Anyone have any recommendations / tips / warnings / etc.?
I'm looking at a DS201 or DS203.

 

I have not used one but, for the money I think they would be a good diagnostic tool. Looking at the specs I would be inclined to go for the cheaper DS201 as the specs are almost the same. Looking at the units the 203 seems to have easier controls but is 3 times the price. The specs do not include the input capacitance and 500K Ω is on the low side, I would buy a 10X probe.

I will explain the 500kΩ thingy. If you measure a wave that is supposed to be 12V p-p (peak to peak) across 250KΩ the voltage the scope displays will be 8V p-p not 12V as expected. This is because the voltage is divided between the 2 resistances. A 10X probe will multiply the Scopes input impedance by 10. This will result in the measured voltage being 11.4V p-p close enough to 12V

Let me put it this way if these were available when I was installing GM electronic cruise control in my XJS I would have bought one. I have a Tektronix TDS3000 a highend digital which is a great scope but I could not drive the car down the road with this scope.

I hope this helps.

 

Thanks for the input. To me, the big difference is 1 channel on the 201 vs 4 channel on the 203.
Seems like most everything can be done with the 1 channel. But I can't help thinking "more is better"!

 

I'd go with a 2ch, in 35 years I never needed 4ch. 2ch is handy to view input and output waveforms

Something like this

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Small-Po...FJqf:rk:1:pf:0

 

I hadn't seen the 212.
Some reviews didn't like the 202 but the 212 reviews seem to be pretty good.
I like the 2 channel for comparing signals as well as checking input vs output like crank sensor / cam timing.
The total cost goes up pretty quick when you start adding the cost of an amp clamp, Inductive clamp, probes, etc.