by "functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
Published 05/02/2017 at 14:12
by "functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
Published 05/02/2017 at 14:12
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I know of a lot of local people with TDI Jetta wagons, now lining up for the buyback and finding themselves shopping for a new car. I’ve talked to some of my friends and coworkers in this situation, and most say the same thing: “I really need the space of the wagon, so it seems like I’ll have to get an SUV. But I’ll sure miss the mileage [and all that sweet emissions-cheating pollution?!]” I try to convince them that this is not true, but they are unconvinced.
How about a Volvo wagon, I say? Nah, too expensive (even used?!). Subaru? Terrible mileage - all TDI owners must think that about nearly every other car. OK, Prius V? Nah, too complicated/ugly/small. I point out that I drive a car that’s nearly the exact size of a Jetta wagon, and could be had used for 1/2 of their buyback money... put aside the rest for maintenance if that’s a concern. You could even get a manual! Ooh that sounds promising! What is it? Oh. Nah, BMW too fancy.
One thing they unsurprisingly have in common is that most do not want another VW product, at least not yet. Only one person I know of is waiting for a manual AllTrac to become available in the States (which I believe is soon?).
One local guy, I don’t know his name, made a very strange choice. He’s a character I see in the coffee shop a lot, but have never had occasion to talk to. He’s always well dressed, clean shaven except for his chosen facial hair scheme, nearly always in a bow tie, and his car is immaculate - it was a manual red TDI wagon. I don’t know his motivation for the wagon over a sedan, but I was sure he’d be in something like a Mini Clubman or BMW, maybe that funky Lexus CT250 hybrid? Nope, Honda CR-V. Fine choice but boring, right? For a guy with apparently some degree of individuality, it’s odd. Maybe I’m reading too much into it.
But then an accountant I work with, she loved the wagon because it was pretty fun to drive yet she fits her dogs in it and gets great mileage... so she got a Honda CR-V. What? She looked at the Subaru Crosstrek and Outback, but decided the Honda was a better buy.
Another woman whose teenage daughter is on a team I coach, she had a bright red wagon, too. Guess what she bought? A Honda CR-V. I can’t make this s**t up! There’s another one I passed just this morning, total stranger but has a vanity plate and I know it was on a TDI Jetta until it showed up on... you guessed it!! Honda CR-V.
So, is it just me, or is anyone else depressed that via this dieselgate thing, we’re losing a whole huge population of a dwindling breed of car to the alarmingly popular amorphous blob segment? Do we have a sneaky local Honda dealer targeting disgruntled VW owners, promising that sweet Honda reliability?
What are TDI owners replacing their beloved oil burners with in your area? Or maybe you’re one of them?
"Discerning" (discerning2003c5z)
05/02/2017 at 14:21, STARS: 1
The CR-V is a great choice for someone who needs space, economy, and reliability. The Jetta wagon met two of those requirements but was otherwise no less an appliance in nature than a CR-V.
There shouldnt be any surprise in regard to their replacement choice.
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
05/02/2017 at 14:28, STARS: 3
The thing with the CR-V is it’s basically the ideal small/mid-size crossover. It is a very well thought-out transportation appliance.
With all but the base LX trim you get the becoming-ubiquitous Honda 1.5 turbo motor, tuned to 190 hp. It gives 29 combined mpg on awd or 30 on fwd and runs on regular unleaded. The base 2.4 NA motor only gives up a few hp, some low-end torque, and a couple mpg.
It’s comfy but the handling’s not completely dead. There’s plenty of room for people and stuff. It’s safe. It’s reliable. You can get basically any options you want. Most but not all of the trims are still comfortably under $30k.
Sure, it’s not unique.
But while a TDI wagon is unique, I have to believe many people bought them because they wanted cargo room and mileage and don’t care about uniqueness. So those folks, if they’re feeling stung by Dieselgate (and possibly VW reliability), it totally make sense to buy the current best small/mid-size crossover.
Or if they have shitty credit, buy a Nissan Rogue.
"nerd_racing" (nerd189)
05/02/2017 at 14:29, STARS: 1
Local Mazda dealer has been making bank, they are right across the street from the VW dealer. He said he has done 12 sales where they got the Mazda vehicles for basically free.
"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
05/02/2017 at 14:33, STARS: 0
I only know one person who had a TDI Sportwagen. She turned it in and replaced it with a new Outback. Didn’t want to sit up higher, wanted a new car with warranty, couldn’t afford a Volvo or 3er. That left the gas Sportwagen or Outback, and she was done with VW.
One of my neighbors that I never talk to bought a TDI Passat a few years ago. Two weekends ago it was gone and a new-to-them Jetta Hybrid was parked in its place, so I figured maybe they were OK with VW but still wanted something with the same MPG. But then the Passat reappeared so IDK what is going on. Maybe they are taking the fix - these people also have an EcoDiesel Grand Cherokee and Ram 1500, so clearly they like their diesels.
"SPAMBot - Horse Doctor" (spambot2002)
05/02/2017 at 14:33, STARS: 0
Three (or four) Jetta owners I personally know all bought (or will buy) a Crosstrek. The CR-V does seem odd given the lack of uniqueness.
"HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles" (hondasfordsvolvo)
05/02/2017 at 14:38, STARS: 1
The funny thing is most CVT Subarus get deferment leading mileage even the Crosstreck gets 31 hwy and 28 in town
"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
05/02/2017 at 14:50, STARS: 0
That about sums it up. I love Hondas, don’t get me wrong. I just have never loved the small/mid-sized/suv/crossover thing.
"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
05/02/2017 at 14:52, STARS: 0
Yeah, you’re probably right. Basically, these people are looking for a new car (NEW new) and the CR-V is tough to beat.
"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
05/02/2017 at 14:53, STARS: 0
I guess with the dominance of Subarus around here, I expected more Subaru trades than I’ve seen. But then, one person said, “Don’t they all have head gasket issues?” Which is a blemish I had been forgetting about, and which Honda really doesn’t have...
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
05/02/2017 at 15:03, STARS: 1
I can tolerate crossovers because I’ve always liked hatchbacks and wagons. Sure, crossovers are higher off the ground which makes them less good at going around turns quickly but many non-enthusiast people like the higher seating position.
Also I’d much rather see crossovers proliferating everywhere than body-on-frame SUVs. In the pre-crossover era you were much more likely to see families buying Suburbans because they needed a minivan but didn’t want to be seen in a minivan.
Summer 2004, I sold cars at a Toyota dealer. This yuppie couple comes in, the wife is this tiny little lady, and they want to look at the Sequoia because baby #2 is on the way. She commented on how big the Sequoia was to drive, and felt like a bus, and tricky to park. I said, “you’ll have tons of room in the Sienna and fully loaded with AWD it’s 5 grand cheaper than the Sequoia, with gadgets you can’t get on the Sequoia like active cruise control.”
I said this partly because I’m a car guy and minivans are better family haulers than full size truck SUVs, and partly because I knew the biggest discount we’d give on a Sienna was only $500 since the second gen had just come out that summer and they were selling like crazy, so I’d get a bigger commission.
She was like, “NO, I will definitely not drive a MINIVAN.”
I sold them the Sequoia for like 4 grand below sticker. It was still higher than the sticker price of a Sienna XLE AWD.
"SPAMBot - Horse Doctor" (spambot2002)
05/02/2017 at 15:05, STARS: 1
I could see the reliability of a Honda being a huge selling point coming from a VW. Mine has been super reliable but I feel like the newer cars have more issues.
"Rico" (ricorich)
05/02/2017 at 15:29, STARS: 1
CRV is the gold standard in this segment, no surprise to me.
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
05/02/2017 at 15:49, STARS: 1
Outs goes back Monday and we are still shopping. Current frontrunners are:
XC90
XC70
GX470
"GTI Sprinks" (gtisprinks)
05/02/2017 at 16:16, STARS: 1
Exactly this. Although locally i will say nearly everyone has gone for alltrack or GSW. Personally went from the jetta sedan to a GTI. I’ve seen at least 4 new GSW/Alltrack on my block in the last 2 months.
"TDIGuy" (owenrosier)
05/02/2017 at 16:47, STARS: 1
I am one of the few that got another VW. I basically just took the money and ran. I understand the CR-V thing. It makes the most sense and falls in a similar price bracket but I also can’t wrap my head around the lack of uniqueness. Thats why I went back to a VW because everything else felt the same. But also the CR-V gets about 30mpg while I got 40+ in the Jetta so I don’t think they are that close in efficiency
"jkm7680" (jkm7680)
05/02/2017 at 19:01, STARS: 1
My neighborhood has a ton of Sportwagons.
Most of them are still there, or have been replaced with non-diesel models.
"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
05/02/2017 at 21:02, STARS: 0
Interesting... just after I wrote this I walked out to my car and found another car that used to be a TDI wagon, now it’s a red civic hatch, brand new. Not a bad replacement...