Volkswagen diesel owners remain in limbo over Canadian compensation

ExasperatedCanadian Volkswagen ownersanxious fora Canadiansettlement will be stuck in thelimbo they're enduring over their emissions-spewing diesel vehicles for at least a few more weeks.

Volkswagen Canada and parties involved in class-action lawsuits in Ontario and Quebec werescheduled to give updates in court today on a proposed deal to compensate the roughly100,000 VW owners affected bythe emissions-cheating debacle, but the updates were put off.

A lawyer fromSiskindsLaw Firm involved in the Ontario suittold CBC News on Tuesdaymorning that they hope to have something concrete regarding the affected 2.0L TDI vehiclesby the next scheduled court date on Dec. 19.

In an emailTuesday morning, aspokesperson from Volkswagen Canada said, "The parties continue to engage in productive discussions and will keep the courts updated."

• Volkswagen settles U.S. emissions lawsuit, but Canadian owners still waiting

• Angry Canadian Volkswagen owners want settlement over high-polluting vehicle

'Furious beyond belief'

"Here we are, the big court date and nothing is solved," said VW Passatowner from Mono, Ont., AncaPeriet. "Are the lawyers dragging the issue for their own benefit? I'm furious beyond belief."

Canadian owners of diesel VWs have been faced with uncertainty since it was learned in 2015 the engines emit nitrogen oxide at a level many times more than permitted under pollution standards. They'll take a financial hit if they sell the cars, but have yet to hear how Volkswagen will compensate them.

On Monday, after asking car owners on the site to tell their stories,CBC News receiveddozens ofemailsandphone calls from group members across the country who wereanticipating some sort of announcement.

'Enough is enough'

"I am held hostage by Volkswagen," Sarnia, Ont.,Passat ownerDennis Hobday said. "Nobody wants my car. I hate them for putting me in that position."

At the end of July, VW announced diesel owners in the U.S. can choose between a buyback or a repair, in addition to cashcompensation ranging from $5,100 to $10,000 per owner. People who owned an affected VW model as of September 2015, when the EPA first exposed the scandal,or have since bought one, will be eligible. The gavel is expected to come down on the $14.7-billion US deal today.

Rumours have been circulating that the Canadian settlement will be very similar to the U.S. one. Almost all of the owners CBC News spoke to said they would be happy with that. They're just tired of waiting.

"My hope is that we get a settlement that would mirror the U.S., but tweaked to Canadian car values," Hobday said. "I would be ecstatically happy with that. Then we could move on with our lives.Enough is enough."

JettaTDI HighlineownerTyler Spurrelfrom Whitby, Ont., just wants answers. "I'm very frustrated with how they're handling things right now," he said. "They could just let us know what's going on, it's the least they could do."

'It's devastating me financially'

Bonnie Ayottepurchased a VW Beetle in Abbotsford,B.C.,for $38,000 in 2013, thinking it was a clean vehicle that she could pass on to her son when he graduated. The single mother on disability is concerned about reports the amount she gets for her car may be adjusted to account for mileage. In that case, she fears she could lose as much$20,000 on the vehicle.

"It's devastating me financially.I should not be punished for these miles," she said. "I have no control over the time taken and, unlike others, cannot afford to get another vehicle to park mine while we wait."

Many diesel VW owners did stop driving their vehicles, thinking the size of their settlement might be contingent on mileage.

That's what Ottawa'sCharlene Roy did.She owns a VW Jetta, but takes transit to work. Until she knows what she'll be getting back,the single mother of four is keeping her car parked.

"I saved my butt off up to be able to buy the vehicle.It's not something I want to go into debt over," she said. "Buy my car back and let me go somewhere else."

Young drivers like Nikko Laysonare also sick of living with the uncertainty. The 24-year-old budgeted to buy his 2012 Golf in the midst of trying to find a place to rent in B.C.'s white-hothousing market. He had to purchase a second vehicleto prevent addingmileage to his Golf.

"My financial situation has been thrown into question," he said. "I'm sitting here dug deeper in debt on a car I can't even drive, and making payments that I will never see back."

Losing faith in the brand

Retired University of Waterlooengineering professorEd Jernigan feels personally betrayed by VW.

"I had made a considerable effort to be environmentally responsible in my purchase decision," he said. "It's absurd. VW will have to step up, take full responsibility, and make full restitution if they ever want to restore their reputation for making quality vehicles."

Brian McFaddenis happy with his VW Touareg and would even consider purchasing another vehicle from the automaker, but he calls the lack of communication "pathetic." The SimcoeCounty, Ontario, residentsaid the longer it takes to reach a settlement, the more customers they'll lose.

"Bottom line is we were all lied to by Volkswagen," said James Hoy, aVW Golf owner from Barrie, Ont."We have been patiently waiting for afair and fast resolution."

Hoy and more than 4,500 Canadian VW owners have banded together in aFacebook group calledCanadian VW TDI Owners.

A Volkwagen Canada spokespersontold CBC Newsthat a court order requires all parties to keep the details related to settlement discussions in Canada confidential.