Have Sat Navs improved over the past couple of years?
Discussion
Reason I ask is that I have a Road Angel 7000 that I got 3ish years ago. I have never been able to trust it fully as it always seems to want to take me in completely the wrong direction and a 10 mile drive can become a 20 mile drive quite easily. Also it can take upto 10 mins to find a satelite when it is turned on in the morining. Also the windscreen mount is huge and the battery life is very very short and always has been. The only good thing about it is the speed camera alerts.
So are all sat navs like this or would my frustrations dissapear with a new tom tom etc?
So are all sat navs like this or would my frustrations dissapear with a new tom tom etc?
I would have to say that they have improved beyond recognition. I have an old satnav from 2002 in my RS6, and it's rubbish in comparison to my wife's tomtom.
Tomtom regularly update their software with new features and have a variety of different route options that you can select from. Would heartily recommend their devices, and would suggest that you look at the 720T.
Tomtom regularly update their software with new features and have a variety of different route options that you can select from. Would heartily recommend their devices, and would suggest that you look at the 720T.
I only wish the 'in-car optional extra at £2k' ones had improved at the same rate.
I always advise anyone getting a new car to avoid the built-in systems as you won't get your money back come resale time anyway (although it 'might' make the car easier to sell), and you could always supply your old TomTom with the car anyway - all for £80-£500 initial outlay.
I always advise anyone getting a new car to avoid the built-in systems as you won't get your money back come resale time anyway (although it 'might' make the car easier to sell), and you could always supply your old TomTom with the car anyway - all for £80-£500 initial outlay.
The latest in car ones destroy the portable units, just look at the latest systems from BMW and Audi.
Both are based on the iGo8 system, with buildings, contoured landscapes and more importantly the routing is far superior to TomTom or Garmin.
If you don't believe me download the latest iGo8 software and stick it on your TomTom or Garmin system and try it for a week, a different league altogether.
Maps are only a small part of a nav system, the way they work routes out is far more important.
For example some systems will look at a 70mph motorway and a 60mph single carrigeway as just that, now we all know that 150 miles on a motorway will take a couple of hours, where as 120 miles on A and B roads could take 4 hours or more, but alot of nav systems don't work this out properly unless you force them to 'use motorways'.
Problem with that is sometimes coming off to go 5 miles on an A road is far better than doing another 20 miles on the motorway, but you have forced the car to stay on the motorway to the end.
Navigon has 'Optimum' route and iGo has 'Easy' route, these both calculate proper routes as you would yourself looking at a map.
The real acis test is using a nav system in an area you know inside out, does it choose the route you would, does it actually show you short cuts you didn't know of??
Now for me Garmin and TomTom always make me think "why the f
k are you trying to take me down there?" where as the iGo and Navigon systems always amaze me that they seem to be thinking exactly what I am.
I completely disagree that you don't get your money back with in built nav as well. In some cases you get more than your money back.
Both are based on the iGo8 system, with buildings, contoured landscapes and more importantly the routing is far superior to TomTom or Garmin.
If you don't believe me download the latest iGo8 software and stick it on your TomTom or Garmin system and try it for a week, a different league altogether.
Maps are only a small part of a nav system, the way they work routes out is far more important.
For example some systems will look at a 70mph motorway and a 60mph single carrigeway as just that, now we all know that 150 miles on a motorway will take a couple of hours, where as 120 miles on A and B roads could take 4 hours or more, but alot of nav systems don't work this out properly unless you force them to 'use motorways'.
Problem with that is sometimes coming off to go 5 miles on an A road is far better than doing another 20 miles on the motorway, but you have forced the car to stay on the motorway to the end.
Navigon has 'Optimum' route and iGo has 'Easy' route, these both calculate proper routes as you would yourself looking at a map.
The real acis test is using a nav system in an area you know inside out, does it choose the route you would, does it actually show you short cuts you didn't know of??
Now for me Garmin and TomTom always make me think "why the f
k are you trying to take me down there?" where as the iGo and Navigon systems always amaze me that they seem to be thinking exactly what I am. I completely disagree that you don't get your money back with in built nav as well. In some cases you get more than your money back.
gizlaroc said:
The latest in car ones destroy the portable units, just look at the latest systems from BMW and Audi.
Both are based on the iGo8 system, with buildings, contoured landscapes and more importantly the routing is far superior to TomTom or Garmin.
If you don't believe me download the latest iGo8 software and stick it on your TomTom or Garmin system and try it for a week, a different league altogether.
So where can I find this system for a Dec '06 Z4MC, I'd like to try it as it sounds quite good.Both are based on the iGo8 system, with buildings, contoured landscapes and more importantly the routing is far superior to TomTom or Garmin.
If you don't believe me download the latest iGo8 software and stick it on your TomTom or Garmin system and try it for a week, a different league altogether.
And I assume it's only on the brand new models too.
I've only once had a problem with the TomTom and that was when it asked me to turn right on a dual carriageway when there was a central reservation in the way
although the map correction function lets you report these sorts of things, and also lets you use your own & others' corrections before they're included in a new map.Gassing Station | In-Car Electronics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff