Volksgate: The Volkswagen 'scandal'

[lordkenmore]

I don't have the knowledge to comment about emmision systems, regulations, etc...

That said, it's been my understanding that the catalytic converter needs to be hot to work. Years back, I had to take a very marginal car in for my state's emission test. A mechanic basically said to drive it a long distance to get everything warmed up. And then go to the testing station. If I had to wait at the station, he said keep the engine running, and keep your foot on the gas to have the RPMs above idle--other wise, you run the risk of the catalytic converter cooling enough to fail the test. I did that last thing, even though the wait wasn't long, and the tester was cranky, asking if the engine could idle at the usual speed. If not, it was an automatic fail. I said yes, but it was going to idle this fast while waiting for you to do the test. The car--even though it was a falling apart wreck with nearly 300,000 miles--passed with amazingly good numbers.

Another tip the mechanic had: go in early in the day if possible. Apparently, there have been some test failures due to tailpipe sensing equipment getting dirty during the day.

Of course, I think on newer vehicles they test by connecting to the vehicles computer. The last car I took in--the one I mentioned above--was too old, and since that time, I've moved over the line to an area where testing is not needed.

 

[whirlcool]

While I haven't met a whole lot of people who drive Audi's, the ones I have met have all said they were the worst cars they ever owned. They all had the same reason too, the cars were in the shop more often than they were at home. And most repair bills for Audi are above $2K. The service manager told one of my friends "if you buy an expensive car, you have to learn how to pay to service that expensive car."

Back in the mid 90's VW had some kind of argument in Germany about it's diesel engines. The end result was that an additional filter or something like that needed to be installed in the exhaust to make them meet standards. The same VW being sold here in the U.S. did not have that filter system.

Heck as far back as 2001 even the manager of one of VW's largest US regions agreed that the quality was gone. Market share is the new game in town.

And VW is definitely trying to move more upscale. Anyone remember the ill fated VW Phaeteon from a few years back? $80K for a VW?

http://www.carscoops.com/2015/08/best-vw-phaeton-description-ever-nicest.html

 

[askolover]

Phaeton

And now that same Phaeton is the Audi A8L and Bentley!

 

[toploader55]

Excellent Video.

 

I love it.

 

I saw a Phaeton once. And only Once.  It turned my head.  I thought it was a beautiful car. I knew nothing about them and never saw another after that.

 

At that time I didn't know what the word Phaeton meant.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phaethon