You used to have to purchase a yearly subscription but Ford has changed that. I have heard that out of date subscriptions turn your IDS into an expensive code reader. You will need to keep your subscription current if you plan to be capable of reprogramming modules and retaining all of IDS functionality. You may decide it will be better in the long run. Read THIS TOPIC for more info on the new VCM. The next generation VCM is being released later this year and as a result I suspect there will be a lot of 'old' VCM's for sale which might drop the price on them. It all depends on how much this used equipment is going to cost.
