# VW puts itself on a reducing diet **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [August 14, 2026, 12:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vw-puts-itself-on-a-reducing-diet/206065 "2026-08-14T12:16:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 6:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vw-puts-itself-on-a-reducing-diet/206065/21 "2026-08-17T18:42:07Z")
> [@davesmopar](#): > > BTW, I think (but it will never happen, other than bankruptcy) the loan company should be made to absorb at least part of the $30K for being greedy/dumb enough to make the loan in the 1st place The loan company has it covered. They charge people like this a high enough rate that the loan company makes money in the long run. ---
**Author:** ![wolyrobb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wolyrobb/32/45497_2.png) [@wolyrobb](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wolyrobb)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 1:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vw-puts-itself-on-a-reducing-diet/206065/22 "2026-08-18T01:22:14Z")
There’s a limit to how much negative equity a loan can absorb, depending on the lender in this situation and exchange of collateral is possible with the balance factored I to the payment. Possibly getting one of those heavily incentivised stellantis products using the discount to eat up some of the negative while staying within the loan ti value ratio. A friend was going ti be 10k underwater on his totaled 9mo old Lexus but gap insurance saved the day. Replaced it with a slightly more equipped Es Fsport in the same blue paint at a lower interest rate because of December to remember and .0.9% finance. Back in 2019. Heard about it when he showed off f he new car. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 3:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vw-puts-itself-on-a-reducing-diet/206065/23 "2026-08-18T03:11:01Z")
These stories are a large part of the reason I’ve NEVER financed vehicles If I can’t buy a car outright, then I can’t afford it End of story For me, anyways ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 10:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vw-puts-itself-on-a-reducing-diet/206065/24 "2026-08-18T10:51:18Z")
A former coworker drove a 2015 Volkswagen Jetta for several years, seemed like an economical vehicle. In 2021 he bought a near-new Chevrolet Silverado, said he wanted one since that generation was introduced. A truck will add $100/month in fuel costs. If you have money to burn, why not enjoy it. Two years later, someone spotted his truck on the CarMax lot, he replied that he could no longer afford the payments. At his income level, he should have been able to make a 50% down payment or wait until he could have. Next, he had a Subaru Impreza, I saw it in the shop several times. He should have kept the VW, would have saved $50,000. > [@asemaster](#): > > A guy just walked onto the lot to look around and found a new Jeep Wagoneer he just had to have. The finance manager at the local Lexus dealer bought a Grand Wagoneer. With a good income, she can enjoy the vehicle of her choice. A Camry or ES300h would be a safe bet but some people are not satisfied with ordinary vehicles. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 12:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vw-puts-itself-on-a-reducing-diet/206065/25 "2026-08-18T12:30:48Z")
> [@Nevada\_545](#): > > A Camry or ES300h would be a safe bet but some people are not satisfied with ordinary vehicles. A car journalist for a national newspaper said that if he could afford it, his dream vehicle was a Range Rover Sport. He knew all about the reliability issues but said that for him, they paled in comparison to the driving satisfaction. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 1:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vw-puts-itself-on-a-reducing-diet/206065/26 "2026-08-18T13:31:41Z")
Good grief A Lexus ES300H is a very nicely equipped vehicle I wouldn’t call that “normal” ---
**Author:** ![bcohen2010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@bcohen2010](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bcohen2010)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 5:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vw-puts-itself-on-a-reducing-diet/206065/27 "2026-08-18T17:56:37Z")
I have always been amazed by these stories about people “impulse buying” vehicles the way someone might buy a candy bar waiting in line at the grocery store checkout. I often see vehicles offered for sale that I would like to have, but then I start thinking about the fact that I don’t really need it, won’t really have time to drive it, and don’t really have space to store it. Then it becomes a no-brainer to let it pass and save my money. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 6:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vw-puts-itself-on-a-reducing-diet/206065/28 "2026-08-18T18:23:04Z")
I have bought vehicles just because I wanted it. The Corvette Convertible for one. I enjoyed it and never regretted the expense. I could afford it and vehicles were one of our pleasures that we liked. As always just because you ( bcohen ) don’t want to do that does not make it a bad choice for everyone. ---
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 6:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vw-puts-itself-on-a-reducing-diet/206065/29 "2026-08-18T18:33:28Z")
> [@davesmopar](#): > > BTW, I think (but it will never happen, other than bankruptcy) the loan company should be made to absorb at least part of the $30K for being greedy/dumb enough to make the loan in the 1st place I think there should be a price to pay for writing a loan like this, and that price is a higher possibility of default. But remember, they’re just doing what the sales guys are asking them to do. Whether or not sales is acting ethically is another matter… > [@jtsanders](#): > > They charge people like this a high enough rate that the loan company makes money in the long run. People like what? People who make bad decisions? There’s no law against making bad decisions or against profiting from those bad decisions. > [@bcohen2010](#): > > I have always been amazed by these stories about people “impulse buying” vehicles the way someone might buy a candy bar It happens more often than you think. This particular person is a disabled vet who needs reliable transportation to dialysis twice a week. I can’t think of a reason that he ever should have gotten into this mess. ---
**Author:** ![Triedaq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Triedaq](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Triedaq)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 6:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vw-puts-itself-on-a-reducing-diet/206065/30 "2026-08-18T18:57:50Z")
I think some people have no concept of money. I taught a general studies computer science class. I had the students write a program to calculate monthly payments on a loan and how much was paid in interest at the end of the loan. I set the problem up that the customer was buying a $35,000 car and was trading in a car which the dealer allowed $5000, so the customer wss financing $30,000. I set the time period for four years and set the interest rate. The students were shocked at how much the loan cost. I was driving a 27 year old car at the time. One student piped up: “Professor, is that why you drive that old car?” I responded, :Have I ever been late or missed this 8:00 a.m.class because my old car wouldn’t start? Even when we had zero degree weather my old car fired right up and I was here for class. Why would I want to drive something newer?" I had colleagues that taught mathematics and computer science that would negotiate for a car based on the monthly payments. They wouldn’t even shop for a loan. Now I admit that I am cheap. If a person has the means and wants a BMW, I can understand buying the BMW. When I was a sophomore in high school in 1957, I bought a two yesr old French horn from a fellow student who had to have a “more professional” horn. Hecm switched majors in college and quit playing. I continued playing my horn and played first horn in different community orchestras and bands. In 1995, I was playing that horn in a trio for violin, horn and piano that we were going to perform. I had a fast passage and it sounded muddy. I went to a graduate student and paid her to give me lessons. When I showed her my problem, she had me play the passage on her horn. I played the passage without a problem. The valves on my horn leaked so badly that fast tempos were impossible. I was financially in good shape, so I bought my dream horn which I still play. If one enjoys driving as much as I enjoy playing horn and has the financial means, I have no problem with the person buying a BMW. However, if one has to go into debt for an expensive vehicle, then the person needs to consider one’s needs vs. financial situation. I played a lot of gigs on my old horn until I had the money for something better. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 8:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vw-puts-itself-on-a-reducing-diet/206065/31 "2026-08-18T20:28:27Z")
> [@bcohen2010](#): > > I have always been amazed by these stories about people “impulse buying” vehicles the way someone might buy a candy bar waiting in line at the grocery store checkout. Not an impulse buy, he had been attracted to that truck model for a while. There are factors that big spenders don’t plan for; increases in registration fees, vehicle insurance, and fuel costs. Also, the increase in rent prices and reduced income during the pandemic. > [@bcohen2010](#): > > If this vehicle is so unreliable that the manufacturer will buy it back… If the vehicle is “out-of-service” (not drivable) for more than 30 days, it qualifies for Lemon Law buy-back. 2 years ago, transmissions for 2024 Lexus RX500h were on back order with hundreds of customers on a waiting list. If parked for more than 30 days at the dealer, the vehicle qualifies for Lemon Law. This can occur with any car company. ---
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2026, 4:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vw-puts-itself-on-a-reducing-diet/206065/32 "2026-08-19T04:53:12Z")
> [@Triedaq](#): > > I think some people have no concept of money. I had an uncle (mom’s brother) like that. Not necessarily in a bad way, but he himself once admitted to my dad that “he just didn’t understand what to do with money.” He was an educated man, a professor and chair of his department. But he lived simply and didn’t really want much. He like cars to a degree and bought himself a new car every 3-4 years. But other than that, he lived in a simple apartment, traveled when he wanted to, and lived a generally frugal life. He was right when he told my dad he didn’t know what to do with money. As far as he was concerned anything that was left over after his bills was just extra. He bought some real estate because someone told him it was a good investment. The result was that when he died unexpectedly at 62, he left behind a mess. Uncashed paychecks laying around, no named beneficiary for his retirement, bank accounts, or real estate. It took mom years to get his estate through probate, even something as simple as selling his car was a hassle. > [@Triedaq](#): > > If one enjoys driving as much as I enjoy playing horn and has the financial means, I have no problem with the person buying a BMW. Back in 1963 my dad bought a Fender Jazz Bass that he said cost nearly a month’s salary. But he also played nightclubs on weekends, so it was both business and pleasure. 😀 ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2026, 11:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vw-puts-itself-on-a-reducing-diet/206065/33 "2026-08-19T11:51:34Z")
> [@asemaster](#): > > There’s no law against making bad decisions or against profiting from those bad decisions. I agree. I was pointing out that risky loanees are offered higher rates to account for that risk and not offering any qualitative opinions. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vw-puts-itself-on-a-reducing-diet/206065.md?page=1)