I have the MT 2500 "red brick" that i bought new in 2003. I had another one and for some reason decided to trade it in on the new one... My old one wasnt current and as I remember itw as gonna be stupid expensive to get it there... back then "current" meant 2 model years older than what's currently out. In 03 I was good to 2001.. I am still good to '01 (havent updated since) As I remember I paid like $3300 for it then now I see em all day long for $500 or less.... I would like to get the programmable cartridge for it and the personality keys I lack
the Modis was just coming out them and I was promised that everything that would fit a 2500 would also fit the modis in case I was wanting to trade up within a couple years... now the modis is history and they have the Solus I would just like a programmable cartridge for my red Brick that is good (updated) as new as it can possibly be, and run with that for a while. I got away from wrenching 1-1/2 years after buying my red brick and the newest thing I own is a 1997 so its good for everything I have... occasionally on a side job I had to go borrow a cartridge from a buddy but he has now traded his Brick for something else When he gets an older car to work on, guess who's scanner he borrows? He bought my 94 Dakota from me so I am guessing that if anything ever happens to it, i'll be gettin a call for my scanner..... and HE works as a tech at a Dodge dealer go figure
I would disagree with you. Snap On sold and serviced the brick for 20+ years. You could update it right up to the point that it just could not work on the newer vehicles. The technology required to repair cars surpased what the unit could acheive. Alot of diagnostic equipment is rebranded now. Snap on did it right. Never seen another like it, and serviced for that long. Look at OTC. Moniter 2000, 3000, 4000, enhanced 4000, pegasis, genesys, and several more. They ditched what they had and it became obsolete very quick.
I bought a modis a couple of years ago. For all makes all models, ability to update, its hard to beat. Yes its does cost to keep it updated, but how much does it cost to replace scan tools every few years because they are obsolete.
The modis is still available from snap on. It is a scan tool, and volt meter in one. The solus is a scan tool. The vantage pro is a volt meter. The verus is much like a modis, but had a few upgrades such as wireless, and touchscreen.
My brick was updated to the end. When I purchased the modis, it was what I would call a bare unit. All of the wires and obd 1 and 2 connectors, I used from the brick. Simply plug in and go.
I would question why you would think you could upgrade after not doing so for ten years, at a minimum price.
When it comes to the modis, I have a SO dealer that stops and he may not have all of the answers, but a phone call away is most of them. Updates are handled on his truck, and the tool is out of service for a very small time. I have had OTC products in the past, and customer service has been an issue for me. I actually had better luck, going through mac tools for help on a rebranded OTC, than OTC direct.
Autel makes a nice little scanner that I saw at the vision trade show in KC last year. If I remember it was about $1200. Did all makes all models and was updatable. Actually updates were included for 1 year. Looked pretty simple and easy to use. The downside was many vendors were selling them and it was really hard to know what you get. They all had their own twists on the same story.
All in all, buy what you can afford, and use it and get good with it. Make sure that you can get it upgraded. Decide what your needs are and buy one that will fulfill them.
