How close must a Scout Service Center location be to you? Poll

[Howard]

Service will be the biggest downside to the new Scout. There can be the Right to Repair with all the manuals available, but just because we know how to do major work on our Scout II's doesn't mean many of us have the ability to diagnose and repair the electronics in the Traveler or Terra (or even those in a 2024 anything ICE). It's a whole different game.

I agree with other posters. If I can drop it off for service 30 min. away and have a way back home (or have it picked up), that would be acceptable. But if it's going to be a daily driver, a couple hours away just won't work for most people.

 

[2wheeltraveler]

Service will be the biggest downside to the new Scout. There can be the Right to Repair with all the manuals available, but just because we know how to do major work on our Scout II's doesn't mean many of us have the ability to diagnose and repair the electronics in the Traveler or Terra (or even those in a 2024 anything ICE). It's a whole different game.

I agree with other posters. If I can drop it off for service 30 min. away and have a way back home (or have it picked up), that would be acceptable. But if it's going to be a daily driver, a couple hours away just won't work for most people.

It would be interesting to see the data one level deeper comparing distance to repair, and willingness to self-repair.

I'd be more willing to go 60 minutes away if it's far less frequent because I'm doing all my own maintenance and only need the service center for major / complicated stuff. Others not interested (or capable) of self-maintaining may choose shorter trips to the dealer.

 

[LoneWolfo6]

I will drive up to 45 minutes but that’s likely my limit. Anything further away or that forces me to drive through a big city is likely a no-go. How about you? And yes, I’m aware they are planning a mobile service network but there’s a limit to what these folks can do.

To learn more about Scout Service Center plans see:

Scout Stores / Service Centers ("Scout Studios") plans revealed: 25 will open in 2027, expanding to 100 by 2032

Oh yep, that can be a deal breaker. Especially if nearest service is few states away?! ‍

 

[dleepnw]

Folks should keep in mind, just because you're willing to drive hours to get service, doesn't mean Scout will sell you a vehicle (at first) unless you're within some minimum distance. It becomes costly and logistically complex for Scout to support owners who are 4+ hours from a service center. And in the real world, customers that far away end up complaining they have to cover the cost of a tow instead of Scout so better for them not to have to deal with it.

What Scout should do (they probably already have) is figure out a radius of how far they will support customers from the 16 metros they plan to start at launch. Anyone living outside that radius should get pushed down the reservation order list until they can expand further. Not trying to dismiss customers outside the 16 metros but it only makes logical and financial sense to approach it that way.

One thing that could change this is if Scout makes agreement to have existing VW group service centers be authorized to service Scout vehicles. I'd personally like to see this happen because its a win for everyone. Scout can launch in more places, less cost upfront to stand up their own service centers, customers can get serviced in more places and hopefully without a long wait (see Rivian), VW dealers get financial benefit (most profit dealerships make now is service not the sale of vehicles).

 

[hayduke]

more interested in why the poll is time, not distance, based? especially since warranty is really mileage based.

agreeing w/OlyScout (I live in the South Sound, too). 30 minutes south is about 45 miles. 30 minutes north is about 25 miles.

 

[Desert Driver]

I'm in Tucson and expect a service center in Phoenix but not down here, at least in the first few years. So I'm prepared to drive up to Phoenix, which is anywhere from 90-120 miles depending on the center's location, and up to 2 hours. Not ideal, especially for a first-year vehicle where we can expect some issues, but I suppose it's called bleeding edge for a reason... Wait, is this bleeding edge? Driving that far for service will feel that way, perhaps.

 

[NukeDukem]

more interested in why the poll is time, not distance, based? especially since warranty is really mileage based.

agreeing w/OlyScout (I live in the South Sound, too). 30 minutes south is about 45 miles. 30 minutes north is about 25 miles.

Because distance is meaningless. In a big city, it can take you an hour and a half to go 25 miles. Warranty has nothing to do with how far someone is willing to drive for service.

 

[hayduke]

interesting. I was thinking just that...an hour, for someone in the city, can be a short distance, but someone in who live out the country can be a long distance.

but, since the poll question is
how far will you drive for service under warranty?

I brought up the concept of distance vs time.

In my mind, if we have a warranty of 48,000mi/4 years, then the further out the service center, the less likely the 'benefit' of a warranty would factor into the decision making process for purchase.

for myself, who will definitely hit 48K before 4 years, the distance would matter more than time for warranty related service.

Not that I wouldn't buy it, just pointing out my confusion as to time vs distance unit in the poll...unless the poll question is really related to something along the lines of:
do I want my service center closer so I don't loose time in my day?
vs
am I willing to drive more than 60 miles to get to a service center?

 

[Norville]

An hour is a deal-killer in a metropolitan area. Especially if it's an unproven brand, 1st year vehicle. 30 minutes is pushing it with that as a metric. 3-4 years in, I could push it out to 45 minutes in a metro area. For someone who lives already 30-60 minutes outside of a metro area, that's a different story.

 

[Mr._Bill]

What kind of problems are people expecting to have with the new Scout? The advantage of a BEV is so little maintenance is needed. The majority of the problems they are likely to encounter can be handled in the driveway by a mobile repair crew.

 

[NukeDukem]

interesting. I was thinking just that...an hour, for someone in the city, can be a short distance, but someone in who live out the country can be a long distance.

but, since the poll question is
how far will you drive for service under warranty?

I brought up the concept of distance vs time.

In my mind, if we have a warranty of 48,000mi/4 years, then the further out the service center, the less likely the 'benefit' of a warranty would factor into the decision making process for purchase.

for myself, who will definitely hit 48K before 4 years, the distance would matter more than time for warranty related service.

Not that I wouldn't buy it, just pointing out my confusion as to time vs distance unit in the poll...unless the poll question is really related to something along the lines of:
do I want my service center closer so I don't loose time in my day?
vs
am I willing to drive more than 60 miles to get to a service center?

I see what you mean. And, to take it to a hilarious extreme, who wants to use their warranty miles driving to a far away service centre for warranty work lol.

 

[NukeDukem]

What kind of problems are people expecting to have with the new Scout? The advantage of a BEV is so little maintenance is needed. The majority of the problems they are likely to encounter can be handled in the driveway by a mobile repair crew.

Cracked windshield, bent rims, infotainment failures, leaks, camera failures, etc, etc.

 

[hayduke]

I see what you mean. And, to take it to a hilarious extreme, who wants to use their warranty miles driving to a far away service centre for warranty work lol.

Sounds like we'll be opting for the mobile service option?

 

[Howard]

What kind of problems are people expecting to have with the new Scout? The advantage of a BEV is so little maintenance is needed. The majority of the problems they are likely to encounter can be handled in the driveway by a mobile repair crew.

Software problems seem to occur frequently in current vehicles with so many electronic features, both EV and ICE from what I read online. Yes, software fixes can be applied remotely, but if something isn't working right, it first has to be seen and diagnosed by someone with knowledge of the systems before a fix can be developed by engineering.

 

[Mousehunter]

When I purchased my VW, I had multiple service centers within about 30 minutes. It worked fine. I do not recall, but I think there might have even been curtsy shuttles that could get me back across town. Now it is closer to 90 minutes and my VW sits a lot - waiting for that perfect pair of days that me and my wife can sacrifice to take it in and get it back. I have probably been driving with issues for over 1 year now, maybe 2 - waiting for those perfect days. I can at least get basic service locally - but that is limited to replacement batteries and oil changes.

I will probably take the risk if it is under 2hrs. I can only hope they have reasonably priced loaner vehicles. One slight advantage to the scout (as is) - I can put it on an equipment trailer to get it to a service center. The low clearance and departure angles of the VW make that questionable at best. I have used the equipment trailer a few times with my LJ before I set it up to flat tow in for repairs. It has been a maintenance HOG-but at least I can always get it to a shop without outside help.