Not sure if this is the right place to post this but i didn't see anywhere else that was looked more appropriate so i am going to try here. Tom you can move it if you know of a better place :hug:
Ok, now onto my question, I apologize in advance for the length
As many of you know, the EPA, CARB and every lawyer is forcing VW to buy back or fix their VW TDIs. I won't get into the politics of this or try and debate the ethics here.
My problem is that our legislators have passed laws to deny registration to cars with outstanding emission related recalls. Now I know this particular recall does not have this issue but all future recalls will. I don't want to get the "fix on my 09 TDI. it runs great, good power (tuned) and great MPGs. right now the cat, dpf and the other emission items somehow disintegrated (maybe hit too many bumps) and it all came out the tailpipe.:woott:
I guess I have three options with this car.
One, get the "fix" and possibly end up with a worse performing car with lower HP, MPG and more noise like I see many people reporting
two, get the "fix" then de-fix it or re-tune it back (I will not take this option due to moral reasons, don't feel it is right to take their money for "cheating" then go cheat them back)
Three, the buyback option. I feel that if i don't get the "fix" then later down the road there will be some kind of recall that fill prevent me from renewing registration if i don't get it and I will have passed the deadline for the buy back. I will be stuck with a useless vehicle that I may only be able to sell for parts or something.
So that brings me to my reason for this thread. Go through with the buy back and get another vehicle for my daily driver. Supposedly I will get $15,400 for my car so that is what i am using as my budget. I would like to keep the replacement car under $15k as I want to leave some room for whatever DMV wants or taxes, repairs etc.
Also, to compound the situation, I am also looking for a new job so I don't know what kind of commute I will have so I may have to wait until I get a new job before I make a decision unless I start getting close to the sep 2018 deadline
The replacement vehicles I am currently considering:
2014 or 2015 Chevy Cruze Diesel. I am seeing very few in my area for sell. I test drove one at a dealer and it drove good. Seamed like the power was a little more linear than my TDI but roughly the same overall, maybe a bit less. handling was OK but not as good as my TDI. Layout of the "infotainment" center, radio, climate controls, etc left much to be desired. Reports of some emission problems. Brakes were horrible. Felt grabby and squishy at the same time, hard to use without jarring stops or overshooting the mark. Maybe that one had issues, IDK. So I am looking for another to test drive. I am finding that the price range is at the top of my budget at around $15k with 50K to 75K miles, doable but no wiggle room on price. This was my first choice as it should be a good all around car for whatever my new job ends up being, plus it is a diesel which I would like to have
2014 or 2015 Chevy Volt. handling was ok, braking was great, very predictable. Power was acceptable but nothing that would put a smile on your face. The radio, AC and other controls were also bad like the cruze. I do like the thought that if my commute is close I potentially won't have much of a fuel bill. and if I do have to go on a long trip it will still work for that to but just won't be as fun as the Cruze Diesel. Reliability is reported to be very good and there seems to be little complaints from current owners. I am finding lots of these available close by (my guess is that the original owners are upgrading to the 2017+ models for the improved battery range). Lots in the $14k price range with 30K to 50K miles.
2014+ Chevy Cruze Gas model (gasp!!!
). I haven’t test driven one yet so not sure. I suspect layout will be the same as the diesel model. Prices range around the $12k to $14K mark for vehicles with 50K or less miles. EfiLive tunable so more fun here :woott:
2016 Chevy Spark EV (all electric). Test drove this one. Better power (400 ft. lbs.) then the volt. Good steering and handling. Excellent visibility. Fun to drive. Small, so can park almost anywhere. Simple layout of all of the controls, buttons, etc. The bad: only about 80 to 90 mile range per 7 hour charge (range anxiety). This means that if I got a job that required longer driving then that I would likely have to give up the vehicle for another, possibly losing money in the sell. $10k to $13k price range with less than 30K miles. So, well within my budget. Cheap to own
2016 Chevy Spark Gas Model. I haven’t test drove this one yet. Many of the pros of the electric version such as good visibility, small, etc. seems to get decent MPG at 30/38 EPA. Priced around 10K with less than 30k miles. Looks like the engine is a little hamster wheel at only 98HP/94ftlbs. I think this is also tunable with EfiLive so maybe that little engine can get a performance boost
So there you have it. As you can see I am a Chevy guy. I would prefer a standard transmission (for those that come with the option) but because I am likely having to share it with other family I will most likely have to get an automatic.
So, what are your thoughts on the above vehicles and if I missed another good replacement candidate what would that be?
Thanks in advance for bearing with me and any helpful information you give
Ok, now onto my question, I apologize in advance for the length
As many of you know, the EPA, CARB and every lawyer is forcing VW to buy back or fix their VW TDIs. I won't get into the politics of this or try and debate the ethics here.
My problem is that our legislators have passed laws to deny registration to cars with outstanding emission related recalls. Now I know this particular recall does not have this issue but all future recalls will. I don't want to get the "fix on my 09 TDI. it runs great, good power (tuned) and great MPGs. right now the cat, dpf and the other emission items somehow disintegrated (maybe hit too many bumps) and it all came out the tailpipe.:woott:
I guess I have three options with this car.
One, get the "fix" and possibly end up with a worse performing car with lower HP, MPG and more noise like I see many people reporting
two, get the "fix" then de-fix it or re-tune it back (I will not take this option due to moral reasons, don't feel it is right to take their money for "cheating" then go cheat them back)
Three, the buyback option. I feel that if i don't get the "fix" then later down the road there will be some kind of recall that fill prevent me from renewing registration if i don't get it and I will have passed the deadline for the buy back. I will be stuck with a useless vehicle that I may only be able to sell for parts or something.
So that brings me to my reason for this thread. Go through with the buy back and get another vehicle for my daily driver. Supposedly I will get $15,400 for my car so that is what i am using as my budget. I would like to keep the replacement car under $15k as I want to leave some room for whatever DMV wants or taxes, repairs etc.
Also, to compound the situation, I am also looking for a new job so I don't know what kind of commute I will have so I may have to wait until I get a new job before I make a decision unless I start getting close to the sep 2018 deadline
The replacement vehicles I am currently considering:
2014 or 2015 Chevy Cruze Diesel. I am seeing very few in my area for sell. I test drove one at a dealer and it drove good. Seamed like the power was a little more linear than my TDI but roughly the same overall, maybe a bit less. handling was OK but not as good as my TDI. Layout of the "infotainment" center, radio, climate controls, etc left much to be desired. Reports of some emission problems. Brakes were horrible. Felt grabby and squishy at the same time, hard to use without jarring stops or overshooting the mark. Maybe that one had issues, IDK. So I am looking for another to test drive. I am finding that the price range is at the top of my budget at around $15k with 50K to 75K miles, doable but no wiggle room on price. This was my first choice as it should be a good all around car for whatever my new job ends up being, plus it is a diesel which I would like to have
2014 or 2015 Chevy Volt. handling was ok, braking was great, very predictable. Power was acceptable but nothing that would put a smile on your face. The radio, AC and other controls were also bad like the cruze. I do like the thought that if my commute is close I potentially won't have much of a fuel bill. and if I do have to go on a long trip it will still work for that to but just won't be as fun as the Cruze Diesel. Reliability is reported to be very good and there seems to be little complaints from current owners. I am finding lots of these available close by (my guess is that the original owners are upgrading to the 2017+ models for the improved battery range). Lots in the $14k price range with 30K to 50K miles.
2014+ Chevy Cruze Gas model (gasp!!!
). I haven’t test driven one yet so not sure. I suspect layout will be the same as the diesel model. Prices range around the $12k to $14K mark for vehicles with 50K or less miles. EfiLive tunable so more fun here :woott:2016 Chevy Spark EV (all electric). Test drove this one. Better power (400 ft. lbs.) then the volt. Good steering and handling. Excellent visibility. Fun to drive. Small, so can park almost anywhere. Simple layout of all of the controls, buttons, etc. The bad: only about 80 to 90 mile range per 7 hour charge (range anxiety). This means that if I got a job that required longer driving then that I would likely have to give up the vehicle for another, possibly losing money in the sell. $10k to $13k price range with less than 30K miles. So, well within my budget. Cheap to own
2016 Chevy Spark Gas Model. I haven’t test drove this one yet. Many of the pros of the electric version such as good visibility, small, etc. seems to get decent MPG at 30/38 EPA. Priced around 10K with less than 30k miles. Looks like the engine is a little hamster wheel at only 98HP/94ftlbs. I think this is also tunable with EfiLive so maybe that little engine can get a performance boost
So there you have it. As you can see I am a Chevy guy. I would prefer a standard transmission (for those that come with the option) but because I am likely having to share it with other family I will most likely have to get an automatic.
So, what are your thoughts on the above vehicles and if I missed another good replacement candidate what would that be?
Thanks in advance for bearing with me and any helpful information you give
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