Real question is how many owners actually cared about the emissions concern of that debacle? I'm betting more were concerned about the price drop in value , and perceived "problems" that may have arise because it was such a big deal (i.e owners who don't really know about cars making a big deal).
<-- VW diesel owner visiting because I'm eventually going to let VW buy my TDI wagon back and I'm looking for possible replacements.
A few interesting anecdotes from my experience so far:
- "non-car-people" don't know about the VW emissions scandal. It doesn't seem to matter how much coverage it gets in the news. I have never gotten anything but a blank look when I mention the whole thing.
- Owners (that are also "car people") are more concerned about value and the possible mileage/performance effects of a fix than anything else.
- It was already fairly routine in the TDI community that if you took your TDI to a tuning shop, they would remove all the emissions equipment in the process (not disable - physically remove).
- None of this really matters anyway because Americans just don't buy diesels in passenger cars (non-trucks).