Volkswagen’s singular position among diesels has paid off for the company’s certified pre-owned sales numbers.

“When you look at what Volkswagen is doing in certified pre-owned sales, they have added more share in C.P.O. cars than any other brand,” said George Augustaitis, director of industry analytics for CarGurus, an online car marketplace. In June, 15 percent of Volkswagen buyers’ inquiries to sellers were for the diesels.

Which comes back to economy. When new, a VW diesel costs substantially more than a comparable gas model. But the calculus has now shifted. In 2014, a base Jetta diesel started at $23,195, while the gasoline model started at $16,720. Now for used Volkswagens there is little difference. “In terms of post-fix,” Mr. Paris said, “you can get a diesel at prices similar to a gas model.”

Even at a previous job as a Volkswagen technician, Alex Cieslak couldn’t find a VW diesel in his price range before the buyback. “They were just the perfect little car to me,” Mr. Cieslak said. “Quick enough to be fun, big enough to carry things, comfortable, safe, fuel-efficient. I liked them then, but I couldn’t afford one.”

After the scandal and the buyback, he found a 2014 Golf with 13,500 miles. “I got the car for about $14,500 out the door, and new it was $29,000, I think.” He estimates the engine is good for “300,000 to 400,000 miles,” although he suspects he will go through two or three transmissions in that time.

He does harbor some concerns about the car sitting idle for so long. “I hope a rodent never made a home in this car where I’ll have an electrical problem three years from now,” he said. He envisioned replacing the wiring harness, which, he said, “is the worst.”

Dealers are eager to get the diesels before the stockpile runs out.

“We’ve sold more TDIs back into the market than we took in as buybacks,” said Chad Probst, general manager of Vorderman Volkswagen in Fort Wayne, Ind. He said his dealership was selling 50 to 60 of the diesel VWs a month, close to 1,000 total since the buyback.