Volkswagen owner feels 'absolute disappointment' over emissions scandal

Ottawa energy-efficiency consultant Andrew Cole feels"absolute disappointment" over theVolkswagen emission-rigging scandal after buying a"very expensive"model to make a good environmental statementthis spring.

The German automakeradmitted itfitted 11 million dieselvehicleswith software capable of cheating emissions tests.

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Germany has launched a criminal investigation of the company, while Environment Canada has teamed up with theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency to retest the emissions of diesel Volkswagen vehicles.

"I wanted this car to be a good environmental statementthat I cared about the environment. I wanted to use less resources," said Cole, who has worked in the business of energy conservation for 30 years. "I planned on keeping this [car] for a heck of a long time."

Cole said he can currentlydrive from Ottawa to Toronto and back a 900 kilometre round trip on a single tank of diesel fuel. Volkswagen has promised tofixthe emission systems, which could increase fuel consumption or reduceengine power.

'Starting at ground zero again'

Volkswagen Canada issued a stop-sale order for many diesel models, some dating back to 2009.Diesel-powered models account for 22 per cent of the company's sales in Canada.

AllysonBell,general manager of theHunt ClubVolkswagen dealership in Ottawa, said she is still waiting on answers from the company to pass along to customers, some "quite rightly so are very upset" about the scandal.

"They're anxious to know what the problem is, number one, and what the fix is and how soon it can be done," she said. "[Volkswagen] is hopeful they're going to have some news for us, officially, very soon. So it's frustrating."

She added she is "very ashamed about how this has all come down" and that it has been "a blow" to the reputations ofindividual dealerships.

"We feel like we're all starting at ground zero again," she said.

Once a source of pride, driving aVolkswagen with a dieselTurbo Direct Injection enginenow comes with "shame," Cole said.

"I almost thought of popping the TDI off the back my car and hopefully people will think it's a gas version," he said.