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Volkswagen Is Ordered to Recall Nearly 500k Vehicles Over Emissions Software

nytimes.com

231–240 of 341 posts

Re: Volkswagen Is Ordered to Recall Nearly 500k Vehicles Over Emissions Software

#231

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, as much as a cheat it is, I'm happy that those bikes can go quiet on slow (city) streets but as loud as possible on the highway (increase security and swag).

I'm always surprised when people don't realize that large bikes are suppose to be loud so that drivers can hear them coming. It's a necessary evil.

Except when you're in my blind spot, and your pipes are pointing backwards, I still won't hear you until you're in front of me and I've already seen you. Cars are incredibly quiet inside these days.

Re: Volkswagen Is Ordered to Recall Nearly 500k Vehicles Over Emissions Software

#232
post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I expect at the least they are going to get hit with the maximum administrative fine, 37,500 per vehicle.

Which is $18b, so not insignificant. There may also be action in Europe.

$18b would mean they’d still make profit out of this.

And it’s not like only VW did this, every carmaker currently does this. It’s not going to change soon either.

Re: Volkswagen Is Ordered to Recall Nearly 500k Vehicles Over Emissions Software

#233
post #210

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've got a 2013 Golf TDI and was thinking about this as well. If it isn't a safety related recall, I'm not sure how you get people to comply aside from some other action related to, say, their next years registration (i.e. if your VIN doesn't have this fix applied, you can't reregister your car). Not sure if that's a thing, though. I'd personally plan to take my car in "real soon now" to get the fix.

I wonder how you car will drive after the "fix." I suspect you won't be very happy with it.

Yup, quite possibly thinking about bailing on the car sooner rather than later. I have no idea if this kind of thing significantly affects resale value, but I'm not sure I want to wait around to find out.

Re: Volkswagen Is Ordered to Recall Nearly 500k Vehicles Over Emissions Software

#234

Given the low cost and ubiquity of sensors nowadays, you'd think it would be feasible to require car makers to test emissions in real time, in the real world.

We already have that, It's called OBDII.

Besides error codes, OBDII has 8 emissions monitors. In California all cars after 2001 are checked by means of a visual and these 8 readiness monitors: catalyst, heated catalyst, EVAP, SAI, O2, O2 Heater, EGR/VVT, AC

Source: I work on my two Audis

Re: Volkswagen Is Ordered to Recall Nearly 500k Vehicles Over Emissions Software

#235

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, as much as a cheat it is, I'm happy that those bikes can go quiet on slow (city) streets but as loud as possible on the highway (increase security and swag).

I'm always surprised when people don't realize that large bikes are suppose to be loud so that drivers can hear them coming. It's a necessary evil.

Something vital is lost in motorcycling that my bike is so loud to make children cry and people really detest my presence everywhere in the name of saving my fat posterior.

All my bikes are quiet, even my Buell (relatively speaking). I have installed extra loud horns on them and I'm not afraid to use them. That's what horns are for: to say "I AM HERE", nothing more, nothing less. Save your engine for moving the bike forward, not making all of us bikers an anathema to civil society.

Re: Volkswagen Is Ordered to Recall Nearly 500k Vehicles Over Emissions Software

#236

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, as much as a cheat it is, I'm happy that those bikes can go quiet on slow (city) streets but as loud as possible on the highway (increase security and swag).

I'm always surprised when people don't realize that large bikes are suppose to be loud so that drivers can hear them coming. It's a necessary evil.

I hate loud motorcycles. I live in a quiet neighborhood in Alameda -- and I have small kids that sleep and take naps.

I dont like loud bikes driving by and waking them up :-/

Re: Volkswagen Is Ordered to Recall Nearly 500k Vehicles Over Emissions Software

#237

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm always surprised when people don't realize that large bikes are suppose to be loud so that drivers can hear them coming. It's a necessary evil.

If your vehicle can't be safe without annoying everyone within a quarter mile radius, it's too unsafe to be on the road.

Like your spirit (I don't like the loud pipes either) but this is a little unfair. Motorcycling should be part of a more sustainable future. Especially when you consider how many OECD commuters commute in cars alone.

Re: Volkswagen Is Ordered to Recall Nearly 500k Vehicles Over Emissions Software

#238
post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is a more charitable interpretation. When engines are colder, they burn less efficiently and produce "worse" emissions. A system that treats the warmup period differently than the steady-state of running a hot engine is potentially quite reasonable.

If you output those same emissions at a different time you haven't really done a lot for environment (except if they're cycled through catalyc converter or DPF filter which are usually less effective on cold start) - you're just gaming the system to get better eco ratings.

Car makers work hard to get emissions to be as stable as possible in all running states. For instance, cars have an air injection pump for the purpose of getting the CC to do its job sooner by increasing the temperature of the exhaust gas. It starts at a high RPM when you first cold start the engine.

Re: Volkswagen Is Ordered to Recall Nearly 500k Vehicles Over Emissions Software

#239

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which is $18b, so not insignificant. There may also be action in Europe.

$18b would mean they’d still make profit out of this. And it’s not like only VW did this, every carmaker currently does this. It’s not going to change soon either.

No, they dont make that much profit per car. It could usefully be a few times higher (punitive damages and criminal charges could do that though).

Re: Volkswagen Is Ordered to Recall Nearly 500k Vehicles Over Emissions Software

#240

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The reason California is so strict is because LA used to be synonymous with lethal levels of smog. Used to be.

I find it difficult to understand how failing a car with clean emissions levels, thereby forcing it out of the state, contributes to cleaning up smog.

The point is that California had an exceptionally bad problem, which is why the response was so stringent.
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