Top Sat Nav deals discussion

patman99

You can't go wrong with a Garmin. They still provide updates for thier first ever satnavs. If you don't want to be lumbered with obsolete hardware in 2 years, avoid Navman/Mio. TomTom only provide 3 years of updates.

BTW, it's worth noting that Garmin now charge a one-off fee of £95 for 3 updates per-year for as long as you own the product.

Just had it confirmed by Navman, product is supported for upto 2 years. If they change the technology inside when they launch a new model, then map updates cease immediatly due to incompatibility problems.

Not helpfull when, if like a work colleague, you buy a PiN model, then find 6 months later that map support has ceased.

LadyDee

Hi, looking to buy my first sat nav and am so bewildered as there are so many to choose from. Basically, I need a simple sat nav - don't want music/bluetooth/ films(!).

Need UK only maps
Lane assist
Ability to choose non-motorway
Map pointing the way I'm going so left means left
Clear voice and sharp image
Maps can be updated for free
and
as cheap as possible

Would appreciate some recommendations please.

Gordon861

LadyDee wrote: »

Hi, looking to buy my first sat nav and am so bewildered as there are so many to choose from. Basically, I need a simple sat nav - don't want music/bluetooth/ films(!).

Need UK only maps
Lane assist
Ability to choose non-motorway
Map pointing the way I'm going so left means left
Clear voice and sharp image
Maps can be updated for free
and
as cheap as possible

Would appreciate some recommendations please.

I'm not sure any do free map updates for ever, but in truth how often do the roads in the UK actually change?

The TomTom Home software does some map updates free of charge but not the full set of new maps.

I would suggest the 'TomTom ONE IQ Routes UK & ROI', Amazon have it for £114. Very few people have any trouble with the TomTom units.

Radsteral

if you got a phone with built in gps, buy a garmin/tom tom sd card with maps and it cot 30 quid in ebay.
bough one for my e71, and even though e71 wasnt compitable, it works great.... the omnly problem i have is i need to disconect from garmin software when i arrive otherwise it keeps shouting when im inside a building '' LOST NAVIGATION ' LOST NAVIGATION

LadyDee

Radsteral wrote: »

if you got a phone with built in gps, buy a garmin/tom tom sd card with maps and it cot 30 quid in ebay.
bough one for my e71, and even though e71 wasnt compitable, it works great.... the omnly problem i have is i need to disconect from garmin software when i arrive otherwise it keeps shouting when im inside a building '' LOST NAVIGATION ' LOST NAVIGATION

Sorry - I don't understand what you're talking about:o

Thanks Gordon - I've had a look at the TomTom you recommend and it seems to be just what I'm looking for, I'll pop into Halfords to see it working before I buy.

spottybutterfly

My dad is looking for a sat nav with a big screen (cos he's cant see very well) and free updatable maps.

Am i right in thinking none of the manafactureres offer free maps? whats the best for updating maps, he works away from home 5 days a week so a sat nave is useful for finding new jobs/ digs/ local pubs/ b and q's etc hes looking to spend about £100.

Can anyone help, sat navs are like a different language to me.

PJB

Getting a TomTom but don't know which yet, is the traffic update woorth getting?

I drive quite a fair bit in and around London so would like to avoid as much traffic as possible (naturally!)

Gordon861

The TomTom traffic info is part of the LIVE services which includes cameras and google etc. Cost is £80pa.

During all the travel chaos the other day which included people spending 4hrs on the M4 hardly moving the Traffic feature got me from Kingston to Slough in an hour with no problems. As I understand it the system uses data from mobile phone networks to find out which roads are busy and which are free moving, seems pretty accurate because I expect over 90% of the cars on the road have a mobile phone in them.

buglawton

I will be looking for cheapest LIVE Tomtom hardware in 2010

The subscription is too high but that might have one good side effect - people will cancel their subs/not many people use it so the alternative route don't get instantly clogged up! Thanks for creating an exclusive club Tomtom!

PJB

Gordon861 wrote: »

The TomTom traffic info is part of the LIVE services which includes cameras and google etc. Cost is £80pa.

During all the travel chaos the other day which included people spending 4hrs on the M4 hardly moving the Traffic feature got me from Kingston to Slough in an hour with no problems. As I understand it the system uses data from mobile phone networks to find out which roads are busy and which are free moving, seems pretty accurate because I expect over 90% of the cars on the road have a mobile phone in them.

This one says it has free live updates:
http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/product/601179/TOM-TOM-XL-Classic-with-Traffic/tab/specification