Curious: if one of Scout's goals is to help minimize complexity, reduce failure points, improve long-term reliability, and make the Scout easier to repair, many modern features could be simplified or eliminated to help keep costs down. What would be your ideas on this topic? Examples include - roll down windows, manual tailgate, traditional key, basic cruise control, etc. Do you lean more towards super advanced feature set and capabilities or a minimalist (think Slate truck). Thanks, just trying to get a feel for what you all are thinking on this topic these days as vehicle prices rise with all these new features/functions.
Minimizing complexity
- Thread starter bobz
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I definitely lean towards simple, but I do like a few modern luxuries.
Power windows, power locks, power steering/brakes, basic HVAC, manual seats, but I do like keyless entry and heated/cooled seats. I'd be content with no screens in a vehicle. I have no need for a power frunk lid, power tailgate, cameras, power/locking gas/charging doors, power running boards, etc. So far, Scout is doing a decent job of showing functional stuff without slapping technology in for the sake of having technology. I recognize it's a different era and government regulations dictate much of the crap I don't want.
Power windows, power locks, power steering/brakes, basic HVAC, manual seats, but I do like keyless entry and heated/cooled seats. I'd be content with no screens in a vehicle. I have no need for a power frunk lid, power tailgate, cameras, power/locking gas/charging doors, power running boards, etc. So far, Scout is doing a decent job of showing functional stuff without slapping technology in for the sake of having technology. I recognize it's a different era and government regulations dictate much of the crap I don't want.
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I just expect more at the price point the Scouts are starting at. For $60,000 I expect power windows and seats and heated seats, etc. the Slate is less than half the price of a Scout. If the Scout had no screens and roll down windows for $60,000 I wouldn’t be buying it.
Agreed. There a ton of things that are simply expected these days and are included in even the most basic Corolla. keyless entry (fob and phone options), powered windows and seats, auto-dimming mirrors, etc. Heck in my MXP all of the doors are powered. I am REALLY going to miss the car opening the door for me as I walk up (you can set it to disable this feature when at home) and then when I sit down and press the brake pedal it closes the door for me. When I arrive somewhere the car gens to a stop and holds the brakes. I unbuckle my seatbelt and it puts the car in park. I touch a button on the door and the door opens. I get out of the car and walk away it closes the door and locks automatically. Ridiculous I know but I've really gotten used to it. The MX has been out since 2016 and the doors have proven quite robust.
I also really want a power liftgate. I often have both hands full approaching the car so I like that it will detect me standing there and open the rear hatch for me.
Everyone needs to understand that the new Scouts are "luxury" vehicles. They simply are not covered in vinyl, hose out the interior vehicles. Slate is going for that market.
Further, I am not convinced that manual windows, seats, etc are any cheaper than powered ones these days. The motors and control circuitry are dirt cheap.
I wouldn't say they're luxury vehicles and the price tag certainly doesn't agree. They've got a great design, inside and out, that might lend itself to that assumption, but I'm just not seeing it otherwise. Hopefully we're just getting an amazing value, but I'm not holding my breath for a company that still needs to be profitable.
Agree with the luxury comment. I don’t think luxury. When I think luxury vehicle I think crystal shift knob and things like that. These are nicely appointed and also ready to go camping at the drop of a hat.
In my opinion, choosing the BEV over the Harvester will result in a 90% reduction in complexity. Everything else is minor.
That's totally fair. I just come from the Tesla Model S and Model X world where we were told that they were "luxury" vehicles but were not adorned with frilly stuff and were actually quite spartan inside. I was trying to contrast with the more utilitarian direction that some have expressed. Maybe we need a new term. Comfortable? Moderate?
Luxury probably isn't the right word, but it's close based on the price point. They can market it as utilitarian and off road capable all they want, but I will expect the Scout to hold up to other vehicles that start in the same range. The Grand Cherokee is a pretty nice vehicle that is lightly off road capable. A Laredo starts at $38,920. The Summit (top trim) starts at $60,600. The Tahoe starts at $66,495. BMW X5 $68,300. Volvo XC90 $62,445.
Non of those vehicles have roll up windows or manually operated front seats.
I'm going to say something that probably won't be popular here, but I hope they make the locking differentials optional. I can say with 99.9% certainty that I will never use them. I would be willing to bet that 90% of the potential buyers will never use them. Hell I'd be willing to bet that a good portion of the potential buyers don't even know what they actually do compared to just putting a vehicle in to 4WD.
Non of those vehicles have roll up windows or manually operated front seats.
I'm going to say something that probably won't be popular here, but I hope they make the locking differentials optional. I can say with 99.9% certainty that I will never use them. I would be willing to bet that 90% of the potential buyers will never use them. Hell I'd be willing to bet that a good portion of the potential buyers don't even know what they actually do compared to just putting a vehicle in to 4WD.
Interesting thought. I also do not plan to hard offroad my Scout and have never had lockers on a vehicle. We don't know what trim levels they plan to have - they could have a Rubicon-level trim with the lockers and such and leave them out in other trims. Depends on what the axle vendor offers. That being said, with software control, they could make the locker operation seamless/hidden by having them on or off based on drive modes (like sand, snow, mud, etc). There could even be an "I'm stuck" mode that engages the lockers as part of whatever other changes the system makes for that function.
I don’t need lockers so if I don’t need to pay for them all the better. I would rather get those two tone seats and my tire carrier for the money.
Maybe in 10 years I’ll give off-roading consideration but with the upfront investment there isn’t a chance I’ll risk the damage. But for those that love it-go for it and hope it exceeds your every expectation
I'm also in this boat! And 10 years sounds like a good round number...
My Wrangler is 13 and I still don’t want her to get hurt. So maybe 15 years.
Exactly my thought. In 15 years unless I’m running from police for frunk fitment issues I don’t think I’ll be built to handle offroadingI hear you - but I don't think I can wait that long! I'm not getting any younger!
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