[s-cars] VCDS

[Tom Green]

No, I think you have it all wrong, Cody.  The use of a third party  
cable and VCDS-Lite is not a rip-off.  You should have this discussion  
with Ewe Ross since his
views on this are what really count.  He would not be supporting the  
Lite version if it did not make good business sense, and the  
individual deciding on a system can purchase a license for Lite in  
order to receive support.  He does not want individuals buying  
something they really don't need.  I think he has this business model  
down just right and will see many of these guys upgrading to full  
featured systems when they buy a newer Audi and need one.

But, for the UrS4 and 6 vehicles, there are just not enough sensors  
connected to the Motronic system to do anything but reinforce what  
some good troubleshooting
is going to point to in the first place.  Certainly nothing that would  
justify every owner wanting to do a little DIY work or wanting to make  
sure that shop wasn't trying to rip him off dropping $400 plus a  
laptop to use a couple of times a year.  Remember, he can get these  
DTCs by blinking out the codes when he has a problem.

The guys asking about ebay cables are new owners who are having  
problems already.  There are some recent deals on cars not running  
bought by guys trying to sort things out.  What a way to start.

I use the HEX-USB-CAN cable and wouldn't go any other way, but with an  
'02, '03, and '05 in the family it is a necessity.

Tom

On Thursday May 15, 2014, at 10:46 PM, Cody Forbes <cody at 5000tq.com>  
wrote:

> Hardly "$$$" really. The cost of a legit Ross-Tech cable is a few  
> oil changes worth of good quality oil. Less than a set of tires.  
> Probably less than a lot of us spend in CHF-11S in a year lol. If  
> you are working on a car new enough to have a use for VCDS then it's  
> cost is pretty insignificant compared to the cost of your car.
>
> If somebody is really that hard up I'd toss in $10 to kick off a  
> donation towards not ripping off one of our planets few truly good  
> businesses.
>
> -Cody Forbes (mobile)