Satnav advice please.

[guest4078]

I have a very old Tomtom 300 which is getting a bit unreliable. Normally I use 'maps', but for some longer journeys and for visiting new developments not on 'maps' I use the google maps on my phone.
However 'we' have decided that I need a new satnav, so does anyone have a view as to which make/model is best. Tomtom, Garmin et al.
Thanks.

[guest3331]

It depends what you want to do with it. 

Tomtom's HD Traffic is far more effective than any other traffic product for Jam avoidance.  It's a superb commuting tool and consistently finds pretty sensible routes.  The cheapest way to get it is via the Android app Route 66 Navigate.  There's a free 30 day trial available.  Alternatively there are Tomtom PNDs with Live Traffic (note: not RDS-TMC which is far more basic.

For point of interest search and natural sounding voice directions I really like the higher end Garmins or Navigon's phone app.  Garmin Traffic is pretty dismal in comparison to Tomtom though.

And Google Navigation does the job if you just want to get from A to B.  It has some pretty basic traffic avoidance on newer phones.  Google do keep their maps up to date well though.

[guest4038]

My other car has an OEM satnav which can only be updated to 2012 maps and then with a bill of £200ish from the dealers so I installed TomTom with Traffic subscription for a year for less than £50 on my iPhone 4s. Apart from screen size it is every bit as god as SWMBO's Go6000. definitely recommended.

[guest4324]

I use Mapfactor navigator on my Samung Galaxy S2. It's a free android app using openstreetmap maps which are updated monthly. You can choose which countries you want to download and you can use it offline so no roaming charges when abroad. It has POI's, UK postcodes, about 20 possible languages, speed limit warning etc, etc. I use it here in Switzerland and crossing the border to Germany or France, and has never let me down. All these maps are free and if you want you can download TOMTOM maps for a fee (About £30 I think), which will give you lane assist and a few other "extras".
I have a Samsung holder with charger so can fix it in the car and connect MP3 player at the same time.

[culzean]

i still love Garmin,  you can get lifetime maps (internet download not CD) for about £50 - this gets updated 4 times a year.  I love the Garmin lane assist, greys out the lanes to avoid and leaves the others as the normal bright colour.  Also shows you upcoming islands well in advance showing you which way you will be turning, also shows you speed limit on road you are using (and changes remarkably quickly at speed limit signs as well).  Points of interest and local services all great - have helped me loads of times.  Most of the newer ones let you set up 'routes' which you can put loads of waypoints in - this is a great feature for delivery drivers as it will optimise the most efficient way to do the route and give arrival times at each point.


Avoid built in satnav like the plague - they really screw you for updates and satnavs with large screens are now so affordable you can upgrade cheaply,  which is not the case for 'built-in' units. And you still get bluetooth phone connectivity etc.

[guest4631]

+1 for Garmin. Current models are available, for a modest premium, with Live Traffic and Lifetime Maps for no extra on-going fees. I've had Tom Toms but the Garmin has been glitch free and updating maps has been seamless.

The first week I had my Garmin it pulled me off the Northbound M5 at teatime and took me 'cross country' back home. At 10pm the traffic was still stationary on the M5 after a massive pile up. I watched it at home on TV with my feet up and a cup of tea. Worth the extra £30 for that incident alone.

One thing to note with Garmin Live Traffic - you must have the unit connected to your power outlet as the cable includes the receiver unit for the traffic information.

[guest4038]

I'd be very interested to know if there is actually any difference in the traffic feeds between TomTom and Garmin?

I have had Garmins in the past and certainly found their software update interface much better than TT's flaky stuff but had read somewhere that Garmin's traffic is simply TMC which specialises in warning you about jams that you are already stuck in or ones that long ago dispersed!

Also tried Waze but the need for a 3G connection at all times meant most of the journey it reported that it could not contact the server - great idea though and certainly the best traffic updates - when it works!

[guest4078]

Well, thanks very much for the input. She is going to have a look at the models on display at Halfords and then tell me what I am going to buy.

[guest4631]

As a matter of interest, Garmin use mobile phone location data to discover hold ups. As soon as a bunch of mobile phones stop on the motorway the data is sent out by their computers via the satellites. All clever stuff.

[olduser1]

Before you buy at Halfords check if you can obtain cashback via Quidco

[guest4038]

As a matter of interest, Garmin use mobile phone location data to discover hold ups. As soon as a bunch of mobile phones stop on the motorway the data is sent out by their computers via the satellites. All clever stuff.

Thanks for that info - I thought only TomTom did that!

[guest4078]

As follow-up from my OP, she bought a new Tomtom via 135 from a tv shopping channel. This was about £110 including a traffic warning receiver/power lead. It seems a pretty good bit of kit, and a far cry from my original old one. Also bought a dashboard airvent mounting kit made by Tomtom that works very well indeed, but was an arm and two legs at £20. Thanks for all input.

[guest582]

I have a Garmin and am confused by the traffic information. My Garmin has a small rectangular box on the power cord that I am supposed to plug an arial into and then fix the arial on to the windscreen with a pair of plastic suckers. I have never bothered to do this as it is too much faff but I still get the traffic warnings (in the form of amber or red car signs on the screen). How am I still getting the warnings without an arial being plugged in? Is it just that the box on the power line iOS enough to receive a signal itself?

[culzean]

I think if you are in a strong signal area (major towns or cities or south east of UK you don't always need the aerial lead plugged in to power cord ).