Sat Nav recommendations

Head units and speakers, MP3 and CD changers, GPS and SatNav, plus PDAs, mobile phones, Bluetooth, TalkAbouts...
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freds dad
Joined: Thu 18 Mar, 2010 15:28
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Sat Nav recommendations

Post by freds dad »

Ive decided after years of saying Im not having a sat nav as I know how to read a map Ive finally given in and decided to buy one.
But before I do can anyone recommend one and also a good place to buy from.

Ta
_wendy_
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Post by _wendy_ »

we had a mio pda for years and always said we wouldnt have an ordinary sat nav. then the pda broke and at that time halfords had a fantastic half price offer on tomtoms, so we bit the bullet. now we would never look back, we have the XL live and its fantastic. love having the google on it so you can search for locations - handy if u decide to stop for a drink or food etc somewhere. my hubby loves the real ale pub feature!
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TrickyZ1
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Post by TrickyZ1 »

Another Tomtom fan here - I would recommend getting a model that has the 'itinerary planning' feature, especially if you use the car as it was intended :wink:
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DC
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Re: Sat Nav recommendations

Post by DC »

freds dad wrote:Ive decided after years of saying Im not having a sat nav as I know how to read a map Ive finally given in and decided to buy one.
Good decision, I felt just the same and got one last year, now I wouldn't want to be without it.
I would recommend doing your own research, lots on the web about them, as everyone requires different things from a sat nav.
I just wanted a simple aid to navigation, bear in mind you still need to use common sense when imputing routes and check the route before blindly following it.
Tesco is good for having a play with them, they are usually on display and you can fiddle with them without being accosted by sales staff.
Mine are both basic wide screen Garmins and suit me fine as I'm sure a Tom Tom would also.
The Garmin seemed to be slightly more intuitive to use for me.
Being able to add way points is a useful feature in planning routes that suit you rather than the sat nav preferred route
( I still keep maps in the cars)
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Ian_C
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Post by Ian_C »

Another recommendation for TomTom from me. The support service is excellent IMO
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Mouldy
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Post by Mouldy »

I've had a TomTom Go 730 for over two years, which replaced an earlier TomTom. As well as being a great sat-nav it can be used as a hands free device for your mobile via the Bluetooth connectivity and can be set to read out any incoming texts as they come in automatically.

The support software is good and map updates are available at a reasonable cost, ensuring that the device can be kept up to date with any new roads.

I have travelled in and through France, Switzerland and into Northern Italy with mine and have found it invaluable.

As an ex-HGV driver, my knowledge of the roads in the UK is generally pretty good, but I do find that the sat-nav guides me through some short cuts that I may not have taken, and the speed camera feature is also handy.

As the prices have fallen since they were first introduced some years ago and the technology inside them has improved, I think that they are well worth the money and take a lot of stress out of driving.

Purely from my personal experience, I would recommend a TomTom and try Amazon, Halfrauds, Comet, Currys or even John Lewis, whose price match guarantee makes them very competetive.
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msassoon
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Post by msassoon »

I have a TomTom, but my only gripe is the battery life is hideous. You have to plug it in, or you get 10mins and it turns off with no warning. I have also had the software crash a few times needing a restart, and twice a reset. I preferred the Route66 software I had for my Nokia phone. Not as detailed, but never failed. An alternative is a Nokia phone with Nokia Maps I suppose. Free for life now.
Mr Silver
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Post by Mr Silver »

I use a Garmin 710 (together with my maps) that transmits sound through the radio, ideal for an open car. Takes me right to the door anywhere in Europe*. Bought the last one from PC World at silly money! Wouldn't be without it.

*..that is apart from one memorable trip where the locals had dug up the only route out of town! Mabel (the Garmin) threw a complete wobbler and just displayed a full-screen red arrow facing the way I'd just come.
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GazHyde
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Post by GazHyde »

Had an original TomTom Go which I used for about 4 years and it was great.

Recently bought the TomTom software for my iPhone (along with the TomTom cradle), and its awesome.

No grumbles with either - other than the usual grumbles that all sat nav users have irrespective of brand.
swamper
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Post by swamper »

i have Tom Tom on my P.D.A....and sometimes the software get muddled up which speeds the voice up..................sounds as if shes irritated with me.....cant fault her :roll:
the badness makes me do it...!

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spokey
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Post by spokey »

TomTom Go for me.
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muppet
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Post by muppet »

_wendy_ wrote: my hubby loves the real ale pub feature!
Finally found something that might just persuade me to get a sat nav :zmurf:
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Phil
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Post by Phil »

Tom Tom for me - also a new convert to sat nav and had mine about 10 weeks. Great - just spent 2 weeks in France with it and it was invaluable dont know how we managed without one
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Fender2004
Joined: Fri 14 Aug, 2009 10:24
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Post by Fender2004 »

Tom Tom for me, had mine for about a year didn't think I would use it much but when you do it is great :D
billz
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Post by billz »

TomToms by far the best, Had Navigator 5,6,7 on Pda now have XL European Live and is excellent, i have even got zeddy as my start up screen and also my car icon when going along the routes, :squeeze:
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freds dad
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Post by freds dad »

After all the Tom Tom recommendation I have plumped for this one.

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/p ... +XL+IQ.htm

The lad gets 10% staff discount so it cost £126 and I also got two £10 Argos vouchers so Im quite happy with the deal.

Thanks to everybody for their advice and Im now off to work out how it works. :)
henrycrun
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Post by henrycrun »

And no need to leave a tell tale mark on the windscreen.
The Z3 rear bottom locker is ideal for a Sat Nav. Just drop it in and turn up the audio !
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