Sat Nav recommendations

[sarahA]

Please

From what I've looked at I like the idea of being told what lane to be in or what each lane does, as I've often found myself in the wrong lane because of weird lane set up and of course you get stuck because everyone else knows where they should be and thinks you're just pushing in.

TIA

PS. iPhone app recommendations also welcome

[slaughteredlamb]

IMHO you can't get much better that TomTom's. They just work and are very accurate. We didn't bother buying a fancy one, I think ours is the TomTom One or maybe the One XL (Can't remember) it basically has a slot for an SD card and came with maps for UK and Ireland and that's about it. Wasn't that expensive and is a God send, really wouldn't want to be without it now.

[Matt]

I have one built into my car, but really wish it was a tom tom. They are the best by far. Lane navigation is brilliant in them as well.

[Jem]

We have a cheapy old Garmin and while it was fine at the time, it's so out of date now and they charge quite a lot for updates from what I gather.

I've heard lots of positive stuff about TomToms.

[sarahA]

Cheers all. Anyone used the TomTom iPhone app? £50 for the app, and it has the lane navigation stuff apparently. Although I'd need an in-car holder for the phone too (seen them in Halfords for about £10-15).

Don't want to spend too much as we won't need it often. It's more for when going away or when having to avoid traffic and go off route. The last time coming home from Cardiff (through Wales), I somehow ended up in the middle of Chester despite not going off route, yet going down south I avoided Chester, so it's for things like that. When it's already gone 9pm, you're tired and about to spend the night suffering McD's food poisoning the last thing you need is to add 30 minutes to your journey driving through chester 

(Before anyone mentions Google maps on the phone, we tend to spend long journeys with one of us in the back with master A so it's not really ideal at present).

[slaughteredlamb]

Not tried the TomTom app but considering that it uses the iphones satellite receiver & when using Map as a satnav it just doesn't update fast enough resulting in missed turnings etc makes me dubious. That said maybe its just that the Map software is too slow & that the TomTom app would be fast but £50 is a lot to risk. Personally I prefer the larger screen of an actual satnav

[sarahA]

Yeah we were just discussing too how we may need it and not both be in the car (it happens on occasion!), so something seperate to a phone is probably the best way to go.

[Matt]

Yeah we were just discussing too how we may need it and not both be in the car (it happens on occasion!), so something seperate to a phone is probably the best way to go.

Ebuyer do some of their own brand F&H branded Sat Navs, which have been known to be able to install the TomTom software on, for under £50.

I can find out more if you like, but its not legit.

[Tony]

I have an F&H one, the software on it gives you exploded views of junctions and although I could put TomTom on it in theory, I get lost in the instructions and finding the files needed so never have. It does crash fairly frequently though which is a pain if you're on your own or heading into a decisive moment.

I have the premium navigation on my Desire which is great, and tells you which lane to get in when you're coming to a junction etc. which was great on the Coventry ring road yesterday. It's based on route66 software. Coming soon for IOS apparently

[sarahA]

Yeah we were just discussing too how we may need it and not both be in the car (it happens on occasion!), so something seperate to a phone is probably the best way to go.

Ebuyer do some of their own brand F&H branded Sat Navs, which have been known to be able to install the TomTom software on, for under £50.

I can find out more if you like, but its not legit.

We don't like ebuyer   Messed us around too much in the past, so avoid them like the plague.

Think we're going to go for a TomTom, just need to work out which one as there's so many, and the reviews are all over the place on Amazon.

[keri]

Another vote for TomTom although they do seem to have a new stupid policy on map updates, instead of a years map updates from purchase you now get something like a week, but i guess it does drop the initial cost a bit.

TomTom on iphone is apparently good apart from Europe, my boss bought it to naviage round Spain and it kept telling him to go down roads they hadn't built yet!
He contacted TomTom who rufused to give his money back, although they did suggest he updated the map for them - how kind !

[Matt]

Another vote for TomTom although they do seem to have a new stupid policy on map updates, instead of a years map updates from purchase you now get something like a week, but i guess it does drop the initial cost a bit.

TomTom on iphone is apparently good apart from Europe, my boss bought it to naviage round Spain and it kept telling him to go down roads they hadn't built yet!
He contacted TomTom who rufused to give his money back, although they did suggest he updated the map for them - how kind !

I could get a updated disk for my car for £40, or use my ipad in my car.

Has anyone used the ipad as a navigation tool?

[sarahA]

Thanks all, any particular model of TomTom? I really fancy the lane navigation so I think the One is out. Not so keen on there only being a week's updates on maps. But then again our old fashioned paper map in the car is from 2008 so I guess we've survived (especially as it tends to end up out of reach when you need it!)

[Shirker]

I use a TomTom Go Live 1000 pretty much daily and have been perfectly happy with it. Does the lane indicator thing at major junctions and also have constant updates for current traffic conditions, rerouting around delays, etc. It usually picks up mobile speed traps as well as fixed ones which never fails to impress me.

[fordie]

I had the tomtom 720t for a few years. It was good but lately the blue tooth & traffic stopped working on it. So this week I bought the iPhone app. So far I have to say, I'm impressed. The directions are nice & clear, the traffic udates (£3.99 a month) work well. I haven't really found anything not to like. It's a universal app, so it will work with the iPad too, although I don't have a 3g iPad, so there's no GPS. 

I haven't done any unusual trips with it yet, I will be next week. But based on my experience so far, I'd recommend it.