I want to buy a scan tool. I have had my codes read at the local parts store, but recently had a catastrophic failure that required the car to be towed to a shop. They charged me $89.95 to read the codes. Not to mention $140 labor, and $125 parts cost. All for a Crankshaft Position Sensor. Part cost should have been under $75--that is the manufacturer's list price, and about .5 hours labor.
I know, I "should" have investigated. But sometimes you can't. The car just died. Had been running fine, then, like someone turned a switch, it died...on the crest of a stretch of road called "Dead Man's Curve" no less. When the shop called with the estimate, I agreed, so I can't complain too much. But once burned, I become twice as careful.
So I want an OBD II scanner to keep in the car in case I ever have it totally die again. I see some very inexpensive ones on Amazon and the like--under $40! I also see some over hundreds of $$. So what is the difference?

If all I want is to be able to read codes, won't the least expensive do the job?

Any personal experience with various makes and models of readers?

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags