Mark P

I had mentally been thinking of a 2014 as I previously sold off those wheels but always liked them on Daytona. Now I have a 2015 on hold for me and ordinarily would like the 2015 wheels better (I'm not historically a fan of dark wheels), but had mentally been picturing me owning this dark combo on the 2014, thus the dilemma. I do, however, think the 2015 wheels makes the car look newer as the 2014 wheels have been around for a while (but still look good)...

If I take other things into account, the 2015 is somewhere between $500-$2000 more than the 2014, but in 2015 I get:
- 1 year newer for better resale / buyback
- 1 year newer for worse annual property tax bill
- 10k less miles (16k vs 26k)
- 1.8 yr later (7/15 vs 9/13) in-service date (For new car warranty, and based on 15k/yr results in 1.5 yrs longer warranty coverage through Audi. Rough estimates on aftermarket warranty likely results in 10 more months of aftermarket warranty on 2015. Note these aren't additive. Aftermarket would apply while under new car warranty to buy in at lower price but have similar end date/miles. So the 1.5 yr difference is really just which warranty to use as both are covered during that time, but at the end of their life the 2015 would end up with about 10 more months of coverage - that part is different)
- 1 more Audi Care service remaining (25k/35k/45k vs 35k/45k)
- Doesn't include trunk mat (2014 has this)
- Anything else new on the 2015s I need to learn about? I see the aluminum trim has textured pattern.


2014:


2015:


Note: The 2014 is not the car for sale and the one photographed has tinted windows. The 2015 is the one for sale. Also the 2015 has roof rack bars in photo, altering comparison slightly.

And I've also out of nowhere started considering an A7 TDI. I'm not one for sedans as I need utility & trunk space, so the A7's hatchback can work well for me. It won't tow, but I have a Q5 for that. the 24/38 MPG rating is even better than the Q5 24/31. With the uncertain of TDI future (I assume they're done for a long time), I might want to pick up one of these now. And also if I decide I just want it for a year, there may be a buyback anyway which could make that easy. Of course, it turns out they are far more scarce than Q5 TDIs as there are only about a dozen 2014-2015 TDIs for sale nationwide right now. The day I had this revelation I found the one below but it had been sold that morning It would have been perfect for me. So now I'm torn which direction to go...

DennisMitchell

Hi Mark,

Sounds like a plan but I don't know if you will be eligible for potential TDI settlement if you buy after December 2015. I love those peeler wheels on your 2014 photo. The A7 TDI would be a very unique car if you could find another for sale. Perhaps you should continue your A7 TDI search. Nothing will change regarding the TDI 3.0L issue to at least early November hearing. I guess you are ready for a bold move. Good luck.

Mark P

Thanks Dennis. Here's my view on the whole TDI & compensation/settlement thing, based heavily on what they did with the 2.0TDI engine which I've been following closely for some relatives...

If I buy now, I certainly do not get the Goodwill $500 VISA + $500 dealer credit. That applied to both 2.0TDI and 3.0TDI.

There are two other major components for the 2.0TDI have been identified, but not yet identified for the 3.0TDI:

1.) Restitution
> A min of $5,100 and a max of $10,000 is paid out to owners, based on 20% of NADA in Sept 2015 (before scandal) for the mileage the car had then, plus ~$3k.
> This is paid out regardless of whether the car is fixed or bought back
> If the car was sold between Sept '15 and June '16, this is paid out 50% to the seller/owner in Sept '15 and 50% to the current owner. Note the current owner can get more than 50% if the collective sellers do not claim all of their restitution.
> If the car was sold after June '16, only the 50% is paid to the seller/owner in Sept '15. The current owner does not get any of this.

2.) Buyback
> Completely separate from above
> Based on NADA clean car in Sept 2015, adjusted for mileage when it's turned in.

Note the June 2016 date is when the monetary payments were announced for the 2.0TDI. If you bought after that, that's when things change notably. This has not yet occurred for the 3.0TDI.

My speculation is the 3.0TDI will also have a restitution, a viable fix, and I think will also have a buyback *option*. It's not really an option for 2.0TDI (yet, and probably never) since those are unlikely to have a fix due to their (save Passat) lack of hardware components that the 3.0TDIs have.

So I'm speculating that if I buy before the compensation settlement is announced for the 3.0TDI, I'd still be included in that 50% Restitution. If there's a Buyback option, I expect any current owner would be included in that.

Decisions decisions....

DennisMitchell

Sounds right.

jpc

Mark P. - what's your thoughts on whether or not the preliminary buyback amounts provided by VW for the 2.0 TDI settlement will be different after the final hearing on October 18th?

Mark P

I don't see any change coming on 2.0TDI compensation. Those amounts are on the website (in owners' accounts) and I believe owners can already choose buybacks for those amounts. The first date to perform the buyback is 11/1/16 if I recall correctly.

BarryT

They're all nice vehicles. I love that color with the 2015 wheels. Have you considered an A8 TDI? They're in the same price range as the A7 TDI and you get a lot more for the money.

Mark P

Decisions!