The supply just isn't there; maybe there is a lag between cost-unconscious new-car buyers [ordering new cars], and cost-conscious used-car buyers [buying what the new car buyers leave].
Source: I used to work in the automotive remarketing industry.
One of the problems is that VW that they add premium options to the TDI marque. So you can't get a bare bones Jetta TDI without the highest trim level, fancy wheels, and other things that add to the cost. On top of that the gasoline ones are efficient enough where the price difference becomes a non-factor, even when taking the MPG into account.
They are damn fun to drive though, torquey without the compromises of a 4 cylinder gasoline engine. The used market on the sportwagens is great too, which is why we ultimately traded it in for a Tiguan since the demand for the wagens was high enough to make that a relatively easy financial decision.
Unfortunately VW doesn't do diesel Tiguans in the US, which is weird, you'd think the SUV market would be a no-brainer for TDI.
Your note about the Tiguan makes me sad. I'm moving back to the US next week and was seriously thinking about getting a Tiguan (and hoping for a diesel). I'll add the Sportwagen TDI to my list.
Wagen is a great vehicle. I love mine.
Complex solution: Chip the engine - some people prefer a smoother power curve, which can be achieved with a tune.
I imagine that yes, being able to keep it in low gears would have helped, and indeed putting it into manual mode for some of the parts I found the worst (rapid turns from one busy street to another) helped, but it put it in the "More trouble than it was worth" category.
That being said, the TDI was a great car, and a serious contender for my money. I just preferred the GTI a bit more, but given I love the GTI, that's good company to be in.
It's geared lower, for one thing, only 2000rpm at 75mph.
FWIW, I traded in a 2012 TDI with the DSG for a manual Mk7 a few days ago. Love the stick, although it's taking some getting used to (this is my first manual).
Also in the manual's favor is the $1,100 cheaper upfront cost and not needing a ~$400 transmission service every 40k.
The fantastic fuel economy was the icing on the cake.
The GTI gets rid of one of those problems, and is a spectacular car in its own right.
This includes not only a visual inspection of all safety-relevant parts of a car but also a check of the emission values.
How is this handled in the US?
Source: I have an appointment for car inspection this morning.
Edit: certain counties
There are exceptions with older (vintage) cars, and relatively new cars.
As with most things, these laws vary from state-to-state, and even county-to-county within said states.
Kentucky had a limited emissions inspection regime from 1999-2005, when it was killed by the Republican governor. The only current inspection requirement I know of is if you purchase an out-of-state used vehicle. We have plenty of ancient cars on the road that have never been inspected.
Sometimes police officers will pull you over if you have obviously-broken headlights or such, and tell you to fix it, but not often.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_inspection_in_the_United_States