whats the best sat nav?

[rsstman]

i was looking to get a tom tom but thought idsk what is best. i like a big screen and as flat as possible, and eurpoean maps. any views?

[Balmoral Green]

Try here...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?h=0&a...

[MonkeyBusiness]

You'll probably get a few answers but this is a bargain....

http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/273848/tomtom-one-v...

[loafer123]

Garmin Nuvi.

Almost spookily good, including across Europe.

[Deluded]

Tom Toms are good but Garmin Nuvis are better.

200 is the bottom of the range with UK maps and compact screen. Also comes in widescreen with the 200w. Both come with speed cameras as standard

250/250w are the same as above but with europe maps.

Can also get models such as the 205/255 with either normal or widescreen.

[Lord Snot]

Another shout for the Nuvi, can't fault mine!

[waremark]

Deluded said:

Tom Toms are good but Garmin Nuvis are better.

In my experience (Garmin 660 then TT 920) Garmins are good but TomToms are better - easier to set destination, clearer directions, better routes, with latest 540/740/940 better speakers.

Bottom line - most people are probably happy with either TT or Garmin. If you have either one, it is a nuisance to change to the other and have to learn a new interface.

[andyparrott]

waremark said:

Deluded said:

Tom Toms are good but Garmin Nuvis are better.

In my experience (Garmin 660 then TT 920) Garmins are good but TomToms are better - easier to set destination, clearer directions, better routes, with latest 540/740/940 better speakers.

Bottom line - most people are probably happy with either TT or Garmin. If you have either one, it is a nuisance to change to the other and have to learn a new interface.

I have a Garmin 660 (previously had a TT something or other). The Garmin is dire, directs me off main roads onto side roads (running alongside main road) and then directs me back onto the main road. Also completely ignores the type of vehicle it is set up for, I have been sent down roads I can barely get a car down even when it is set for 'lorry' as vehicle type.

Only good thing it doesn't lock up all the time like the TT did.

I want to try the Navigon next, certainly wouldn't get another Garmin.

[K4TRV]

andyparrott said:

waremark said:

Deluded said:

Tom Toms are good but Garmin Nuvis are better.

In my experience (Garmin 660 then TT 920) Garmins are good but TomToms are better - easier to set destination, clearer directions, better routes, with latest 540/740/940 better speakers.

Bottom line - most people are probably happy with either TT or Garmin. If you have either one, it is a nuisance to change to the other and have to learn a new interface.

I have a Garmin 660 (previously had a TT something or other). The Garmin is dire, directs me off main roads onto side roads (running alongside main road) and then directs me back onto the main road. Also completely ignores the type of vehicle it is set up for, I have been sent down roads I can barely get a car down even when it is set for 'lorry' as vehicle type.

Only good thing it doesn't lock up all the time like the TT did.

I want to try the Navigon next, certainly wouldn't get another Garmin.

Sorry to read you've had problems with your Garmin.

I think you should be complaining to Garmin re-directing you off onto side roads - that's a specific problem I think you'll find to your machine. Sometimes coated windscreen will give errors on location and hence may think you are slightly off-route. I have had 3-different Garmins and not had problems like that.

Lastly I think you are disingenuous regarding settings for a lorry and sending you down narrow roads. There are no settings with Garmin or any other Sat Nav that do that - EXCEPT for specific Commercial SAT Navs that have JUST hit the market place, likewise with low-bridges etc.

Any Sat Nav will do what they say on the box, make sure you read it - all are slightly different in how they interface with the user.

Regards.

Trev McM

[waremark]

K4TRV said:

andyparrott said:

The Garmin is dire, directs me off main roads onto side roads (running alongside main road) and then directs me back onto the main road.

Sorry to read you've had problems with your Garmin.

I think you should be complaining to Garmin re-directing you off onto side roads - that's a specific problem I think you'll find to your machine.

My Garmin 660 did exactly the same, which is why I said the TT chooses better routes - but in my case I don't think it did this often.

My TT has never locked up.

[rsstman]

anyone got any opinions of the sony sat navs? they look the best in my eyes but are they any good?

[DIW35]

Actually Garmins are renowned for choosing the occasional minor track when a better main road is available. As long as you are aware of the problem, it's easy enough to ignore any such directions.

However, mine did try to send me the wrong way down a one way street once.

[sjg]

My Tomtom does that too, especially in more rural parts of the country. It doesn't seem to know the difference between normal roads and narrow single-lane ones, so it just routes on the shortest.

[andyparrott]

[/quote]

Lastly I think you are disingenuous regarding settings for a lorry and sending you down narrow roads. There are no settings with Garmin or any other Sat Nav that do that - EXCEPT for specific Commercial SAT Navs that have JUST hit the market place, likewise with low-bridges etc.


Regards.

Trev McM
[/quote]

Not sure if you are trying to say that Garmin don't allow you to choose different vehicle types, or whether you claim that having chosen a specific vehicle it won't choose the incorrect route.

My 660 allows you to select the type of vehicle e.g. motorbike, car, bus, lorry etc. Having chosen lorry I don't expect it to send me down roads I can barely get my car down. It does this frequently.

[DIW35]

The Garmin does allow you to choose different vehicle types, but this has no effect on the route it chooses. I believe what it does do is change the ETA for your journey, as it bases your average speed on the vehicle you are using.

[K4TRV]

Lastly I think you are disingenuous regarding settings for a lorry and sending you down narrow roads. There are no settings with Garmin or any other Sat Nav that do that - EXCEPT for specific Commercial SAT Navs that have JUST hit the market place, likewise with low-bridges etc.


Regards.

Trev McM
[/quote]

Not sure if you are trying to say that Garmin don't allow you to choose different vehicle types, or whether you claim that having chosen a specific vehicle it won't choose the incorrect route.

[quote=andyparrott]My 660 allows you to select the type of vehicle e.g. motorbike, car, bus, lorry etc. Having chosen lorry I don't expect it to send me down roads I can barely get my car down. It does this frequently.
[/quote]

As someone said you can "choose" different vehicle types. They will give different arrival times. but DO NOT change the routes for the type of vehicle. On some Gramin units you can specify no-U Turns, no Motorways, etc. I think you can also select walking, which will ignore one-way streets. But there is no software in Garmin or other units that stop you going down narrow roads in the selected "vehicle".

Again, if you choose Lorry, it will take exactely the same route as a car and you will very likey be sent down routes that the lorry will not fit!!! Indeed, as many have found, blindly following a Sat Nav can get you stuck!!

If you want to stop going down roads too narrow for your vehicle, Lorry, Motorhome etc, you have to buy some Newly released expensive GPS units specifically for Commercial Users for that very reason !!

Hope that's clearer.

Trev McM

Edited by K4TRV on Friday 14th November 16:01