Talking Cars with Consumer Reports #78: Volkswagen's Diesel Scandal | Consumer Reports

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[dgpgrove]

I'd love to have one of them. Screw the damned EPA. They aren't that dirty and they don't check pollution of diesels in a comparable manner to gas. They can get up to 75 mpg. That means less pollution.

[hondaftw]

Volkswagen must also engineer their cars to break right after the warranty period.

[hondajohn]

If you ain't cheatin you ain't tryin. Can't wait to buy one since they will be so cheap.

[zhu]

Glad I've chosen a Camry instead of a Passat TDI. I almost bought a Passat TDI.

[jonathanbaez]

my mom has a 2015 passat diesel and she loves it and vw gave her a $500 cash card! we forgive vw we own 3 vw's, one diesel and will keep on buying vw's.

[denisleblanc]

I think this is just the tip of the iceberg. I suspect that most diesels on the market now will not meet standards while driving normally. I read one story where even BMW was emitting more than it should in real world tests. Every country with diesel emission regulations will no longer trust manufacturers to fairly test their vehicles and will have to test all of them in the real world. I dread those results. The whole urea injections system bumps up the cost too much and is too troublesome to make it worthwhile. Just look at the hit reliability took in the HD pickups when it was introduced in those. The Ram ecodiesel is still too new to judge it's reliability. But I think you're right in saying that it will mark the end of diesels in smaller vehicles and hopefully a big boost to hybrid and electric vehicles. Everyone that would knock Toyota for not even looking at diesels for N.A. can take it back. For the surcharge of a diesel with urea injection, you have a pretty good hybrid or light hybrid drive with no problems with reliability or even performance if it's well done.

[normmadson]

It's ALL bullshit anyway! I'm getting 55 MPG, what's a 350 chevy diesel get for mileage and that's ok?

[aknsd]

As an owner of a TDI, I am outraged and disappointed. I owned a 2010 Jetta SE TDI (without Urea), traded it in for a 2014 Passat SE (with urea injection) TDI (needed more room). The car is amazing, it is fun to drive, great acceleration and the MPG on the highway is incredible. My S/O drives a Prius and it is great around town, but we use the TDI on our frequent road trips to National Parks and hiking. The cost of diesel in southern CA is much lower than gasoline, during this past summer in San Diego diesel fuel was running over a dollar a gallon cheaper. Last night I filled up the Passat and paid 2.45 for diesel, but noticed that gasoline was 3.05. My partner and I have been advocates for the protection of the environment, and now I feel like I have been slapped in the face, or in other words smog bashed, and I feel guilty driving it. I don't know how VW will be able to make this right, and I will mourn the loss of a superior engine. As you know diesel fuel has a much higher energy output than gasoline (BTU's).

[seacronos]

I have just bought a Golf Sportwagon TDI in Mexico. It is 2016 USA model from this dieselgate issue . I got it with 0 "zero" milles. fully louded with extras and 4 years warranty for only $ 14, 200 USD. I love this car, i got it chip tuned and now i get 181hp out of it. It is fast, drives fenomenal and the fuel economy is amazing.

[skelley]

I own a 2013 VW Passat TDI w/manual stick. I love my car. It's fun. Very confused as to what will happen next. I don't live in a state where I'm compelled to pass emissions test. I guess I'll just wait and see.

[lifesavrdwd]

This is a great video and as a owner of a brand new VW diesel Golf Sportswagen, 4, 000 miles, was helpful for I have heard horror stories, like California EPA won't let me drive the car anymore. I do love my car, but like you said I wonder what the future will be. When I purchased this car I had planned to keep it for 200, 000 plus miles.

[hkm_]

These are great diesels even if they cheated. Still cleaner than gas.

[chuckvan]

I own a 2009 TDI and this scandal doesn't affect me at all.  I love my TDI because it's got lots of power and super economy.  I had an Oldsmobile diesel in the 80's and it had a lot of problems but it did get 30 mpg in a genuine full size car.  It had a 660 mile range on a fill.  Awesome.  It didn't have any performance and was a real dog but that was a trade off.  It also left a plume of black smoke behind it under load.  My TDI?  You couldn't tell it was a diesel.  I don't give a hoot if it's a little smoggy.  If this reduces the resale of TDI's that means I be able to buy another for cheap!  I don't like paying the increased fuel taxes as if I drive an 18 wheeler. The diesel fuel prices at the pump are ridiculous.  I'll never give VW permission to mod my car because I want it to be just like it is.  I've been waiting for a couple years for VW to come out with an all wheel drive TDI Jetta.  I'm disappointed that it not happen now.

[williambaldwin]

I have owned three volkswagens in my driving lifetime and enjoyed every one of them. I almost bought a passat tdi, but decided instead on a CC Sport. Gas powered. Not Diesel. If they, VW, had offered this model in a diesel i might have opted for it, instead. In Europe you can buy it with your choice of two diesel engines, but not in the US. I'm not embarrassed that I purchased a VW. I'm not angry about the cheating they did. The EPA is a HUGE government agency that wields entirely too much power and I'd have cheated the system if I could. The environmental restrictions on diesel cars are too stringent. If I owned a diesel, I'd purchase a module that will override the original ECM and have the power and fuel economy I desire. VW lovers won't be phased at this scandal or be strangled by the EPA. We are the people and we have the power. $600.00 and I can negate anything the EPA tries to force me into. Eat my fumes, EPA, and long live VW!

[FiftyOverland]

the EPA here in the USA hates Diesel, that's why they make them so damn strict and that's another reason why I applaud VW for getting around American diesel emission standards!!!!

[graytshirt]

I have been researching cars for several months and had finally landed on the Golf Sportwagen TDI vs Subaru Outback with a solid nod towards the TDI for the fuel mileage everyone has been seeing with them. I'm in a position where I drive about 40k miles a year and that 40 to 50 MPG people were getting on the highway would be a huge benefit to me and my fuel expenses. I'm anxious to see what comes of this. I love driving and really do not want to go to a car that is a completely boring and mundane box with wheels on the road. Fingers crossed...

[gmcjetpilot]

Ha ha. I love my MK6 Sportwagen TDI,  and I am not upset. First it is a fun to drive, high torque car with fantastic fit finish and amenities, upscale to anything else in the price range or even cars costing much more. I get 42.5 mile/gal tank average. All highway road trips, I get 49-51 mpg. SO GREAT. As far as CLEAN... You have to be an IDIOT to think CLEAN means it blew flowers, unicorns out the tail pipe. CLEAN DIESEL MEANS CLEAN FOR A DIESEL... As far as NOX it is the smallest of the green house gases. The VW TDI does great on CO2, which is by far the worst green house gas (82% verses 5%). Is it good, No. Do I car about resale? Yes, but in 5-10 years it will not matter. My TDI is 5 years old and I am keeping the car. So resale means nothing to me. Don't buy one, does not hurt me. I may buy another one.... Diesel fuel is under $2.00 in my area and the same as Cheers

[filarico]

What I'd like to know is, "How many of these VW TDI owners truly made their purchase because of clean diesel and how many made their purchase for the mileage"? My first diesel was a 1999 Passat TDI and I fell in love with the mileage. I purchased my subsequent TDI's for the same reason!

[adrborn]

9:30 'There is not going to be a chance that they are going to penalize the owners of these cars'

Sooner of later, present and future owners are going to pay all the fines and costs... the question is how

[ruthyrogers]

I go for the Diesel engines simply for the longevity of the car. People ALSO buy these cars because they know they're going to have it for the next 20yrs. Nothing beats that German quality, full incased engine. I have a Jetta tdi that's been running for 20+ years. These cars were made to put miles on. Over 600 000kms on mine. The body will rust out before that engine will ever die.