Volkswagen...an unbelievable thing

DGS49

Diamond Member
Apr 12, 2012
15,662
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Pittsburgh
Through means which it would be indelicate to divulge, I have come to learn that Volkswagen of America has a parking lot in my area in which are stored approximately 3,500 beautiful, late-model used cars, all of which are "in limbo" due to the infamous airbag recall. They are mainly perfect, and include very desirable as well as not-so-desirable models.

They are paying a contractor to start the cars and run them periodically, and ensure that the tire pressures are maintained. This has been going on for months on end. VW is paying weekly, on a per-car basis for this service. The cost must be stupendous.

What will this mean for the used car market for VW's when and if this finally resolved? Will the airbag manufacturer possibly be able to make VW whole? I can't imagine.

This is one lot in a tiny corner of one state. Presumably it is duplicated at what...hundreds?...of other lots around the country, and possibly around the globe.

It is an interesting and unbelievable thing, though true.
 
I would love to have a TDI Passat. Can I buy one?

Great cars. Fuck the government.
 
VW diesel vehicles not welcome in Britain...
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Protesters storm cargo ship to keep VW diesel vehicles out of Britain
Sept. 21, 2017 -- Members of the environmental group Greenpeace on Thursday climbed aboard a cargo container carrying diesel-powered Volkswagens -- in an attempt to keep them out of Britain.
The protesters chained themselves to a tall, portable unloading dock and unfurled banners on the ship and a nearby pier opposing the use of diesel vehicles. The group posted photos and video of the protest online. The transport ship Elbe Highway, sailing under a Bahamian flag, docked in the port city of Kent with hundreds of Volkswagens -- many of which were diesel-powered. Police responded by trying to remove the protesters.

Volkswagen said the vehicles originated from an assembly plant in the German city of Emden. "The ship contains a variety of Volkswagen Group vehicles, including petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid models. The diesel vehicles, which are the subject of the protest, meet strict Euro-6 standards," the company said in a statement.

Protesters-storm-cargo-ship-to-keep-VW-diesel-vehicles-out-of-Britain.jpg

A Greenpeace protester displays a "ditch diesel" sign while floating in the port of Kent, Britain, on Thursday.​

Volkswagen is the subject of multiple investigations over an emissions scandal involving its fleet of diesel-powered vehicles -- which were programmed to dodge environmental standards. The fallout prompted increased public scrutiny of diesel as a fuel source. While emitting burning diesel fuel emits fewer greenhouse gasses than gasoline, scientists say the exhaust is more harmful to human health.

Greenpeace said on its website that the health concerns, combined with the heavy reliance on diesel in Britain, means Volkswagen should develop a plan to end its production of diesel-fueled vehicles. "It's been exactly two years since we found out VW had been cheating and lying to sell toxic diesel cars to families. Yet they still won't ditch diesel -- despite the fact diesel vehicles produces 80 percent of air pollution on U.K. streets. As the biggest carmaker in Europe they must immediately produce a plan to ditch diesel," the group said on its website.

Protesters storm cargo ship to keep VW diesel vehicles out of Britain
 
VW diesel vehicles not welcome in Britain...
icon_redface.gif

Protesters storm cargo ship to keep VW diesel vehicles out of Britain
Sept. 21, 2017 -- Members of the environmental group Greenpeace on Thursday climbed aboard a cargo container carrying diesel-powered Volkswagens -- in an attempt to keep them out of Britain.
The protesters chained themselves to a tall, portable unloading dock and unfurled banners on the ship and a nearby pier opposing the use of diesel vehicles. The group posted photos and video of the protest online. The transport ship Elbe Highway, sailing under a Bahamian flag, docked in the port city of Kent with hundreds of Volkswagens -- many of which were diesel-powered. Police responded by trying to remove the protesters.

Volkswagen said the vehicles originated from an assembly plant in the German city of Emden. "The ship contains a variety of Volkswagen Group vehicles, including petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid models. The diesel vehicles, which are the subject of the protest, meet strict Euro-6 standards," the company said in a statement.

Protesters-storm-cargo-ship-to-keep-VW-diesel-vehicles-out-of-Britain.jpg

A Greenpeace protester displays a "ditch diesel" sign while floating in the port of Kent, Britain, on Thursday.​

Volkswagen is the subject of multiple investigations over an emissions scandal involving its fleet of diesel-powered vehicles -- which were programmed to dodge environmental standards. The fallout prompted increased public scrutiny of diesel as a fuel source. While emitting burning diesel fuel emits fewer greenhouse gasses than gasoline, scientists say the exhaust is more harmful to human health.

Greenpeace said on its website that the health concerns, combined with the heavy reliance on diesel in Britain, means Volkswagen should develop a plan to end its production of diesel-fueled vehicles. "It's been exactly two years since we found out VW had been cheating and lying to sell toxic diesel cars to families. Yet they still won't ditch diesel -- despite the fact diesel vehicles produces 80 percent of air pollution on U.K. streets. As the biggest carmaker in Europe they must immediately produce a plan to ditch diesel," the group said on its website.

Protesters storm cargo ship to keep VW diesel vehicles out of Britain
Diesels are very fuel efficient and emissions are nearly zero.

Stupid people do stupid things.
 
Unbelievable...
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Volkswagen Beetle to end next year

Sat, Sep 15, 2018 -
Volkswagen on Thursday announced that it would end production of its iconic Beetle cars next year after adding a pair of final editions of the insect-inspired vehicles.

The curvy-topped sedans, which shook off Nazi origins to become a global auto phenomenon, are being sidelined as Volkswagen emphasizes electric cars and larger family-oriented vehicles, but company officials, still trying to completely turn the page after 2015’s costly “dieselgate” scandal, opened the door to reviving the model at some point, alluding to the company’s decision last year to unveil a revamped Volkswagen Bus as a possible template. “As we move to being a full-line, family-focused automaker in the US and ramp up our electrification strategy … there are no immediate plans to replace it, but I would also say never say never,” Volkswagen Group of America chief executive Hinrich Woebcken said in a statement. “The loss of the Beetle after three generations, over nearly seven decades, will evoke a host of emotions from the Beetle’s many devoted fans.”

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Volkswagen Beetles are parked during the annual gathering of the Beetle Club in Yakum, Israel, on April 21 last year.

Volkswagen plans to offer the two final edition in both coupe and convertible styles. The cars are to include nods to earlier versions and be priced at US$23,045 and up, the company said. The vehicle’s history goes back to the Nazi era, having first been developed by Ferdinand Porsche with support from Adolf Hitler, who in 1937 formed state-run Volkswagenwerk, or “The People’s Car Company.” After the war, the Allied nations eventually made Volkswagen a priority in an effort to revive the German auto industry. The sedans made their US debut in the 1950s, but sales were weak, in part owing to the company’s Nazi origins.

Advertising agency Doyle Dane Bernback in 1959 rechristened the car the Beetle and began touting the vehicle’s small size as an advantage to consumers, according to the History Channel. The car attained further popularity with the 1968 Disney movie The Love Bug, the story of a racing Volkswagen with a mind of its own. Andy Warhol did prints featuring the car and a Beetle was also the most prominent car in the background of Abbey Road, the final Beatles album to be recorded. US sales ceased in 1979, but the vehicle continued to be produced in Mexico and Brazil. Volkswagen revived the “New Beetle” in the US 1997, but sales of the Beetle slipped 3.2 percent to 15,667 last year.

Volkswagen Beetle to end next year - Taipei Times
 
To a true VW fan, the current "beetle" has always been a sham. The original car was ingenious, efficient, long-lasting, easy to repair, and somewhat fun to drive. The list of its shortcomings would fill a fairly large page. It was unsafe, rust-prone, slow as a rock, not particularly fuel efficient, not very comfortable or useful, and, to put it bluntly, ugly.

But so what? People loved them, and the idea of fixing all the flaws was a little bit sacrilegious.
 
To a true VW fan, the current "beetle" has always been a sham. The original car was ingenious, efficient, long-lasting, easy to repair, and somewhat fun to drive. The list of its shortcomings would fill a fairly large page. It was unsafe, rust-prone, slow as a rock, not particularly fuel efficient, not very comfortable or useful, and, to put it bluntly, ugly.

But so what? People loved them, and the idea of fixing all the flaws was a little bit sacrilegious.
My friend had a couple old ones converted into dune buggys.
Fun as hell, nearly indestructible, great traction with the rear mounted engine and posse traction.
Beat the hell out of them in the forest trails. Finally blew them both up.
 
Some things may not have been obvious or even known in warmer climates: These things went like tanks in the snow. With snow treads (skinny, of course), they would sometimes be seen passing Jeeps that were stuck on hills. No functional heater, but hey, you can't have everything.

I also had a Fiat 850 2-door sedan, with a rear engine (water cooled). Same thing. Could not be stopped in the snow. But god, what a piece of shit.
 

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