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Had to pick between a used Snap-On scanner and a new Autel, went with the Autel

The Snap-On was $800 on Craigslist but the guy couldn't tell me how many updates it had left. I got the Autel for $650 new and it already paid for itself diagnosing a dodgy ABS module on a 2018 Silverado last Tuesday. Anyone else trust mid-tier scanners over the premium stuff?
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irismartinez
Honestly, who hasn't been burned by a used tool that had more stories than miles? I bought a "barely used" Snap-On multimeter once, and it showed me voltage readings that were basically lies. So yeah, I'm with you on the mid-tier scanners. They might not have that cool factor but at least they don't leave you guessing if the car is actually broken or if the tool is just messing with you.
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angela_grant
Got a Innova scanner after my old Matco started giving me ghost codes. Cost way less than the high end stuff and it's been dead reliable for three years now. It won't do the fancy bi-directional stuff but for reading and clearing codes on everyday cars it's been perfect. Picked it up on sale for under 200 bucks and it's paid for itself many times over. Sometimes the cheaper stuff is just smart buying when you're not running a full shop.
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