Tom Tom Go Live and map update charges - any alternatives or ideas ?

property.advert

I've had a Tom Tom Go Live 1005 (5 inch screen) coming up to a year and will have to subscribe for another year to their live services at a cost of around £50.

Then there is the new map service. A year of this costs £60 or so.

Potential 8.24% Topcashback rebate.

This seems quite a lot each year at around £110 or so and I'm thinking whether it is worthwhile or necessary. If I don't update, then the £230 or so I paid for the device last year will undoubtedly have been wasted.

So before I sign up, are there any truly viable alternatives ?

forgotmyname

Never used live services on a satnav. Being told the traffic is heavy whilst your sitting in it seems a bit obvious
and not worth paying £50 a year for.

Free options on android handsets. Im sure others will have also.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Thats where Garmins t models come in, free lifetime traffic.

Can't help with the updated maps.

molerat

Not really any alternative for live services. The maps can be updated cheaper by continually buying the update service. They often have this on 18 months for 12 offer and if you are updating from the latest map it is half price. My UK update cost me £39.60 for 18 months first time (new map +updates) but was £19.80 for 18 months last time (updates only). Possibly downgrade map from EU (£59.95)to UK (£39.95)

DUTR

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

Thats where Garmins t models come in, free lifetime traffic.

Can't help with the updated maps.

i'm not a TT fan, but the traffic service seems much more useful than TMC which only seem to cover major A roads and motorways, the TT service covers smaller roads within towns and cities.

System

Little point paying for map upgrades on a regular basis. There are very few major road building / alteration projects going to happen for a while, so the existing map data isn't going to be far out.

gilbert_and_sullivan

DUTR wrote: »

i'm not a TT fan, but the traffic service seems much more useful than TMC which only seem to cover major A roads and motorways, the TT service covers smaller roads within towns and cities.

That's interesting, though it wouldn't be a lot of use to me as most of my driving is artic truck so ducking and diving round minor back streets isn't always an option.

How do TT get info on minor roads, whats the difference between the two please?

I know Garmin vs TT users will always argue theirs is best, and i would have gone for TT in preference for ease of use.
A mate bought a TT years ago and it was a joy to use, i bought a Garmin for it's huge screen (truck use) and free traffic.

Glad i did now, my elderly neighbour bought the latest TT and asked me to show him how to use it and set it up for him, the lad at Halfords was as much use as the proverbial teapot, hateful thing the latest model no easier to use than a inbuilt car makers fitment which was ridiculously complicated.

muddyl

Depends how legal you want it to be.
Tomtom software is hard to illegally update. However a cheap binatone one can have the tomtom software put on easily, and free map updates can be acquired. Did this for a relative and it was pretty easy.

property.advert

I didn't know about the Garmin lifetime map updates when comparing the two a year ago but the Tom Tom seemed way ahead with the live services. I use the Google search function a lot and the traffic jam information is sometimes useful. I think they get information from other Tom Tom users amongst other things.

I've just seen a 2 year deal for £69.99 which seems a much better deal http://www.amazon.co.uk/TomTom-Update-Service-Months-Subscription/dp/B001V88L2E but I am not sure it is available with the 1005 or after you have had the system for 90 days. If you look at the John Lewis site it does not list this device.

I must admit that when I bought the item, at around £230 I knew about the 12 months live and renewal at around £50 but I didn't really think I'd get only 3 months of maps (which weren't even available actually) and then be looking at another £50 plus a year for maps.

It might be time to look at what is available on my phone for free / little cost.

property.advert

muddyl wrote: »

Depends how legal you want it to be.
Tomtom software is hard to illegally update. However a cheap binatone one can have the tomtom software put on easily, and free map updates can be acquired. Did this for a relative and it was pretty easy.

If you can give me a dodgy update for a tenner (or whatever) I couldn't care a jot about Tom Tom's coffers.

forgotmyname

Plenty of dodgy websites out there that will have tomtom software and updates.

Whether its safe to download is another matter.