SatNav recommendations: TomTom, SmartPhone or Tablet?

Arfa__

Dunno, if this should go under motoring or Techie stuff, figured most here use a satnav.

Anyway, my old Becker Z101 satnav has died on me and I need a replacement. Sods law, with a long drive up North planned for weekend. Had it patched into car radio aerial on roof to pick up TMC traffic updates and installed the POIWarner to alert me of speed cameras etc. Ideally like same setup again.

So, given a budget of £100-150 ish, what's currently decent? Are the TomTom Start 25 or 60 any good? It appears these have decent storage (and SD card slots) to accommodate future maps, unlike some older TomToms, is that correct? EU wide maps would be nice, but realistically I've never needed to use them with last SatNav.

I don't own a smart phone, but was considering getting one (probably a HTC One S) in near future.
Would this or a little tablet (e.g Nexus 7 or 7" iPad) be a better, more versatile alternative? With Android TomTom app and 7" iPad seemingly just round the corner.

I worry a phone screen will be too small and too quiet a speaker, what is you experience? What happens when you get an incoming call (over bluetooth hands free on stereo of course)? What are the best apps with fully downloaded (not streamed/cached) maps? SatNav is needed by myself and wife, so does that potentially mean buying the TomTom, Sygic app twice? Also I presume no TMC updates with phone/tablet solutions. Is this route ultimately just a case of 'jack-of-all-trades, master or none'?

Trebor16

What about Garmin sat navs, have you considered those?

Tobster86

TomTom Start 25 is brilliant. Bought one with European mapping for OH's Polish father. Got us from Berlin airport and all over Poland without any problems.

I sold TomToms when sat navs first when mainstream working for Comet while at uni; they had by far the best product then and they still seem pretty good now.

Regarding tablets and smartphones, software is variable (I have to say free Google maps navigation is quite capable); the devices are generally a bit fussy in comparison, although actually plotting the routes is a lot faster as they generally have much faster processors. Data connection is also an issue although Google Maps lets you cache map data.

If you're using a lot, I'd say TomTom. If it's occasional, Google Maps navigation.

I can't say about other manufacturers now; early Navman and Garmin were bloody awful but have probably got a lot better; I'd say best bet is go to anywhere demoing them (e.g. Hellfrauds) and have a play with a few.

bengalknights

Tomtom then google maps on android phone would be my preference

phill99

I had a tomtom which was very good but it broke and I haven't replaced it. I use my iPad but this doesn't give you a commentary, so you have to look at the screen which is dangerous and also, it just plots an exact route, without taking into account one way streets etc, so wouldn't recommend one. I'll be going back to a tomtom.

NeverEnough

Navfree for iPhone or iPad is excellent and costs nothing, but of course the iPhone or iPad come at a cost! I have found it excellent on both devices - we have a special holder for the ipad in our van and of course with the big screen, it is superb. And the ipad and iphone DO give commentary - excellent instructions in fact - on Navfree. Google Maps doesn't do commentary, though.
Can't comment on more recent Android or other models - our TomTom One is dicey as it sometimes just goes mute, and my older Blackberry / Nokia phones had fiddly, wretched satnavs. iPhone works superbly.

Tobster86

Another thing to consider, giving my embedded system development 50 pence;

Dedicated sat navs are tested to sit on the windscreen, in direct sunlight or damp, with hot moist or cool dry conditioned air being blown on them at different times.

Tablets and phones generally haven't. Their hardware will also be going flat out with some navigation applications for prolonged periods of time.

TomToms used to have a 2yr wty also, don't know if that's still the case now.

flang

Get a cheap android phone and run google maps with the free navigation software. Not only does it have live traffic but also live commentary.
Ive not used my Tom Tom since. So much easier and never the need to update maps

skivenov

Having driven all over the country for my job for the last 6 years and having had 3 TomToms and 2 Garmins, I'd say buy a TomTom, steer well clear of Garmin.

Arfa__

Some interesting points, cheers everyone.

So my choices:
TomTom Start 25 and 60 - £120-£140

Android Phone about £60-100 up front cost, for middle of road model on a tariff that suits me.

iPhone 4 - £170 up front.

Nexus 7 Tablet - £160.

+ £20 ish for dash mounts.

TomTom App - £50/£80 (UK/EU)

Potentially doubling phone costs, so wife has decent phone for satnav when she uses car and I'm at work. But phone upgrades are on the cards anyway.

With the phone option, I do worry about streaming/caching maps. How much of the country can you cache at once? Could it cache London -> Edinburgh without needing connection on route? I don't want to hose my data limit.

Don't fancy any advert supported maps, screens small enough as it is. Doesn't really make financial sense to buy the Map App twice for both phones.

Overall I'm leaning towards a proper satnav like the TomTom, for ease of sharing between my wife and myself. Plus the TMC stuff can be handy.

No idea which Garmin models are any good. Any recommendations?

wealdroam

I use CoPilot across UK and Europe.

All maps are on my Android handset.

No data downloads except traffic info if you really want it.