VCDS or anything else?

[Sprengarfjord]

Hey!
First of all, sorry for my bad grammar.

I have T6.1 2020 automatic 4x4, led lights and everything on it except rear AC.
However, what do I really need?
I'm mostly interested in finding what's wrong with the car and probably see the codes and turn off the codes in the car.
To me it looks like my car isn't fully supported anyway in VCDS. I'm not so much of a programmer and are a Noob in this.
The question now is, do I need VCDS or do I need only a reader to see code and turn them off?

Regards!

 

[gergely]

Hi mate same year car and same thinking here.
Ross-tech says the car is supported and is going to be by time as they develop their VCDS program by time. It’s a big investment and needs a PC with you to work properly.
OBDeleven is a subscription based app, mobile only (there are pros and cons to this) and can read codes very well. I think a pro subscription is not even needed to just read/erase codes so might even be cheap.
I use Carista now for the same purpose you have mentioned and as universal as it is, it is close to useless if it comes to understanding what a code means. It’s built in code lookup and explanation for codes is awful. But it’s the cheapest option and works to read and erase codes to be fair.

So I’m okay with Carista now for the time being until I decide whether to buy an expensive ross-tech cable (by expensive I mean all the shipping and import charges to my country including the VIN limitation to make it less of a value) or go with obdelevens less preferred UI. I think OBDeleven is the good midway between having something universal and a pro tool to dignose though.

 

[Pauly]

Carista + google/t6forum is enough for most people to get by and allows you to check and erase fault codes along with some basic (preset) coding/programming

OBDEleven is the next step in price and does the above + allows you to dig a bit deeper and access any coding/programming you want (as long as you know what you want to change)

VCDS is the multi function that does pretty much everything you could need especially useful for fault finding issues as allows you to read and record data values from all electrical systems and the engine etc + the coding element is documented so most things are labelled within the software so you have a better understanding of what chages you are making

The only thing none of the them do is program keys (immobiliser) and flash software on to control modules, more specialist kit is required for that

 

[jayc001]

I have Carista, Obdeleven and VCDS. Mostly use VCDS but occasionally use Obdeleven and on wife's car I use Carista.

For a newbie Obdeleven is probably best bet. Buy the dongle and licence separate as it's usually around £20 cheaper.

 

[Sprengarfjord]

Awesome.
I think I'll try obdeleven first. But do I really have to pay for License every 12 months?
I used too use T7 suite , Trionic 7 to my old SAAB. That was amazing what you could do.
I changed the horsepower, to drive it on etanol and lots of other things.

I think I'll go for the VCDS later in life.
Thank you all for your help so far

 

[sippe]

Saab! I had a 9000 aero years ago... Still one of my favourite cars I've driven so far

 

[Sprengarfjord]

Saab! I had a 9000 aero years ago... Still one of my favourite cars I've driven so far

I loved mine as well. SAAB 9-5 (Sport wagon?), 275hp 455Nm torque. 300000km and was like a clock.