Spare Tire

[merrelljohnson]

Please make the spare tire standard. Reps shared that it wouldn't be today in Cola. They even challenged the fact that other main competitors don't offer them i.e. the Bronco (inaccurate info btw). But an upcharge for a spare tire on a purpose-built off-road vehicle is an interesting choice. While I understand the Rivian doesn't offer one *edit as standard equipment *, the Scout is in a whole other category.

 

[BeerParty]

I just wish they’d reconsider a standard spare.

When you say "standard spare", what do you mean exactly? When you say "standard", do you mean:

• available from the factory,
• included at no extra cost, or
• a full sized spare?

From what you reported the representative said, a spare will be available from a factory. It will be available at an extra cost.

According to Scott@Scout, the trucks will come standard with 33" tires. A 33" spare will be available and can be stored under the bed of the Terra, and they were "looking into" under rear-end storage in the Traveler (they didn't know if there is enough space for a 33" spare there). 35" tires from the factory are an option, but a 35" tire will not fit in the space under the Terra or Traveler. A 33" and a 35" tire will fit in the swing-out tire carrier, but the carrier is only available for the Traveler (and it is optional). This is likely why the spare is optional, there will be configurations were a full sized spare would only "fit" in the cargo area of either vehicle.

 

[J Alynn]

When you say "standard spare", what do you mean exactly? When you say "standard", do you mean:

• available from the factory,
• included at no extra cost, or
• a full sized spare?

From what you reported the representative said, a spare will be available from a factory. It will be available at an extra cost.

According to Scott@Scout, the trucks will come standard with 33" tires. A 33" spare will be available and can be stored under the bed of the Terra, and they were "looking into" under rear-end storage in the Traveler (they didn't know if there is enough space for a 33" spare there). 35" tires from the factory are an option, but a 35" tire will not fit in the space under the Terra or Traveler. A 33" and a 35" tire will fit in the swing-out tire carrier, but the carrier is only available for the Traveler (and it is optional). This is likely why the spare is optional, there will be configurations were a full sized spare would only "fit" in the cargo area of either vehicle.

This is well written and appreciate the follow up. I thought I recalled a discussion somewhere but just left it go. Thanks

 

[merrelljohnson]

Every SUV with a solid rear axle has a full-size spare to my knowledge, and they have for a long time. The Traveler should come with a full-size spare standard, EREV or not and Scout knows it. If they want to offer a delete kit that you/they can install for additional cost, that's fine, but don't BS us and call it optional and add thousands to the price. Just admit you screwed up your initial price estimates and raise the price to where it should be.

THIS!

When the rep argued with me about the Bronco not coming with a full-size spare as standard equipment, it took every ounce of energy I had not to laugh.

Ma’am. The people showing up this early to look at a Scout know cars. And, perhaps more importantly, we live in an age where it takes approximately 15 seconds to fact-check something.

For the record: the Ford Bronco does, in fact, come standard with a full-size spare.

And that’s really the larger point.

Yes, many manufacturers have moved away from including spare tires. But let’s not pretend a Scout Traveler is competing with an ordinary crossover. They are positioning this as a rugged, body-on-frame, adventure-oriented vehicle capable of serious off-road use. In that category, a full-size spare isn’t some quaint relic from 1997. It’s equipment your target customer has every reason to expect.

And then she hit me with: “There’s nothing else like this.”

Ma’am.

I appreciate the rose-colored glasses. Truly. But Scout would be foolish not to recognize the uphill battle ahead:

• This is a new automaker with no reliability record of its own yet, even with Volkswagen Group backing (who itself has mixed reliability ratings).
• Scout has tremendous heritage, but modern brand recognition outside automotive and enthusiast circles still has to be rebuilt.
• The Harvester powertrain will require consumer education. Range-extended EVs aren’t a brand-new concept—we’ve been experimenting with the basic idea for years—but most consumers still don’t know what an EREV is or why they might want one.
• And, perhaps most importantly, Scout itself is still unproven. The enthusiasts standing around these vehicles today know the International Scout name and desperately want this resurrection to succeed, just for nostalgia. The average American car buyer is going to require convincing.

That means Scout does not have the luxury or brand cachet to come out of the gate saying, “Well, everyone else is eliminating things too.”

They are not everyone else yet.

They need to come out of the gate swinging.

Give people the capability. Give them the thoughtful details. Give them the little things that make an enthusiast walk around the vehicle and say, “They actually thought about how I’m going to use this.”

Because when you’re asking people to take a chance on a resurrected nameplate, from a new manufacturer, with a relatively unfamiliar propulsion system, you should be looking for opportunities to overdeliver. Especially with a base price starting out higher than the national average sales price.

The fact that enthusiasts are even having to lobby for a full-size spare tire to be standard equipment on something called a Scout is baffling.