Sat nav recommendations

Oddjob

Not sure if this is the right place so please feel free to move.

I am needing a new sat nav, I think the internal battery of my old one is on the way out. The one before that went like it too, and its an old Tom Tom and difficult to replace I think.

Both the previous ones have been Tom Tom which I like. I was looking on Amazon yesterday but a lot of the reviews seemed to say that the new ones are not as good as the old ones.
I'm not particularly wanting the latest, expensive models.
I just want one that is reliable and gets me from place to place. It would be nice to have free map updates, although I have never updated either of the previous ones as they weren't free.

I'm not too bothered about Bluetooth, I don't make or receive calls when I am driving. Wouldn't want to tether to phone for live traffic. It needs to be able to find a post code even without a road name, for instance in rural areas which apparently not all the new ones do.
Apparently, even though Tom Tom say lifetime map updates, this doesn't continue while you are still able to use it, just as long as they want to support it which I think is misleading.
I would rather buy a new one than a second hand one as the battery might be on its way out in a used one.

Only need a UK one as don't go abroad and I think the updates take a long time for European ones.
Any suggestions please?

DoaM

Just search this forum ... this question gets asked at least once per month.

Debbie_Savard

For a dedicated unit, I'd not go cheaper than a TomTom GO 5100 5 inch Sat Nav with World Maps (Sim Card and Unlimited Data Included).

If you want to spend less, look at Waze on smart phone.

ixat

In my experiences TomTom updates are so far out of date they aren't worth using certainly not paying for. They've stopped support for older models now and I wonder how long they'll be around in the future.
As a (retired) taxi driver I found CoPilot cheap and excellent software to stick on a(n old) mobile phone - lifetime free updates and transfers to any new phone or tablet etc. (Really great on a tablet - so clear and with so much info on the surrounding area, much better than TT or Garmin etc etc)

Oddjob

Thanks iaxt and Debbie Savard, I think I would find a mobile phone too small a screen to use for sat nav, I know some people do.
I don't have an old phone that would be suitable and don;t have a tablet either.

Thanks for your replies.

DoaM

Does your car have an Infotainment system with a large screen? (Not all Infotainment systems come with satnav functionality built-in).
If yes, does it support Android Auto or Apple Carplay?

My car does, so I just plug in my phone and use Google Maps via Android Auto. I tried Waze but with my phone/car combo Waze caused the Infotainment system to black screen so I reverted to Google Maps.

Oddjob

No its an older car 2009.

RumRat

Mobile phone with Google maps, Waze or Here We go Navigation apps, or, even all three....
You don't connect the phone via bluetooth and don't need to answer any calls.
Unless you don't have a smart phone it's, by far, the simplest solution.

Oddjob

I do have a galaxy S4mini but I don't bother with lots of apps on it. I much prefer a dedicated sat nav but thanks

Oddjob

DoaM wrote: »

Just search this forum ... this question gets asked at least once per month.

I tried that, I've put in sat nav, sat+nav, and satnav, it just keeps coming up with numerous threads nothing to do with sat navs

warehouse

+1 for Google Maps on your phone.