Volkswagen running for cover

[Stylo]

A decade old family feud, boardroom coups, takeover battles and now the realisation of the manipulated diesel emissions tests in the U.S. ( and Europe too it's been suggested ) that could run into the tens of billions in costs.

Not a good week for Volkswagen, and it ain't gonna get any better. This is just the start .

[EJK]

I suspect American automobile companies conspiracy in the works. Ford and GMs are pumping out 4,000cc V8s (except for the new Mustang EcoBoost bullshit) out of the production line hourly and they are pointing fingers at VW for cheating emission tests for their 1.6/2.0 diesel engines.

Like what happened to Toyota just after GM/Ford crisis in 2008-2010. "American cars don't sell well? Then let's cover a media about a lady who put her foot down pedal to the metal on the freeway then blame Toyota for poor quality of floor carpets"

[Maha]

I don't think it's that bigger deal, there is no vehicle life threatening fault here, just more crap being exhausted than usual.

[EJK]

I don't think it's that bigger deal, there is no vehicle life threatening fault here, just more crap being exhausted than usual.

And only American rules/ regulations.

[Maha]

And only American rules/ regulations.

I'd still buy a VW if that's what I really wanted, their SUV's are quite a looker.

[Laava]

What I wanna know is how come Axehole hasn't jumped in here and blamed the jews yet?

Oh, it might be his PD day.

[Laava]

I'd still buy a VW if that's what I really wanted, their SUV's are quite a looker.

Exactly, they are still a class act. Also one of the few cars accurately described as a vag car, along with anything with Chery written on it. Time will tell regarding the resale though.

[neels]

Time will tell regarding the resale though.

Depends what they do to them from here. If they are left as they are, they will lose appeal with the small amount of the market who are people buying for environmental reasons. If they have to reprogram to meet the emission standards and lose engine power and economy, they will probably lose appeal with most of their market who were buying for those reasons.

Either way the lawyers will make a small fortune sorting it out.

[sidecar bob]

Id be prepared to bet that another couple of prominent European brands will be in the same shit shortly.
They're all using similar technology & if one brand cant meet the standards, chances are that some of the others are fudging the results too.
They announced this morning that other brands will be tested.
As it is, the air coming out the tailpipe of most of that stuff is cleaner than what's going in the at the front.

[pritch]

Funny how this was discovered. VW apparently use two different testing regimes and some tiny outfit with a minute budget was interested to compare the results obtained by each. They got an unexpected result.

Ducati executives have been asked for comment but have been apparently told not to. Then again Ducati is but a small corner of the VW empire.

Nothing in this would put me off buying a VW, but in the USA lawyers will no doubt be looking to start a class action.

[sidecar bob]

What I wanna know is how come Axehole hasn't jumped in here and blamed the jews yet?

Oh, it might be his PD day.

It's not their fault, they were just the last poor bastards the Germans lied to about gas emissions.

[FROSTY:Me]

mehh--VW cheated ,VW got caught.VW have stated that they cheted. It was a definite case of cheating not miscalculation of figures.
Global fallout--well for VW its already happening.You can bet your boots theres a bunch of other manufacturers with billions of lost sales all around the world as a result who will be baying for blood.
Long term--the entire vehicle testing regime has to be called into question.
Methodology needs to be reviewed.
This is the tip of a VERY ugly iceberg.

[EJK]

It's not their fault, they were just the last poor bastards the Germans lied to about gas emissions.

Hitler and the chamber of secrets?

[sidecar bob]

mehh--VW cheated ,VW got caught.VW have stated that they cheted. It was a definite case of cheating not miscalculation of figures.
Global fallout--well for VW its already happening.You can bet your boots theres a bunch of other manufacturers with billions of lost sales all around the world as a result who will be baying for blood.
Long term--the entire vehicle testing regime has to be called into question.
Methodology needs to be reviewed.
This is the tip of a VERY ugly iceberg.

What I can't understand is that for every VW model, there is an equivalent Audi, Skoda & Seat, it's just a degree of luxury thing. How did they not fail the emissions tests? or are they next? And they are not the brands I predict will be getting busted for the same thing shortly, although it's probably inevitable.

[Grumph]

What I can't understand is that for every VW model, there is an equivalent Audi, Skoda & Seat, it's just a degree of luxury thing. How did they not fail the emissions tests? or are they next? And they are not the brands I predict will be getting busted for the same thing shortly, although it's probably inevitable.

I understood that pretty well all the Euro manufacturers examine the competition very closely - and regularly buy examples and test them.
I'd bet more than one has found the trick for meeting emissions testing and thought, "shit that's a good idea, lets see how long we can get away with this"
As you say Bob, more to come....