What sat nav system to buy?

[merc180k]

Anyone any advice on what system is best to get and how it looks fitted in the car?

Thanks

 

[flango]

Anyone any advice on what system is best to get and how it looks fitted in the car?

Thanks

IMHO TomTom is the only aftermarket one to go for but depends on what you want it to do as to which model to get. I use the speed camera database on mine and in 4 years its been faultless all over the Uk Europe, America, Australia and South Africa and you can now get a TomTom one regional for less than £95

 

[malc_n]

I bought a TomTom as the SatNav in my Alfa was so awful and have been very happy with it. The POI's aren't brilliant but there are loads of free POI databases on available you can usually find what you want.

ProClip is pretty good if you dont mind the "bolted on aftermarket accessory" look. I used one in the Alfa and was easy to fit, in the right place, and held the unit very steady. Think they also do ones with built in charger etc. www.proclip.co.uk

 

[trapperjohn]

Not far off parting with some readies myself for a sat nav. Its between a TT at around 400 notes and a Road Angel at around 250/75. Has anyone had both and is the TT worth the hundred or so more. Sat Nav would be used for pleasure miles only and the odd trek into some cities, not London.

 

[merc180k]

I bought a TomTom as the SatNav in my Alfa was so awful and have been very happy with it. The POI's aren't brilliant but there are loads of free POI databases on available you can usually find what you want.

ProClip is pretty good if you dont mind the "bolted on aftermarket accessory" look. I used one in the Alfa and was easy to fit, in the right place, and held the unit very steady. Think they also do ones with built in charger etc. www.proclip.co.uk

Don't like the idea of the suction cup for the windscreen - only thing that puts me off. Can you get a mount like a phone kit idea?

 

[flango]

Road Angel is absolutely useless very poor sat lock as is the snooper version which gives you rediculous routings, best option is TomTom, then bin off all the TT POI's and load on pocketgps world speed camera database and any poi you need from their website, forget the proclip and go for a dashmount bracket or a Arkon vent mount as here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sc7NXItH8oM

Job sorted

 

[trapperjohn]

Magic. Thank you.

 

[MUGGY]

I have had 3 Tom Toms. They are pretty good though nothing is perfect.

 

[jeremytaylor]

Comand.

Failing that Pioneer, Kenwood and Alpine do nice double DIN units if you want to go the integrated route. All more than a TT, but a better product.

I had an early Road Angel Navigator and it was truly carp - has put me off small ones (TT, Garmin, etc. for life).

 

[flango]

Don't like the idea of the suction cup for the windscreen - only thing that puts me off. Can you get a mount like a phone kit idea?

You can get a full wire in kit too from Brodit if you want a permanent install like a phone kit.

www.dsldevelopments.com/brodit/holder/TomTom+One%20New%20Edition-Brodit-Holder.asp

 

[Dryce]

Anyone any advice on what system is best to get and how it looks fitted in the car?

I have a Sony unit. If I was buying a replacement I'd go with a Tom Tom.

 

[malc_n]

Yep the proclip is a bracket not a suction cup, either clips on up near centre vents or down on centre console. usually have a high and low mount option per vehicle type. Have tried ones that fit in vents in the past with variable success, some of the vents werent strong enough to hold the unit level on teh move, and it blocked the air coming out of the vent (although the high level dash mounts like the proclips can also obscure a vent)

 

[flango]

Anyone any advice on what system is best to get and how it looks fitted in the car?

Thanks

Just fitting mine in the Volvo on the right hand side vent using an arkon mount (rock solid) and permanent wiring into the power to the cig lighter socket. Can lose all the cable this way for a neat install, will photo it this weekend when I've finished and post.

 

[trapperjohn]

Thanks everyone. My route (pun intended) is Tom Tom with Arkon. Permanent install would not suit me right now. Thanks again. Top forum this.

 

[ringway]

I have (Carin) phillips factory fit in my Omega and quite good considering the technology is old (car is 10 years old on 17th March.)

I tried a NAVMAN once and it was absolute CR*P.
Customer service was hopeless and if I hadn't paid for it I would have sledgehammered the bl**dy thing. AVOID!!!

TOM TOM all the way for me though. I have the 910GO and although I believe no system CAN be perfect (remember what these sat navs are actually doing!!) the TOM TOM is IMHO as good as it gets.

 

[Beetnik]

TomTom every time.

 

[IanA2]

Tt +1

 

[popuptoaster]

If you only want it for routing and POI's i'd go with a garmin streetpilot, locks faster, reroutes faster and the screen is clearer than the tom tom one, plus uit comes with the pin number systems which makes it useless if stolen and the RDS traffic info system seems to work really well.

tom tom has more functions but i dont know anyone who wants to know their height above sea level or the actual map co ordinates their car is at and the screen gets crowded as a result.

 

[219]

I have Tom Tom Navigator 5 on my Treo 650 , updated the maps last year and it gets me where I want to go .

You can download various voices , the best undoubtedly is 'Sylvia' . My Tom Tom always speaks to me in this SEXY female voice with comments like

" Make a U Turn - Go on baby , you can do it "

" Take the ferry , and maybe we can share a long kiss ! "

the 'piece de resistance' , though , is ......

" Toll road ahead ....... can I help you get your change out ? "

 

[hawk20]

Tried TomTom and Garmin. Halfords said Garmin is more reliable. Had it two years now and faultless. Used here and in France and in Spain. Had COMAND before but the Garmin is way better. Takes seven digit postcodes, gets traffic reports and reroutes round jams, shows all fixed cameras and if you update regularly via your PC it shows latest locations for mobile speed traps as well. Great selection of POI's including hotels, restaurants, garages, ATM's etc etc.

PIN number so not worth stealing. I stick mine on the glass panel on the front of the radio (about where COMAND would be).

When abroad or in strange places we save the place we've parked and then take the Garmin with us to explore the town. End of the day it finds our way back to the car. Useful.