I have written several guides on automotive diagnostic scan tools and J-2534 pass through units here on Ebay.  I have broached on some of the Snap-on scan tools in several of them.  Today, I wanted to address the latest of many disappointing scan tools from Snap-On called VERUS.

In years past, I have been less than enthusiastic about MODIS because, for the money, it was a huge disappointment.  I didnt allow for the kind of expansion that most tech's wanted, (and the expansion devices that were available were way too expensive) the updates were costly and the coverage had holes all over it, particularly for European cars.  They still stick with that retarded personality key system and finally, the unit was grossly overpriced! Very little bi-directional capabilities as well.  Now, Snap-On has outdone itself with what I can only figure to be a suckers scan tool!

The VERUS is, basically, a hand held PC Tablet.  Compared to most REAL PC Tablets, its slow as hell!  Snap-on did little to improve the software and the bi-directional functionality over MODIS and that leaves much to be desired.  Most car lines in Verus have no bi-directional capabilities at all!  Many car lines only provide access to the powertrain controller and no access to Body control, transmission, ABS and SRS controllers and most give no access to the security controller.  You can, however, check your email on the VERUS,  This is good news and bad news!  This means that now, anything on the net can now do to it what it can do to your PC.  Add to this, the resoundingly slow speed of the unit compared to most PC based diagnostics and many stand alone units and what you get is simply a huge disappointment.  It still uses the personality key system, so get ready to tote around a dozen keys when you head to the car. 

Now as for the pass through unit Snap-On sells as an add on to this, ITS GREAT!  Thats because it's not theirs, its simply a re-packaged DrewTech CarDAQ with Snap-on's proprietary software.  What this means is that you are going to pay about $500.00 more for it because they painted it black instead of blue and put their sticker on it.  It also means that the software and application range has been greatly reduced because snap-on took Drewtech's great J-2534 software and replaced it with their own crappy software greatly limiting its capabilities.  In addition to this, the cost increase gets you a unit with less memory than a comparable CarDAQ unit.  When I went to go visit a Snap-On Verus Victim last week, he was pulling his hair out trying to flash a Benz via J-2534.  After watching him fumble and bumble around with this two ton $9000.00 ultra slow handheld abomination, I simply walked out to my truck, grabbed my computer bag, got out my CarDAQ and laptop and hooked up to the wireless net drop in his shop.  I logged into the Benz download site and in about 8 minutes, my Toughbook was pushing a flash into the PCM. When I finished the flash, he was just getting the "on hold" muzak from the tech line at Snap-On of Bangladesh.  Recently, I attempted to diagnose a bad throttle actuator on a Ford Truck.  The Verus only offered me bi-directional control to do a evap test, nothing else.  How can anyone think that this scan tool is a HUGE waste of money when you cant even "ping" an electronic throttle with it or sweep a gauge or two in the instrument cluster or even manipulate the IAC counts?  This snap-on scan tool is nothing more than a glorified code reader!

Of course, updated software is available from Snap-on, but bring your wallet! Like Modis and Solus, Its going to cost you and cost you plenty!  In addition to the initial sticker shock of their tool (almost 9 grand), the updates for US, Asian and European coverage is well over a thousand dollars and only available from Snap-On.  For 9 Grand, I could buy a half a dozen generic units, every one of which will out perform and have better applications than Verus.

If your one of those mindless drones who buys snap-on and ONLY Snap-On, your probably boiling right about now.  Not because you think someone just ripped your G-string up to your shoulder blades selling you one of these things, but probably because I blasphemed Snap-On tools.  This is why many of my friends and I call the Verus the VIRUS.  Once you get bit by the Snap-On bug, its hard to imagine there may be better stuff out there. I find most Snap-On folks are like this generally speaking.  I will be the first to relent that Snap-On makes the best hand tools in the world!  I own plenty of them, but when it comes to diagnostics and programming equipment, its all just name recognition and no real versatility and horrible cost to benafit factor.  I know lots of you are hogtied to Snap-On because they offer credit-on-the-truck, but this scan tool's is one you do not want to be married to for the next 4 or five years.  Its useability has now become that of a typical low end PC.  In 6 to 12 months, it will be obsolete and the Snap-On guy will be offering to trade it in on their new piece of crap scan tool like he did when you gave up your Modis or Solus you spent too much on to get a Verus. Thats how they keep you coming back.  I guarantee, I will be updating and using at least 3 or 4 of the generic scan tools I own like Hanatech Ultrascan for years beyond how long Snap-On will be offering updates for Verus or Modis and at a fraction of the cost.  Sure, I cant check my email with it or have a color screen, but I will get better coverage and wont get carpel tunnels syndrome using it. 

No matter what you chose to buy, I wish you luck.  In my opinion, Snap On's Varus, like its predecessor Modis is nothing but a lot of flash and very nominal substance at a rediculous price.  Hey, if you want a good looking scan tool and want to be able to check your Email while working on a car and cost is no concern, Verus is for you! Its nothing but a glorified code reader to, pretty much everyone I have spoke to about it, keeping in mind that most of my affiliates are high end diagnosticians, not heavy auto mechanics who only need a simple code reader.