I have a 2015, so hopefully the experience will be good. There are clutches in conventional automatics as well, so it's not like they haven't solved that problem before. In the very worst case, I bought an essentially new car for a fraction of its value, so there's cash to spare. Before stumbling onto this, I was considering a 2018 328D (which has the same transmission). More than twice the price. So the way I look at it, I have a couple of years warranty on the transmission, and cash in pocket for any future trouble. No point looking for the dark lining in the silver cloud.

More a warning to the unitiiated. Volkswagon is far from the only brand with a possible issue at the same time. It is not the big deal it was once. They had so many issues with their earlier automatics. They even tried having them built in Japan with no better results.

I had a look for released Jetta buybacks. I found few on the Canadian market at this time. Almost none. Principally it was going to be the only way I might corner a six speed manual. They may be pretty well gone. I think some of their six speed manuals may have been released. There are at least 2,000 of the Passats still out there currently. I found 1,700 on one Canadian site alone.

Come to think of it there were only one or two jetttas at best that came into the local used car dealer in his last load. Of their products. Prior to that he seemed to be getting at least several. The dealership in a town I was in a week or so ago had none. Perhaps the Canadian Jetta diesel buybacks are gone? what I was pleased to observe was regular cars seem to be depreciating faster. Than has not been the case for a few years up here in Canada. This gives used car buyers a bit of a break. Or it may just indicate that buyers are going for new with easy no interest credit. Creating a surplus of used cars.

Another possibility is the dealer network might have been complaining so they are now holding them back for awhile. Could they have been hurting new sales? Really though it is more probable they have just sold most of them.

I use Truecar, which lists inventory from hundreds of dealers. I'm not sure if there's a similar system in Canada. Here's one not too far from me:

https://www.truecar.com/used-cars-for-sale/listing/3VWLA7AJ7FM299659/2015-volkswagen-jetta/

It seems they are releasing 2015's with manuals.

I've been away for a while and just now saw this thread. I bought a 2015 Golf Sportwagen last December with 26K on it, white with black interior, base trim as I did not want a sun roof (pano). I've put about 9K on it so far and I really, really love this car. Not a thing wrong with it, looks and drives like a new car, still smells like a new car. I replaced the tires over the summer with Michelins just because I didn't want to risk any problems with the original Continentals as they had sat in storage for 1.5-2 years and were dated early 2014. Other than that just maintenance and fuel.

Averaging about 40 MPG in mixed driving, 47-48 highway and if I burn a whole tank in the city it will drop to the mid 30's. It has the DSG transmission and the torque is amazing, it takes off like a slingshot! Fun to drive, plenty of head room and easy to park. 7.5 cents per mile average fuel cost over 9,000 miles.

I found it at a wholesaler about 100 miles away in Phoenix, car was originally a Cali lease car.
I installed a few apps to monitor engine parameters and regens, VAG DPF to monitor all aspects of a regen and health of the DPF, Torque Pro for various temps etc and also can predict a regen, and OBDeleven for code reading and making changes to the software programming.

I really think these cars are a little known secret, and a great deal. Next I want a Tourag TDI, watching for a low mile white one.

__________________
Brian
87 300Dturbo 180K #14 head still running R-12 SOLD 12/2017
02 F350 Powerstroke 180K
05 Chevy Express 1 ton w/Royal Utility box 120K
08 Infiniti FX-35 40K
15 Golf Sportwagen TDI 35K
10 Sprinter 3500 chassis with a Class A Winnebago on it. 56K

I promised myself a year or two of grease-free hands when I bought the car, so I haven't been looking into such things...are you recommending these aps? I hadn't even thought about the FSM, and I'm wallowing in warranty-induced sloth...is there one available somewhere?

I have also been impressed enough to be watching for another. I found a highline Jetta with a manual six speed about 80 miles away. I have not found out yet if it was a buyback or not though. Also the price needs negotiation. It was only one of two with a manual transmission I found. Within a thousand miles of us. I can accept forty thousand miles. They may be pushing on the price a little as it has navigation, leather, etc. Perhaps because it has a manual transmission as well.


Most members are American so I convert to your miles and approximate dollars. They want 8K. I think it is a little too high. A Mazda dealer has it. 6.5K to 7k is what I think it is perhaps worth if it inspects really well. Black leather and it looks like some form of darker grey but not black. If it is unmodified I would leave it as is. It did have an accident reported on carfax in 2016. On the front center. So the inspection would require a four wheel alignment check as well. The claim was for about 2K. That amount does not repair a lot of damage these days. Perhaps little more than a bumper cover and paint.


There was a 2013 Passat with extra wheels and snow tires. Again I suspect it was not a buyback posted.. A little under five thousand American for that one asking. More accumulated miles than I like as well though in a complex car. I must sound like a bottom feeder. But existing millage and condition are things I target.

I think what really partially sells these to individuals. If you are merging or passing and need signifigant acceleration. It really is there quickly. Our old 2006 jetta diesel is almost like a turtle in comparison. You never feel the heavy acceleration in it. Simply because it does not exist.


The Passat diesels are also software programmed a little different. I suspect a wider torque band. Yet the fuel millage seems to remain as well.


Volkswagon has been persistent in the north American market. Generally boosting power instead of fuel millage. Yet the Passat seems to be comparable to the volkswagon diesels of the middle 1980s for fuel milage. That had far less mass and rolling resistance. They were on a path they discontinued as well. The actual parts count in those cars seemed well below industry averages.

I really like to know what's going on which is why I got the apps. I don't like to shut down during a regen although I probably shouldn't care with the 162K emissions warranty but I just can't shut down an engine when the EGT is 1,200 degrees. I've run Torque Pro for years on my Powerstroke and it works just as well on the VW, I recommend a high quality Bluetooth adapter like the OBD-MX. The VAG-DPF is more detailed regarding regens, it shows all EGTs, calculated soot load, actual soot load, ash load, post injection and percent of calculated soot load up to 100% when a regen will start, then it will show the percent declining as the regen is in progress so you know how much longer it will be. I've gotten them down to 13 minutes in town by using lower gears.
OBDeleven is great for diagnostics as well as changing thins for instance I enabled my key fob to be able to lock the doors and set the alarm while the engine is running, and to roll all the windows up or down with the key fob. Many factory settings can be altered with OBDeleven.
I found a 2015 Golf FSM online but it is for the gas model so it's good for everything but the engine, which by the way is totally new for 2015, the CRUA series or known as the EA-288 by VW.

__________________
Brian
87 300Dturbo 180K #14 head still running R-12 SOLD 12/2017
02 F350 Powerstroke 180K
05 Chevy Express 1 ton w/Royal Utility box 120K
08 Infiniti FX-35 40K
15 Golf Sportwagen TDI 35K
10 Sprinter 3500 chassis with a Class A Winnebago on it. 56K

Here is a screenshot of VAG-DPF, a cheap Android app. Note the percent bar graph on top of the gauges. When a regen begins you get an audible notification and the DPF icon turns red

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
Brian
87 300Dturbo 180K #14 head still running R-12 SOLD 12/2017
02 F350 Powerstroke 180K
05 Chevy Express 1 ton w/Royal Utility box 120K
08 Infiniti FX-35 40K
15 Golf Sportwagen TDI 35K
10 Sprinter 3500 chassis with a Class A Winnebago on it. 56K

You can set up a similar display with Torque Pro, but when the dpf percent gets to 100, a regen starts but the counter stays at 100% till the regen completes, so you can't see the progress which is fine on the highway but nice to know in the city in case you want to drive through it before stopping. I have since added ECT and discovered that the dash gauge stays right on 200 when the actual ECT ranges from 194 to around 225. I use an old Samsung S3 phone as my dedicated car-puter so I can run the programs without using my cell phone. The S-3 has a large screen and fits perfectly in the space in the open ash tray door in front of the shifter

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
Brian
87 300Dturbo 180K #14 head still running R-12 SOLD 12/2017
02 F350 Powerstroke 180K
05 Chevy Express 1 ton w/Royal Utility box 120K
08 Infiniti FX-35 40K
15 Golf Sportwagen TDI 35K
10 Sprinter 3500 chassis with a Class A Winnebago on it. 56K

The OBDeleven is an affordable way to have VAG-COM capabilities without spending big bucks. You can do all the maintenance functions like cycling the fuel pump after changing the filter to prevent a dry start up, releasing the calipers to change brake pads, reset the DSG to factory in case you don't like the habits it has "learned" from you or a previous driver etc etc. It has a proprietary Bluetooth dongle and requires an internet connection, I think I paid $80 for it.

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
Brian
87 300Dturbo 180K #14 head still running R-12 SOLD 12/2017
02 F350 Powerstroke 180K
05 Chevy Express 1 ton w/Royal Utility box 120K
08 Infiniti FX-35 40K
15 Golf Sportwagen TDI 35K
10 Sprinter 3500 chassis with a Class A Winnebago on it. 56K

Those of you with the MK7 with the EA-288 might find this interesting

http://pics3.tdiclub.com/data/517/820433_EA288.pdf

__________________
Brian
87 300Dturbo 180K #14 head still running R-12 SOLD 12/2017
02 F350 Powerstroke 180K
05 Chevy Express 1 ton w/Royal Utility box 120K
08 Infiniti FX-35 40K
15 Golf Sportwagen TDI 35K
10 Sprinter 3500 chassis with a Class A Winnebago on it. 56K

This was really interesting and informative.Thanks for putting it up.


The dealer dropped the title from Volkswagon Canada by today. It is no wonder so many people returned them. There was the amount of sales tax Volkswagon paid when they purchased the vehicle back. From that of course I could estimate what Volkswagon paid.


Plus perhaps they mailed out cheques to the owners before the buyback. It was rumored some people that had purchased them used had actually made money. When they sold them back.


Anyone have any ideal of what it costs to change out the particle filter if and when needed? After the extended warranty. Just curious.

On the MK7 the subframe must be dropped to replace the "exhaust purification module" and I was told it is a $4K job at the dealership

__________________
Brian
87 300Dturbo 180K #14 head still running R-12 SOLD 12/2017
02 F350 Powerstroke 180K
05 Chevy Express 1 ton w/Royal Utility box 120K
08 Infiniti FX-35 40K
15 Golf Sportwagen TDI 35K
10 Sprinter 3500 chassis with a Class A Winnebago on it. 56K

yes, I paid 14k for my 012 diesel wagon with six manual with 66K miles on it, drove it three years and with 106k on it VW paid me 20.6 k for it. I'd rather have the diesel engine but did not trust the fix after having trouble with the Porsche Cayenne I had.

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Well I decided if a car is not a buyback with the warranty. I am not interested. Although if not modified carboning up in some of the engine components probably could not become an issue. Will it become an issue on these modified cars depends on many factors. With the premium diesel fuel the components do get doused with raw fuel during regeneration. That fuel has high detergent levels. They inject during the exhaust stroke and the gas and raw fuel gets sent to the particle filter. Starting and enabling the regeneration.

If cheap enough I figure the cost of the car until the buyback warranty is gone. If an issue that is too expensive to address occurs after. Our cars cost was far less. Than if the depreciation on a brand new vehicle would have occurred. Over two years. Perhaps even in just one year.

Possibly because of the urea injection the recycling of the exhaust component is not as great. They have increased that urea flow with the change as well. These buybacks do not meet current emissions standards. The government has allowed some percentage of overages. I read a chart.

There are existing reports of unmodified cars going substantial millage beyond what was expected trouble wise. To accumulate that amount of millage would require a high percentage of highway use I suspect. In the wives case she is and will be doing ninety five percent or more highway usage. There are also reports of the particle filter needing changed earlier. My guess because of primarily a lot of short town or city trips. With little highway use. I believe the warranty was extended on that part until 120K. Volkswagon tends to stick to the minute or exact mile on their warranties. So if you are taking the car to a dealer for the 120 mile check. Than includes checking the condition of the particle filter. Do it just before the 120K mile check. Not a mile greater. The argument that if it is bad now it was bad a mile ago will usually get you nowhere.

The DSG automatic was eight thousand to replace it at a dealership one poster mentioned on the TDI site. You can buy a rebuilt with a five year warranty for about three thousand aftermarket. Plus removal and installation. It appears the solinoids might fail. As the solinoid kit appears to be 2100.00 retail. Plus if the rebuilders are in for that the dual clutch should probably be changed as well.

That dealer example of costs is what pisses owners off all too often. The problem has produced skilled independents on the brand in a lot of areas. Both those prices are in American dollars. Again if we had to walk away from this car at 120K miles when the buyback warranty stops. The cost of ownership has not been unreasonable. All costs would be offset by the expense account earnings of about 60K dollars. Approx 10K for fuel and maintenance to get there. Insurance registration and cost of the vehicle as well. So any risk to ourselves is reasonable. I could estimate our break even point but that does not matter. Nor is it certain. Selling off the Toyota also offsets the purchase cost to a great degree. I am having second thoughts about selling it. As that Toyota has seen all highway miles almost exclusively. Since we purchased it with under 5K miles. Once again over 95 percent of those miles.

Someday maybe not that it matters really. I am going to factor everything in. To produce the average cost per mile over the road. It will include depreciation, maintenance, fuel costs, Insurance and registration costs. Plus cost of the car and interest if applicable. I cannot guess it and it will depend on several specific variables.

Twenty five cents a mile will not surprise me though. As the low end of the spectrum. On certain cars by the same token total costs may be closer to 1.00 a mile of service. Obviously the older the car if it is fairly reliable the cheaper per mile. Does anyone know if anyone has graphed this all out yet?

On a brand new vehicle for the first three years it is calculated at 84 cents per mile at the average miles per year accumulated in Canada. By the actuaries that set our existing paid for millage rates. Logically the value of it decreases with less use and increases with more millage per year. Whatever retained value is received at the end of this ownership can be used to reduce the cost per mile. It is calculated in by the actuaries. Most people drive a car for three to four years. We use cheaper cars to service the miles for the expense accounts. So at least that difference lands up in our pockets. Plus generally we use cars that favor higher fuel millage.

I am going to have a look on the net for any applicable information. I just went for a quick look under cost of ownership. Lots of formulas and some average guesses. I was in the general ballpark with some of mine. A new car with a monthly payment of 500.00 a month. The yearly first year cost is 8500.00 if you drive it 15 thousand miles. That is about .50 cents per mile. Personally I suspect this might even be low. Twenty cents to over a dollar per mile show up as well. Depending of course on a lot of variables. High end costs in general are self inflicted.

In our case that would allow for about a 4K balance in our favor. We drive a lot more than 15K miles per year on the expense accounts plus we do it as cheap as is reasonable with reliability. So it is overall much more in our favor per year. Tax free does not hurt either. Once the initial cost of the vehicle has been returned. Not that much but it does more than offset the cost of vehicles. Plus we still get the personal use out of them as well.

I think the emission disaster was created just to to keep me buying their products. It has always been a love hate relationship. I was considering high line Toyotas or Honda products. Generally I like the volkswagon products. I just do not like most of the dealers and their practices. Plus the companies brainless unreasonable customer service in my opinion. Even if Volkswagon products rise to the number one position again in the world for sales. They will never hold on to it with those two issues in the background.

There is almost no doubt in my mind. If budgets are tight Toyota and Honda new and used present the lowest cost per mile. If you know how to pick used cars. I am willing to take a certain amount of risk on because we are not on a budget.

It is going to get cold soon and I wonder if they have eliminated the glow plugs in the coolant system. The wife will let me know if they have. Volkswagon did it before. The heaters in the mid 1980 models could physically burn you. In the year they went direct injection the heater was almost missing for all practical purposes. . Then they eventually inserted some glow plugs into the coolant circuit.