If you paid attention to the hysterical mass media who wouldn’t know a particulate filter from their elbow, a diesel Volkswagen is now worth about 5p. Maybe less.
The great USA oilburnermageddon situation, as I’m calling it, has really got out of hand.
Cleverer Autocar contributors than me – see Hilton Holloway, Matt Burt, Jim Holder, John McIlroy and Steve Cropley – have explained all the salient and very technical details and the industry implications.
That leaves me to tell you what the showroom take is on all this, which is this: carry on regardless.
It has to be something of a slow news week when a car company makes the front pages for being naughty. I’m not being that flippant, just realistic.
The buying public are not stupid and they know that Volkswagens which drink the diesely stuff are well appointed, premium badged, and sturdily built rather than pollution-belching death machines.
Yes, these are cars that deliver well over 50mpg. That is all they care about. If there is a recall, then that’s a good thing; it will get sorted properly. Owners will carry on driving the cars they like and even, in some cases, love.
I mean, all that Toyota airbag shenanigans which could have ended rather seriously for the driver and passengers is now largely forgotten. Toyota still seems to be in business. Who would have predicted that? Certainly not the over-excited journalists writing the ill informed sensation heavy headlines a few months back.
In the short term maybe there will be the odd part exchange jitter. Perhaps it will embolden a buyer to ask for an extra fifty quid off, but really Vee Dubs won’t be left haphazardly abandoned in the street like Trabants after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The green lobby and the gullible unquestioning media might think this is a heinous crime against the planet, but Mr and Mrs Car Buyer in Harrogate should – and will – just carry on regardless and sign on the dotted line for another diesel Golf.
Read more on the Volkswagen emissions scandal:
How the Volkswagen story unfolded
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Shoddy
You do yourself no favours with this 'defend the indefensible' dinosaur attitude. You, the motoring press, should be looking into this subject thoroughly, using your position to bring about improvement and change, instead of bleating about this being a storm in a teacup.
@ michael knight
Why is it up to the motoring press to change & improvement in the industry.
The only people who can change Manufacturers business model is you sir...the buying public. You have to get together and show what you expect from a car purchase if you don't like the current experience.....that's where the clout lies- Purchasers.
And actually, all Dealers care about IS business! That's what pays the bills and without that you would have no where to service your car or make your next purchase.
The Dealers generally do a good job of looking after customers given the ridiculous costs of corporate identity etc. and expensive high visibility sites, and they need to 'carry on regardless' given that you will expect them to be there when you next need them...AND given that this is not their mess...they have just inherited it.
I'm guessing none of you lot
@ nivision
Why all these downplayings???