Snap On Solous Ultra vs. Launch GDS

[FLRover]

I am down to 2 scan tools. The Launch GDS and Snappy Solous Ultra. I am currently using the Snap On and I like it. It does lack a lot of functions I would expect for the price especially on Domestic cars. Plus $1250 a year for updates is a little high.


The Launch is $600 a year for updates, cost $700 less but I am worried about the lack of product support in the US from a over seas company and the quality of the tablet itself. Any thoughts?




Which of the two would you choose?

 

[TheGrooveking]

Not being personally familiar with Launch I must ask what is their corporate history? Do they have a brick and mortar location? I am always skeptical of Internet based companies overseas, maybe from their neck of the woods can chime in?

TheGrooveking

 

[FLRover]

Matco sells them in the US. I know a lot of shops are buying the Launch locally from the Matco guy. Almost every week he has a new one on the truck waiting to be picked up.

 

[ATTappman]

What car lines do you work on, mostly? Launch is supposed to be good for Euro, but not so good for anything else. I would have guessed the Solus Ultra would be better on domestics than any other aftermarket scan tool. You might also consider an Autel Maxidas.

 

[FLRover]

I work on a even blend of Eurocrap, Asian and Domestic. All used cars that come in. The Autel is out of the running due too pending litigation with Launch. I don't want a tool that may not be updatible due to court orders.

 

[ATTappman]

The Autel is out of the running due too pending litigation with Launch. I don't want a tool that may not be updatible due to court orders.

Did you see this written down somewhere on the Interwebs? I can't find anything about it. Launch and Autel are both Chinese companies operating out of Guangdong province. Launch has a page on their web site warning people that nobody is authorized to sell Launch products directly from China. Apparently dozens of little Chinese outfits sell clones of these things. Autel has the same problem I think. But I hadn't heard that one is suing the other (in a US court?). Anyway, I think it's perfectly reasonable to worry about updatability. Nobody knows if Autel will be around a year from now.

 

[FLRover]

Heard it from the Matco rep who is a Autel dealer as well as Launch.

Launch seems pretty etablished so I'm not worried about them closing up shop.

 

[Nitroinsane]

The question is what vehicles do you work on and any specific systems you work on?

 

[Skin]

Just a couple comments. First, if this is an independent shop I wouldn't worry too much about yearly updates. Snap-On will let you update at any time from any version for a flat fee, is it the same with Launch? Anyway my feelings on the whole update thing are generally speaking nobody with a new vehicle shows up for diagnostics at an independent, especially while the vehicle is under warranty. Second, you sound like you're looking for the perfect scan tool. It doesn't exist. Its going to be obsolete in a few years one way or another so you just need to bite the bullet.

I will say this, Snap-On has one of the better troubleshooters and you know they will support the thing way past its useful life. Not to mention the convenience of good phone and hardware support. Its predecessor came out what, 8 years ago? That's a long damn time in the computer technology world. Between the two i'd have to say i'd get the Snap-On.

 

[FLRover]

Just a couple comments. First, if this is an independent shop I wouldn't worry too much about yearly updates. Snap-On will let you update at any time from any version for a flat fee, is it the same with Launch? Anyway my feelings on the whole update thing are generally speaking nobody with a new vehicle shows up for diagnostics at an independent, especially while the vehicle is under warranty. Second, you sound like you're looking for the perfect scan tool. It doesn't exist. Its going to be obsolete in a few years one way or another so you just need to bite the bullet.

I will say this, Snap-On has one of the better troubleshooters and you know they will support the thing way past its useful life. Not to mention the convenience of good phone and hardware support. Its predecessor came out what, 8 years ago? That's a long damn time in the computer technology world. Between the two i'd have to say i'd get the Snap-On.

I work in a dealer. Oldest I see is about 2006-08 trades. Launch drops about 850 updates a year. All for the $600 yearly fee. I see "new" vehicles all the time, most of our customers trade in less than 2 year old cars.

I like that about Snap On plus I have a good rep. Problem is cost of ownership is a little high for the tool you get.

 

[FLRover]

Well today I was talking to my Snap On rep today and told him I'm leaning towards the Launch, thanks for letting me demo it blah blah blah. He asked what would make the deal. I said a storage tool cart and Vantage Pro (I really like o-scopes) for free joking. He calls his diag manager who happens to have a combo deal on a black Vantage Pro, black Solous Ultra and black Snap On roll cart with free updates for a year all for alittle more than the Solous by itself. So needless to say I snapped it up! Will be delivered Friday by the diag rep who will do a demo while he is here.


I really like the Launch but for that many tools for the money I can't say no.

 

[Fishey]

Launch is awesome and has the best overall euro support of any tool I have used.

 

[shurik06_83]

Heard it from the Matco rep who is a Autel dealer as well as Launch.

Launch seems pretty established so I'm not worried about them closing up shop.

Autel is the more established then anything they been making all kinda scan tools for yrs launch is pricey and lacks the support and updates that my autel has

so far i have had 2 708 maxidas my first one i got 1300$ direct from china used it for a yr the updates wer going to run out and and one guy i worked with offered me 1500$ to buy it , so i sold it got another one for 1100$ and when the updates run out i will sell it and get another and so on

as for problems my mac guy too was mad then i get it 500$ cheaper then him , and he told me that ppl that buy them from china for resale are braking the law

 

[Skin]

Autel is the more established then anything

Autel, OTC, Innova etc.. all fall in the same boat. Far cheaper units, fairly worthless support and minimal updates. They want you to replace the whole thing every few years. Snap-On charges a gross amount of money up front (and for the updates if you need them yearly as stated) but you know they'll fully support the thing for at least a decade.

 

[Seanbev24]

Seeing how many years Snap-on supported "the brick" made my decision to buy my used Modis much easier.

 

[FLRover]

Here's the set up


<a href="http://s121.photobucket.com/user/rangeroverman/media/IMG-20130329-00366.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o224/rangeroverman/IMG-20130329-00366.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG-20130329-00366.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s121.photobucket.com/user/rangeroverman/media/IMG-20130329-00367.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o224/rangeroverman/IMG-20130329-00367.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG-20130329-00367.jpg"/></a>

 

[pl_silverado]

^ Congrats! Thats the best overall package you can buy from Snap-on. Both solid tools! That flat black is a ***** to keep clean though, i feel like i am always wiping down my flat black krl1023.

 

[wrnchmonkey]

Fyi the launch updates don't just cover new cars. They add and update older car lines weekly. Their support is great I've called them a number of times for missing features and gennerally have been added within a week or so. I love my launch. Btw the Chrysler coverage is amazing.

I would have jumped on that snap on deal as well had it been offered when I was scan tool shopping.

 

[devoncoolman]

I have both the x431gds and a solus pro both up to date i love both of them. The snapon is more user friendly and it has troubleshooter software which is very helpfull. But the launch picks up where the solus falls short. It has far more bidirectional capabilities and does tons more factory testing and more capable then the solus. The solus is an awsome tool. But the launch is better. Launch really steped up there game with the gds. the domestic and asian coverage is 100% better than its ever been. The euro is best on the market.

 

[devoncoolman]

But like said earlyer scan tools really are obsolete 4-5 yrs old there door stops. Yeah u can still use them when there older but the new stuff on the market is always better faster more capable. Its just something that we all have to deal with. Computers are the same way. 2 years down the road its a wheel chock.