and indeed I just got my appointment scheduled. I checked all 5 dealers within 25 miles, and the earliest date was Tuesday, January 17.

Interesting that 4 out of the 5 dealers showed the same starting date, January 17. The 5th one started on January 18th.

It seems like maybe they have time blocks where their agents are assigned to various areas. I'm guessing that the same agents cover a regional area over a rotating period of time.

The Anchorage time block was three weeks in January - none before or after that block.

xwesx

qbrozen said:

Was just thinking about the stereo myself, but it would be too difficult to wire into another car, I think.

I took my rubber mats as well as the cargo mat and the velcro cargo divider things that were in the car when I bought it. Figure that is all accessory stuff that doesn't have to stay with the car. Also thought about swiping the tools. I might still do that, I guess.

I'm perfectly content letting everything stay with the car. I can't see using most/any of that stuff for any other vehicle, and I don't think it's worth the hassle of disposing of it (via sale or any other method!)

stevedebi

Michaell said:

stevedebi said:

It only took a couple of days from the submission to them accepting the forms and inviting me to schedule my appointment. But the first available was 10 Jan, so that is when I turn in my car...

Care to share any of your other dates, or amounts, with us?

Lets see, got the notice around Dec 1, uploaded it the 4th. On the 7th got notified it was missing a check mark on the form, resubmitted that day, made the appointment on Saturday, I believe. Amount is around 7K after the buyback (I'm an original owner).

corvette

Went to check on the JSW today and the engine fired right up but was a little slow to crank (not sure if because it was cold or the battery was a little weak after sitting for 6+ weeks without a charge). I hooked up the Battery Tender since I plan to drive it to go put in a gallon of diesel in the next couple of days.

I think I may get the award for turning the car in with the most warning lamps illuminated. Washer fluid, TPMS (I haven't reset it), and fuel, I knew about. Not sure why traction control and steering are lit up. Won't be my problem in a couple of weeks!

explorerx4

My guess is low battery. Lots of weird things happen in modern vehicles due to inadequate voltage on startup.

28firefighter

Happens on all VWs when the battery is low. . Charge up the battery and power cycle the car. All will be fine. Not that it needs to be. 

kyfdx

Yeah... I have to crank mine for 3-5 seconds to get it to start, when engine is cold. One day, a little extra, and my ABS light stayed on. Turned it off and back on, and the light went away.

28firefighter

My buddy has a GTI that he left parked at the airport for 3 weeks. He came back and even his entertainment system display was lit up with errors. 

They do not take kindly to low electrical power. 

qbrozen

wow, they must have just pounded NJ with letters because I went in to try to reschedule my appointment and all the choices I had before are gone, so I had to stick with the 14th.

28firefighter

Still waiting for my offer to be released to me. If I don't have it by Friday I'm supposed to call back and they'll escalate.

henryn

28firefighter said:

My buddy has a GTI that he left parked at the airport for 3 weeks. He came back and even his entertainment system display was lit up with errors. 

They do not take kindly to low electrical power. 

I think that's true of a lot of cars. Certainly the last 2 Cadillacs that I owned, 99 DeVille and 2006 DTS.

henryn

kyfdx said:

Yeah... I have to crank mine for 3-5 seconds to get it to start, when engine is cold. One day, a little extra, and my ABS light stayed on. Turned it off and back on, and the light went away.

I have become spoiled by cars that just start. I tend to twist the key and then release as soon as I hear the starter engage. This TDI sometimes doesn't actually start, and I have to do it again.

kyfdx

henryn said:

kyfdx said:

Yeah... I have to crank mine for 3-5 seconds to get it to start, when engine is cold. One day, a little extra, and my ABS light stayed on. Turned it off and back on, and the light went away.

I have become spoiled by cars that just start. I tend to twist the key and then release as soon as I hear the starter engage. This TDI sometimes doesn't actually start, and I have to do it again.

Yup, but in two more weeks, I won't care..

28firefighter

henryn said:

kyfdx said:

Yeah... I have to crank mine for 3-5 seconds to get it to start, when engine is cold. One day, a little extra, and my ABS light stayed on. Turned it off and back on, and the light went away.

I have become spoiled by cars that just start. I tend to twist the key and then release as soon as I hear the starter engage. This TDI sometimes doesn't actually start, and I have to do it again.

Isn't that true of most diesels though? They need an extra second or two typically for the glow plugs to warm, depending on the outside temperature. Maybe I'm wrong.

Our firetrucks, my Dad's old Ford Excursion diesel, and now this car all need few seconds to warm the plugs. As long as I've done that before cranking, I've never not had one start (unless the plugs were going bad).

qbrozen

with the push button start in the JSW, I have to hold the button until it starts, which is usually about 5 secs or so. I have found, alternatively, I can press the button with my foot off the brake to put it in accessory mode, then settle in and buckle my seatbelt, by which time it will start right up when I put my foot on the brake and push the button again.

xwesx

qbrozen said:

I have found, alternatively, I can press the button with my foot off the brake to put it in accessory mode, then settle in and buckle my seatbelt, by which time it will start right up when I put my foot on the brake and push the button again.

Hmm.... I will have to try that on mine this weekend. It is supposed to get warmer (above zero!), so hopefully I can get it to start without having to go through any circus tricks. If so, I'll put it on ramps so that it is easier to monkey around under the car in the event January 8th is a cold day.....

andres3

Its in the 50's this morning in San Diego, and that's considered cold to the locals. Never had a problem starting the TDI including this morning to get it out of my way as I wanted quattro today since it is raining.

stever

How Car Dealers Are Screwing Volkswagen Owners (Yahoo)

You'd think this owner would have put compact spares on all the corners. (BGR.com)

28firefighter

Still no offer letter - escalated to Class Counsel.

xwesx

andres3 said:

Its in the 50's this morning in San Diego, and that's considered cold to the locals. Never had a problem starting the TDI including this morning to get it out of my way as I wanted quattro today since it is raining.

I definitely wouldn't expect any sort of starting issues in anything near those temps.

I tried starting mine again last night at about ten degrees. Still no dice.

stever

I was thinking of you driving to Anchorage on compact tires next month @xwesx.

corvette

Can you get one of those Mr. Buddy portable propane heaters to stick under the hood? Or an electric?

qbrozen

28firefighter said:

Still no offer letter - escalated to Class Counsel.

andres3

I got the email letter:

We have reviewed the documents you submitted as part of your claim with reference number ABC123456. Currently, your application contains all of the necessary documentation to determine your eligibility. We are now determining your eligibility and will inform you whether you are eligible to participate in the VW/Audi Diesel Emissions Settlement Program.

Seems a bit silly since it is pretty straight forward (no lien).

28firefighter

andres3 said:

I got the email letter:

We have reviewed the documents you submitted as part of your claim with reference number ABC123456. Currently, your application contains all of the necessary documentation to determine your eligibility. We are now determining your eligibility and will inform you whether you are eligible to participate in the VW/Audi Diesel Emissions Settlement Program.

Seems a bit silly since it is pretty straight forward (no lien).

I have been stuck at that phase, same situation with no lien, for over a month.

xwesx

stever said:

I was thinking of you driving to Anchorage on compact tires next month @xwesx.

Well, they kinda sorta are "compact" tires.... at least compared to the stock size. I have a set of wheels that came off a Mercedes E series from 1997. The tire size is 205/55R16, as compared to the stock size of 235/45R18. From a calibration standpoint, these tire are smaller by 5.8%. From a practial standpoint, that means they are 24.9" tall (diameter) compared to the stock size of 26.3", which means the car sits seven tenths of an inch close to the ground, and I'll likely record twenty miles more than actual on the odometer just for this trip down.

If I were keeping the car longer (or driving it more), I would have sprung for a new set of winter tires (about $500 installed), but I just couldn't see doing that for such a short trip.