Don’t make it fancy

[Jkew]

Make the Scout reliable. Something that can last 20 years. Make it something that isn’t a transient iPhone-on-wheels wanna-be. Make it something I can repair myself with the right tools.

I know that runs against the grain for the car industry these days, but that would be truly revolutionary.

Anyways, I did reserve one because I like the Scout and it will replace my explorer and help convert me over to all-EV - just don’t screw it up because you want more subscriptions for CarNet.

 

[GrumpyG]

I agree 100%. If they want people to buy EV make it something we can have for a long time and, maybe more importantly, actually use for many things. Having options is nice (heated steering wheel is nice once you have one) but I want to be able to use this vehicle for truck things like pull trailers, put chainsaws in the back. If I had a $100k "luxury adventure vehicle" i would not be inclined to do that. Massaging 24 way seats, HUD, all those stupid screens and other gimmicks are available in other more expensive EVs and are not necessary. Keep it simple. I think Scout is onto something and I am excited. No need to over do it with superfluous options to appease the luxury vehicle buyer. The reason I reserved one of these and will wait 3 years for it over the Silverado EV is as described it is not an iPhone on wheels. I like that it does not have self-driving, but does have a bench seat, mechanical door latches, buttons not touchscreens, locking differentials, solid axle, and that cloth/leather interior is what brought me in. So I am hoping they stay true to the concept and I will happily give my money and be a customer for life. I think they are onto something. These started out as farm vehicles after all...

 

[kr_swift]

Totally agree that reliability and easy serviceability are very important for something intended to be rugged and work truck capable. For many people, these Scouts would be daily-driven solo vehicles that need to do all the important truck things well. Keeping things simple, solid, useable and reasonably priced are key to knocking this out of the park. At the same time, it should also be able to update and get better with time. That's a benefit of the modern age. There are certain tech forward features, such as self-driving (and some practical options), that are absolutely useful for folks who are on the road a lot--especially in something that we'd want to keep for a long time. Having an EV with level 2 autonomy and using it on both a 17 hour road trip and for gridlocked rush hour highway commutes, I can say that the relief "self-driving" provides from fatigue and muscle aches--even reduced mental stress at times--while also allowing me to keep moving and not lose time on excessive stops is invaluable. Even as someone who loves to drive, I highly value having the option to enable autonomous driving when I want it and turn it off when I want to take control.

 

[LastDayScout]

I agree 100%. If they want people to buy EV make it something we can have for a long time and, maybe more importantly, actually use for many things. Having options is nice (heated steering wheel is nice once you have one) but I want to be able to use this vehicle for truck things like pull trailers, put chainsaws in the back. If I had a $100k "luxury adventure vehicle" i would not be inclined to do that. Massaging 24 way seats, HUD, all those stupid screens and other gimmicks are available in other more expensive EVs and are not necessary. Keep it simple. I think Scout is onto something and I am excited. No need to over do it with superfluous options to appease the luxury vehicle buyer. The reason I reserved one of these and will wait 3 years for it over the Silverado EV is as described it is not an iPhone on wheels. I like that it does not have self-driving, but does have a bench seat, mechanical door latches, buttons not touchscreens, locking differentials, solid axle, and that cloth/leather interior is what brought me in. So I am hoping they stay true to the concept and I will happily give my money and be a customer for life. I think they are onto something. These started out as farm vehicles after all...

I will say that all the Scout corporate folks I talked to conveyed that these will be your vehicle, not theirs. They know full well that work grade trims are a must. They also know that some people will want a fully optioned model. I personally see a 4runner as a good comparison. They are ubiquitous. There are base level trims, sr5 mid level, limited (fancy), TRD off road, etc. 4runners are at home running errands, going to a nice dinner, on the trail...everywhere. They all look similar enough that they do not offend anyone and endear themselves to many. I never hear anyone say that a 4runner is a bourgeois vehicle, nor are they looked down on. They are popular to a wide cross section of people. They are also super reliable and well proportioned. I think that Scout will be well served to market themselves to a wide variety of people with diverse needs and wants.

FYI
2024 4Runner dimensions
190-191″ L x 76″ W x 72″ H
2027 Scout Traveler dimensions
190.9" L x 79.9" W x 76.3" H

 

[Chaz26]

FYI
2024 4Runner dimensions
190-191″ L x 76″ W x 72″ H
2027 Scout Traveler dimensions
120.4" L x 79.9" W x 76.3" H

120.4" is the wheelbase for the Traveler, 190.9" (without the wheel carrier) is the length, so very similar to a 4Runner.

 

[LastDayScout]

120.4" is the wheelbase for the Traveler, 190.9" (without the wheel carrier) is the length, so very similar to a 4Runner.

Correct, my fault on too quickly posting. I will edit it.

 

[Scoutsie]

I agree 100%. If they want people to buy EV make it something we can have for a long time and, maybe more importantly, actually use for many things. Having options is nice (heated steering wheel is nice once you have one) but I want to be able to use this vehicle for truck things like pull trailers, put chainsaws in the back. If I had a $100k "luxury adventure vehicle" i would not be inclined to do that. Massaging 24 way seats, HUD, all those stupid screens and other gimmicks are available in other more expensive EVs and are not necessary. Keep it simple. I think Scout is onto something and I am excited. No need to over do it with superfluous options to appease the luxury vehicle buyer. The reason I reserved one of these and will wait 3 years for it over the Silverado EV is as described it is not an iPhone on wheels. I like that it does not have self-driving, but does have a bench seat, mechanical door latches, buttons not touchscreens, locking differentials, solid axle, and that cloth/leather interior is what brought me in. So I am hoping they stay true to the concept and I will happily give my money and be a customer for life. I think they are onto something. These started out as farm vehicles after all...

I don’t think massaging chairs are stupid. I have herniated discs and if a massaging chair is in my economic wheelhouse, I want that, especially for a long car trip. I can use my seat warmer as a make-do heating pad, but massage would be preferable, I think.

I also have no depth perception (my brain recognizes one eye and so only one eye does the work of two) and some of those stupid screens and gimmicks mean that I am not holding up traffic because I’m having trouble judging the distance between cars at their speed of travel and things around me and whether or not I can merge into traffic without avoiding a collision. What might be luxuries for you are baseline medical accommodations for me. Please don’t dump on them. Not everyone’s gifted with perfect health.

 

[LastDayScout]

I don’t think massaging chairs are stupid. I have herniated discs and if a massaging chair is in my economic wheelhouse, I want that, especially for a long car trip. I can use my seat warmer as a make-do heating pad, but massage would be preferable, I think.

I also have no depth perception (my brain recognizes one eye and so only one eye does the work of two) and some of those stupid screens and gimmicks mean that I am not holding up traffic because I’m having trouble judging the distance between cars at their speed of travel and things around me and whether or not I can merge into traffic without avoiding a collision. What might be luxuries for you are baseline medical accommodations for me. Please don’t dump on them. Not everyone’s gifted with perfect health.

My disc degeneration appreciates my massaging and heated seats. My summer time swamp a** appreciates the ventilated seats!