In one line: Really happy with it until it broke after maybe 5% of the lifespan I'd expect a hand tool to have.
The good part: it's a super useful tool to have in a shop. Basically I walk in, go to the toolbox, and I grab my gloves, my light, and this driver, and they all go in my pockets until I leave. Good bit selection, magnet is useful for keeping screws on bit, nice ratcheting action, very ergonomic in my hands. Probably my most used tool, and I enjoy using it. It's really good.
The bad part: the bits are 1/4 inch hex that fit into the socket in the shaft. The shaft attaches to the ratchet mechanism via a press fit hex that is less than 1/4 inch. No need to worry about breaking your driver bits, because the attachment for the main shaft is smaller and weaker, and will break first. So instead of a cheap bit replacement, it's catastrophic failure of the entire screwdriver. It's a significant design flaw you don't find out about until you break your first one. Not sure why it's built that way other than perhaps manfacturability benefits.
My recommendation: It's a bit pricey for what it is, but not bad if you buy directly from Megapro. If you buy direct, the warranty return process is pretty straightforward, so when the main shaft breaks, aside from being without a driver during the return process, it's not a big deal. Maybe even buy two, so you still have a working one while the other is being returned and replaced. Make absolutely sure you keep your order information where you can find it for when the main shaft breaks and you need to do a return.
I think if the shaft into the ratchet mechanism were machined from a single piece the breaking wouldn't be likely, as that would nearly double the amount of material taking the torque, but I could see that possibly increasing the cost of production to the point where it was unsalable. For a tool listed as automotive, which means dealing with corroded fasteners is inevitable, the design seems questionable. As much as it sucks to break a bit and have to drill out a mangled screw, I'd prefer that to the shaft of the driver snapping off at the base. It's also possible that I was just unlucky with getting some sort of inclusion or flaw in the metal, and that most of them last more than a couple of months.
The utility rates five stars, the lifespan/cost ratio rates one star so an average of 3 stars. If I get another and it lasts longer I might revise upward.
