SAT NAVs... could someone point me in the right direction?

gemmaj

Hello, I just don't quite get SAT NAVs - could someone help? I'm going on holiday to the UK soon, I'm not from the UK and I'm not a very good driver (sad but true). I've rented SAT NAVs in the past and I think I should buy one now (rent is £20ish a week so adds up).

If I get one without map updates, will it be heading towards useless in a year or two or three? Or do roads really not change much?

I have an iPhone but my SIM won't work in the UK. I have a UK PAYG Sim I hope to cut down to size but no idea if I will get it all working when I get to UK, so I'm guessing I'd be daft to trust to that.

Thanks for any advice!

BlueC

It would be cheaper and better to buy a UK SIM that includes unlimited (or a lot) of data, such as Three (£10/month - buy the SIM in any Three store), then use Google Maps and Navigation on your phone (free).

DUTR

navfree, works without data usage.

forgotmyname

3rd isle on the left. 27ft you have arrived at your destination.

All satnav's are much of a muchness, They will all get you there with some odd routes are where it takes you off the main road up some side roads and then back on the main road 200yards from where you turned off.

They are never to be trusted 100%.

OddballJamie

I ordered a Navman earlier for my partner. Lifetime maps and traffic updates for a year, all for £40 delivered. Bargain!

gemmaj

Thanks for all the replies, NavFree sounds definitely worth a go - at that price!

Ultrasonic

forgotmyname wrote: »

3rd isle on the left. 27ft you have arrived at your destination.

All satnav's are much of a muchness, They will all get you there with some odd routes are where it takes you off the main road up some side roads and then back on the main road 200yards from where you turned off.

They are never to be trusted 100%.

My TomTom satnav has never done that.

To answer the OP's question, no, roads don't change that much and a 3 year old map will be perfectly fine 99.9% of the time.

If you have a smartphone then as above consider using this. Try using the free options where you live to see if you like them. You can also buy apps from satnav makers like TomTom. You will need an in car charger and mount for your phone though.

Stooby2

If you use the forum search at the top of the page, this topic has been discussed at length several times and all the various options covered.

Hintza

Have a look at the new Nokia Lumia 520 phone, it has Nokia Drive loaded which I have used once (new phone 10 days old) and it looks pretty good.

Or have a look at this link (arrived in my in box this morning from Amazon)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/feature.html/ref=pe_354841_38124021_pe_01/?docId=1000673223&ie=UTF8

marlot

If you're not bothered about phone calls whilst in the UK, I'd recommend something like this three sim. It comes with 3Gb, and lasts up to 3 months from first use. When it runs out (of data or months) you throw it away.

There is also a 1Gb/1 month version

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Three-Mobile-Broadband-Preloaded-Devices/dp/B003Z0T3X2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1374235702&sr=8-1&keywords=three+sim+3gb