Why you cannot return a stripped TDI - Steve Lehto explains

"Porsche was my first word" (porschewasmyfirstword)
12/21/2016 at 14:47 • Filed to: None

Unfortunately Steve had to pull the video.

I had to pull it. I have to “approve” comments before they are posted (which I started doing for a reason). Suffice it to say that it got to the point where I was going to spend all evening deleting posts and/or wondering if I needed personal protection orders.

DISCUSSION (50)

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > Porsche was my first word
12/21/2016 at 14:53

Yay, Steve Lehto! I’ll watch this when I get home.

Urambo Tauro > Porsche was my first word
12/21/2016 at 14:57

Went straight to the YouTubes for the sneak peek, huh? (I did too)

I’m sure Steve will post it to Oppo in the morning, as usual. Would be nice to see it shared to Jalopnik.

TahoeSTi > Porsche was my first word
12/21/2016 at 14:59

What about other aftermarket modifications and performance enhancements? Also they won’t pay more for extra’s, like spare rims and tires, tow hitch, ski racks, upgraded stereos. Also what if a fix is never approved?

Porsche was my first word > Urambo Tauro
12/21/2016 at 14:59

I’m sure Steve will post it to Oppo in the morning. Would be nice to see it shared to Jalopnik.

Agreed.

I follow him on YouTube, find it always interisting. Saw he didn’t posted on Oppo yet but figured Opponauts would be interested.

McMike > Porsche was my first word
12/21/2016 at 15:00

I watched that earlier right before the front page posted the teaser that there would be video of the Stripper TDI.

I hope Jalopnik gets their mileage out of that dude before VW comes back with their verdict.

I can’t wait to read the build thread.

Chasaboo > Porsche was my first word
12/21/2016 at 15:02

I can’t listen to your audio as I’m at work, but I hit the CC button, and it’s hilarious. Best comedy show I’ve seen in a while. I love how NADA gets changed to Native. Pure genius right there.

BobintheMtns > Porsche was my first word
12/21/2016 at 15:08

What an awesome resource for oppo... thanks Steve.

jimz > Urambo Tauro
12/21/2016 at 15:10

he tweeted it earlier today, so not cheating ;)

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Porsche was my first word
12/21/2016 at 15:12

Now that I watched this, I’m curious what VW will do with all these cars they’re buying back... particularly the newest ones. I’m guessing the older ones will probably be recycled most likely.

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > Porsche was my first word
12/21/2016 at 15:13

Just watched it and as I htought now backed up by a lawyer, you can’t act like a petualant child and get a buy back. Be a damn adult and return the entire car.

Porsche was my first word > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
12/21/2016 at 15:16

I think they should be pretty generous if they are not getting totally screwed over. Running on Steelies instead of the aluminum rims, missing carpets, missing spare wheel and so on I think they will just ignore and pretend it never happen as the would like to do with whole Dieselgate. But missing body parts?

BeaterGT > My X-type is too a real Jaguar
12/21/2016 at 15:16

Just more of a reason not to pay attention to DT articles imo

TheRealBicycleBuck > Porsche was my first word
12/21/2016 at 15:17

Might I suggest the addition of some theme music at the beginning and end of your show? Even the YouTube wannabes have something that clearly introduces their “show” and let’s us know when it’s over. Something other than, “uh, thanks, goodbye.”

Porsche was my first word > My X-type is too a real Jaguar
12/21/2016 at 15:19

Yes. And I can imagine they will make some good offers for a new VW in addition to the buyback bonus. At least that’s what I would do if I were a VW dealer.

Chariotoflove > Porsche was my first word
12/21/2016 at 15:23

Steve says that you can return with reasonable wear, but not stripped and vandalized. But, depending on where you live in Detroit, aren’t those the same thing?

LongbowMkII > Porsche was my first word
12/21/2016 at 15:25

Lehto is wrong though at 6:55)As an illegal car it cannot have a Clean Trade Value as it cannot be resold as it sits.

Anyways, hood/doors etc aren’t needed to pass inspection in many places.

jimz > Chariotoflove
12/21/2016 at 15:25

Palmer Woods? Not likely.

Brightmoor? Probably, and it’ll be on fire too.

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > Porsche was my first word
12/21/2016 at 15:26

Never got an offer and I turned mine in yesterday. I even hung out in the showroom while waiting for my appointment chatting with the sales guys. The person who processed my turn in did ask me if I was intending to replace it with a new VW, she said she understood why I went with a different brand.

jimz > TheRealBicycleBuck
12/21/2016 at 15:26

unless he finds something royalty-free, it’ll cost him.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Porsche was my first word
12/21/2016 at 15:28

If VW hadn’t said the “spirit” of the buyback I would be more on their side. What’s the sprit supposed to mean? Like the “spirit” of not screwing and lying to your customers and wrecking the environment more then is legal?

Chariotoflove > jimz
12/21/2016 at 15:28

Well sure. How else is a guy supposed to keep warm on Christmas?

Porsche was my first word > Phyrxes once again has a wagon!
12/21/2016 at 15:31

Did you consider buying VW again?

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > Porsche was my first word
12/21/2016 at 15:36

I was not against staying if they pitched me a deal, then I drove the automatic golf wagon and hated it. It felt they had done nothing to improve it even though mine was the previous generation. The alltrack was intriguing but availability was a huge question.

I never received any offer or incentives from VW during the entire time so I don’t feel bad at all about taking the money and running.

SteveLehto > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
12/21/2016 at 15:37

The agreement specifically allows VW to repair any of the bought-back vehicles and put them back on the road if they want to (and if they have a fix). Which is one of the primary reasons that this agreement was not designed for consumers to strip the cars before turn-in.

Jcarr > SteveLehto
12/21/2016 at 15:41

Makes me wonder what kind of deal you’ll be able to get on these if they get a fix approved and implemented. Have to think they’ll be pretty motivated to sell them.

LongbowMkII > LongbowMkII
12/21/2016 at 15:46

Seriously , the entire drivetrain needs to be replaced that argument is non applicable.

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > SteveLehto
12/21/2016 at 15:46

Right and since the buyback includes two different generations one with and one without the def system. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the ones with the tanks back in the road t some point. As mine was an older one without the def system I took the settlement and turned mine in.

Jcarr > LongbowMkII
12/21/2016 at 16:09

I’m guessing by Clean Trade Value they mean what it would be if the engine were emissions compliant.

The crux of his argument was that this agreement was put in place with the expectation that VW would fix, recondition, and resell as many of the TDIs that they can, so they expect to get cars back that, other than the cheat fix, can be easily reconditioned for sale.

SteveLehto > Jcarr
12/21/2016 at 16:21

It’ll be interesting to watch.

LongbowMkII > Jcarr
12/21/2016 at 16:23

There is absolutely no evidence that VW will do anything but crush them. That expectation is silly.

Again, VW is not in the business of converting diesel drivetrains to gas (or installing, tuning and retesting urea filtered systems) Zero possibility to defray any of the costs as lehto suggests.

To argue that assumption would be similar to the Simpson vs Wagon Sales LLC case, which closed with Simpson claiming, “If I had wheels, I’d be a wagon.”

I know logic has nothing to do with law, but this is straightforward.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > Porsche was my first word
12/21/2016 at 16:23

Filed under: No shit dumbass

Great vid Steve, too bad the “stripped VW dumbass” didn’t seek actual legal advice first

BTW I loooove those vintage microphones behind you.

Nibbles > Porsche was my first word
12/21/2016 at 16:31

Hoh, I always pronounced it Nah-dah, not Neigh-dah.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
12/21/2016 at 16:38

It’s not just a filler word, though. He entered into a contract with VW to have his car repurchased and they could probably reasonably assert that he’s acting in bad faith (e.g. “spirit” of the buyback) given that he’s made public statements to the effect that he wanted to intentionally deprive VW of value. Bad faith is a pretty broad term, too, VW could make this plenty difficult for him if they feel so inclined even if he does ultimately get his car purchased.

Porsche was my first word > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
12/21/2016 at 16:39

Great vid Steve, too bad the “stripped VW dumbass” didn’t seek actual legal advice first.

Too bad for him, good for us.

BTW I loooove those vintage microphones behind you.

Maybe we see a piece about them from Steve?

SteveLehto > Porsche was my first word
12/21/2016 at 17:14

SteveLehto > Porsche was my first word
12/21/2016 at 17:15

I worked in radio before law school as a DJ. After, I have hosted talk shows on several occasions. The microphones are non functional but they are real.

Porsche was my first word > SteveLehto
12/21/2016 at 17:32

Too bad.

Hope you don’t mind I put it up here. I felt Oppos would like to get the info as soon as possible.

I think a lot was explained though in the short tim eit was up and maybe the Jalopnik folks contact you for something like an interview on this topic.

SteveLehto > Porsche was my first word
12/21/2016 at 18:14

I have no problem with that at all. I just hate how out of control people can get on the internet. It’s one thing to discuss something with passion. It’s another to threaten to kill someone you disagree with.

Porsche was my first word > SteveLehto
12/21/2016 at 18:39

Totally agree. Wonder what’s missing in those people’s lifes.

jimz > SteveLehto
12/21/2016 at 18:41

Christ. I know I sometimes am more rude than warranted online but I usually am self aware enough to regret it. Threats over something like this are unbelievable. I’ll never understand the mindset of. “hey, this is a nice thing. Let me piss all over it and ruin it for everyone.”

We’re these oppo commenters or randos with burner accounts?

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Porsche was my first word
12/21/2016 at 20:28

YouTube commenters are the worst.

jimz > Porsche was my first word
12/21/2016 at 21:05

Steve, I don’t know if you’re a hockey fan (but living in the Detroit area and being of Finnish descent, I don’t know why you wouldn’t be) but I was at this game and this was enough squee to warm even my frigid heart:

Urambo Tauro > SteveLehto
12/21/2016 at 21:42

I managed to catch the video before it disappeared. It was good! Will the podcast be available on any of the other platforms?

SteveLehto > Urambo Tauro
12/22/2016 at 10:41

No, sorry about that. I just got so sick of the negative comments.

Urambo Tauro > SteveLehto
12/22/2016 at 10:47

Bummer. That NADA definition you pointed out was just the silver bullet that the whole buyback conversation needs.

SteveLehto > Urambo Tauro
12/22/2016 at 10:51

The NADA thing was more to show that you can find any definition you want if you disregard context. The settlement clearly intends for VW to put the cars back on the road some day - so if you trash the car before returning it, you are no longer acting in the way the settlement was intended.

Urambo Tauro > SteveLehto
12/22/2016 at 10:56

Yeah, the spirit of the law here was pretty obvious. Spelling it out like you did really helped to show that the “loopholes” aren’t even there.

jimz > SteveLehto
12/22/2016 at 12:50

oh so they were on Youtube. Doesn’t surprise me. chances are they’re all a bunch of impotent kids doing it for the lulz, but with some of the stuff people have pulled on the internet (SWATting, etc.) it’s better not to take the chance. and just imagine if you were a woman; you could probably expect rape threats on top of all that.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/02/alanah-pearce-rape-threats-facebook_n_6248928.html

THIS IS WHY WE CAN’T HAVE NICE THINGS.

SteveLehto > jimz
12/22/2016 at 13:06

In response to the follow up video I posted (What to do after an accident) I got the usual stuff. My favorite: “EVERYTHING THIS GUY JUST SAID IS WRONG!”

And then a few hundred word screed going point by point over my video and disputing everything. Call 911? NEVER. Move the vehicles out of the road? ARE YOU INSANE. Get a copy of the police report? INSANITY!

What is truly fun is that about once a week I get a complaint from someone who says I am “censoring” them by not allowing comments to show without my approval. Yes, I am censoring. And if you can’t behave in a fairly civilzied manner you deserve it.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Porsche was my first word
12/26/2016 at 09:50

Is there any way I can still view?

I’d like to obtain a pair of front seats from one of those returned Golfs.