VW caught cheating EPA board. 18 BILLION in possible recalls

The plot thickens.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-epa-vw-diesel-test-20150925-story.html

 

Downplaying? Last I checked they admited the river water is clean again but the heavy metals are still sitting at the bottom of the stream. No cover up, that's just how shit like that goes down. Is it ironic? Not really. Did the EPA intentionally violate federal emissions laws? No. The EPA accidently fucked up a safety measure install which caused a short term environmental disaster with minor long term effects. Could they of been more careful? Maybe, but considering the amount of whining about their budget on here I'm guessing more money would not of been given. VW has been pumping NOx intentionally into the atmosphere at 40x the legal limit from every 2.0 L TDI for 7 years. That's not the same at all. They intentionally started off knowing they wanted to hurt the environment and do it by breaking emissions laws for their profit. That's not cool on any level or excusable as an "accident".

Yes, companies cheat. It's covered with words like efficiency and cost cutting but it's happening. I'm lucky to work for a company that really stresses compliance, but that's because we do fertilizer and the consequences from not doing our part could kill a lot of people very quickly. VW wouldn't of had to of worried about what they did for decades if alternative testing methods hadn't caught them.

Edit: All good man, sorry I didn't read the last line of your post till now. I'm not sure how a VW broke the law story is turning into an EPA bashing thread, but it's taking away from what VW did which was wrong.

 

Since we're all so concerned about the environment, because that's what this is REALLY all about, let's all stop driving our vehicles and ride our bikes or walk everywhere.

Yes the VAG are all deceitful fucking liars and all their factories should be burned to the ground.

Jesus fuck. If we all really knew what was going on in government agencies we'd all run and hide under rocks.

VW got caught at the same game other diesel manufacturers are probably playing. Shame on them.

Who the fuck came up with the idea of testing emissions on cars in a controlled environment anyway. It's idiotic.

 

Don't mistake me being the devils advocate with me saying VW didn't do anything wrong. They did a very bad thing, they got caught and now they are going to pay the price. The good in it if there is any is that it got everyone involved in emissions testing to pull their heads out of their asses and realize a lab is not the real world.

 

Is Le Mans governed by the same restrictions on NOx emissions as road cars? If so, I see Audi getting striped of all it's wins...a la Armstrong.

 

Not sure if serious

 

Half serious/being an ass. It would be an interesting 'side dish' to it all though.

 

Not the same engine / emmisions standards / tests

 

LMAO every time I look at that response.

 

Absolutely. I think given the technology we have all mpg and emissions testing should be done on a closed outdoor track and city simulation. Actually drive the car rather than put it on a machine. The testing equipment is now light enough that it can basically be counted as a passenger.

 

There's only 9 states in the U.S. That do emissions for diesel Passenger and light vehichles. And of those 9, most of them only do certain counties.

 

Yup. The other question is if there would be a registry hold, or something similar, on the affected VIN's. In simple terms, that would mean you have to get proof of the reflash before you can renew your registration. It is within the EPA's power to mandate that.

 

And/or perhaps a title freeze, AKA the vehicle cannot be legally sold until it is done.

 

Yup. Hence why there is a class action lawsuit in motion for a forced VW buy back. At this point I think a buy back is the only way to get this all done without massive headaches to the owner of the TDI's in question.

 

Except the headache of buying another vechicle.

 

I agree. If Toyota told me I could tow 8000 lbs with my Tacoma and I bought it on that premiss, I would have a legal right to return it, even in Canada. People purchased the TDI equipped VWs on a premise VW did not deliver on.

 

Oh my gosh, what a difficult thing to do. However will all the VW owners who are paid a premium price for their used vehicles ever get by with having to buy another car!

 

Haha true. Maybe VW will offer huge incentives/rebates to keep them in the VW family if they do do a buyback.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if Ford and GM go after TDI buyers with their Ecoboost/Electric Focus and Diesel Cruze, respectively, with huge rebates too. Perfect time to target those super mpg buyers.