Quote Originally Posted by Eaglen00b View Post
Hi gldgti,

The fact is, if a colossal commercial entity such as VAG is not prosecuted to the fullest legal extent, it could mean that a dangerous precedent is set for the industry. It's a lose lose situation for EVERYONE. BP *just* got away with what they did in the Gulf of Mexico, the environment lost big time on that one.

For statutory authorities, if they do not prosecute or at least be seen to hauling VAG over the coals over this deception, it sends a signal that a big enough car manufacturer CAN get away with flagrant sidestepping of legislation/regulations as long as they have deep enough pockets to withstand the short/medium term financial hit and are willing to eat humble pie for a while.

On the flipside, if VAG does collapse because it gets absolutely reamed not just by the US government but governments in other regions of the world too, we the consumers lose out on what are, on the balance of things, pretty darn good cars and technology at a pretty reasonable price point.

There are no real winners in this scandal, except maybe the legal fraternity.

And as much as I hate to admit it, I'm reviewing my intention to purchase the new Alltrack once my lease is up. In fact, I'm a bit hesitant with purchasing ANY vehicle with a small displacement German Tdi at the moment. I know it's early days yet and this thing has yet to pan out, but I don't think I'm alone in re-evaluating purchasing decisions.

The minister for finance at home suggested a XC70 or XC90 the other night. *shudder* . No offence intended to any Volvo owners out there!! Volkswagen under investigation over illegal software that masks pollution
I'm not sure you get me.
Yes, VAG will be prosecuted by governing bodies and regulators where its valid (the fines are excellent revenue). Sighting the chance of dangerous precedents is nonsense. All those dangerous precedents have already been set, many times over. People just tend to have short memories. This is no watershed moment. This has all happened before, it will all happen again, regardless of the outcome here for VW.

Yes, the general public may litigate at their discretion.
But if Joe public wants to sue because he thought he was buying a clean diesel, and now he thinks he hasn't got one anymore, that's OK, but he really ought to end up wasting his and the legal fraternity's money (losing), because he has got a clean diesel, by all realistic comparisons. Just because the media takes and inch and runs a mile, we all gobble it up and suddenly most people who don't even know why they're reading a story have formed an unfounded view that VW tdis are the next environmental time bomb waiting to go off..... None of it is fact. The reality of the environmental impact is immeasurably small. So you can't justifiably use it as ammunition against anyone.
And if Joe public thinks that anyone who opposes him is automatically negligent regarding the environment.... Well, that's a pretty funny joke.

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