Can you recommend a Sat Nav for France

agrinnall

flimsier wrote: »

Fair point, to an extent.

But since they've become ubiquitous, things like spaces where you can stop and look at a map have been taken out of service as they are not used.

I'm not sure that's true, but even if it is I think it would be a stretch to lay the blame on sat navs.

slinga

agrinnall wrote: »

Satnav can't be "essential", how did we all manage before they were invented? I drove around Montpelier in 1996 without any great difficulty.

We drove straight to our hotel in the center without any nav except the missus on top form.


Found out later that Montpellier is quite complicated.
Must've been lucky.

sandsy

We supplemented our car's sat nav (Honda) with Google maps on our recent trip to that part of the world. Google did a much better job.

maman

agrinnall wrote: »

Satnav can't be "essential", how did we all manage before they were invented? I drove around Montpelier in 1996 without any great difficulty.

flimsier wrote: »

Fair point, to an extent.

But since they've become ubiquitous, things like spaces where you can stop and look at a map have been taken out of service as they are not used.

Although I've not driven in France for about 18 months I can't believe it's changed that much. Surely they still have the aire de repos on motorways and the N roads go through any number of small towns and villages. The only places I've ever found tricky is town/city centres when traffic systems wouldn't let me go where I wanted. Didn't stop the locals though!:rotfl:

benjus

cubegame wrote: »

I always find in car chargers wanting. Get a power bank instead.

There's no logical reason why car chargers should be wanting when they have a high current 12V supply at their disposal - I guess you have just had bad luck with the chargers you have tried.

You could always get a power inverter to provide a 240V supply then use a mains charger...

Power banks are good when you're out and about but you have to remember to keep them charged. I'd rather make use of the fact that I have an electrical outlet available in the car.

alun4

Lots of things help the driver now that didn't way back then. I learnt to drive in 1970. Passionate about driving then. Passed test on my 17th birthday (could be done then). After some years, joined and then passed the Advanced Motorist Course and regard membership as a privilege that has to be constantly worked on.
We have a place in the French Alps which we visit winter and summer (twice in the last two months). I drive about 50,000 miles a year and have two Tomtom sat navs in the car/van. One is older but the more modern one has Live traffic. (Sometimes slightly different information and different visual on junctions and motorway exit lanes.)
We have saved hours by coming off French motorways onto N routes with the information they supply. For example an accident ahead or huge queue at main Peage)

I wouldn't even go from home to me parents home without the Tomtom showing all/any information that is available. Information - like the dashboard telling you a bulb has failed.

We look at maps before travel (particularly on the continent) so we have the as much info as possible. And that is the point. You are the driver and you should embrace all/any information available BUT you make and are responsible for the decisions. (I have never used a mobile phone for satnav as ours Satnavs are "hardwired" in so we don't have any charging issues.

PS latest van also has Pilot Sat Nav in dashboard. You have to pay for updates through a computer connection .... why when tomtom has a sim card in the unit? !

I would echo the advice about French speed limits changing and be very careful about disabling speed camera warnings on your device.

dondo

We got one last year 2nd hand from eBay a Garmin one that was good- only cost £45

Also on eBay you can rent them- which maybe a more cost effective option?