Sat Nav in a Griff

[bigandclever]

Please bear with me - I've done effall research into this

Does anyone have SatNav in their Griff? You're right, I could learn to read a map properly, but I've got a shocking sense of direction. I need a woman shouting at me to turn left in 100 yards. And, of course, to be able to find my way home after a pint of milk run in the back of beyond.

I'd like the following:
a portable unit so I can move it to my other motor (though a fixed unit would be acceptable);
to avoid using the cigarette lighter if possible;
to avoid having trailing wires all over the shop;
bearing in mind the noise and brightness I've been promised for the next year with the roof off, I'd like it to be audible (especially at full (road-legal!) chat with a sports exhaust) and visible.

I'm going to post the exact same post in the SatNav forum, but I thought you wonderful people would be able to point me in the right direction (see what I did there?) for Griffs.

Ta.

[barreti]

The Mitac Mio P350 with Tom Tom loaded is pretty damned good. Its a PDA which you can recharge when you get home if you don't want the lighter cable plugged it and has a built in GPS receiver. Its small enough to have attached to the windscreen on the drivers side so you can see it OK

Although you haven't a snowballs chance of being able to it in a Griff

[350wedge]

I use a tom tom 300 in mine on the odd occasion. Battery lasts a long time on full charge, Its totally portable like most sat nav units these days. Yes if it runs out of charge you have to plug into lighter but if you charge before setting out you should have no problems. I have to mount it in the centre though as its too big to go on the drivers side.

Hearing it with the top up is ok but try using it with the top down you have no chance, well unless stationary with the engine switched off..lol

Edited by 350wedge on Wednesday 10th January 21:13

[puffsorted2]

Got a Pioneer ANH-P9R in mine, very discreet but works a dream even though its only a monochrome screen.

[bigandclever]

Thanks for the thoughts so far. I found this thread that has some other TVR owners ideas http://pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topi

[antonyj]

barreti said:

The Mitac Mio P350 with Tom Tom loaded is pretty damned good. Its a PDA which you can recharge when you get home if you don't want the lighter cable plugged it and has a built in GPS receiver. Its small enough to have attached to the windscreen on the drivers side so you can see it OK

Although you haven't a snowballs chance of being able to it in a Griff

Isnt the p550 a updated version now?

It seems to be around £250

[barreti]

antonyj said:

barreti said:

The Mitac Mio P350 with Tom Tom loaded is pretty damned good.

Isnt the p550 a updated version now?

It seems to be around £250

The P550 is its brother, with added Bluetooth and Wifi but apart from that they are identical, including the processor, memory, battery and screen.
If all you are using it for is Tom Tom, the cheaper p350 is a better option for about £150

[bluebottle]

I am currently looking to replace my Road Angel with a nav unit combined with the features of the RA (with the points on my licence I can't afford not to have RA or similar). I've been told the RA nav units are cr@p so I am looking at the Snooper Syrius @ £279 seems to be a bargain and a nice compact unit. Anyone had experience of this unit?

[esdavey]

I use TomTom software on my PalmPilot which uses bluetooth to connect to the tomtom GPS receiver. The small receiver sits on the top of the dash and I keep the palmpilot between my legs or on the passenger seat.

Upside is ulimatly portable and very easy to use. Downside is the battery life of your palmpilot can mean wires to charge for long journeys. I've had this now for a few years. Got the speed camera data as a POI. Top Draw !

What evey you choose, TomTom is the way to go in my view.

[Griff Boy]

I have the fixed head unit from Pioneer, the AVICX1R in my griff, as I hate to have wires trailing everywhere. also connects to the CD changer in the boot etc. Brilliant quality sat nav, and good, large display for ease of reading, also as the voice commands go through the stereo you can actually hear what the nice lady says. removable fascia for security and automatically folds down and away when not in use so much less hassle. Downside is that you can not move it into another car easily.

Cheers

[simon.b]

I don’t own one myself, Yet. However a mate of mine has the Mio P350 it has a built in GPS antenna very neat and with a copy of TOM TOM from e-bay is half the price of the anything else and it plays downloaded MP3’s DVD’s etc. Bargain Gizmo.

Cheers,

Simon.

[bigandclever]

Griff Boy said:

I have the fixed head unit from Pioneer, the AVICX1R in my griff,

So the motorised screen doesn't foul anything on the way in / out? That's handy to know, thanks.

[Griff Boy]

It's close to the gear stick, but passes fine as long as it is not in 1st, 3rd and 5th at the time. The screen rake can be adjusted after installation so that it does not touch the top rim of the dashboard.

[optim8]

When I upgrade my mobile last year I got an Orange SPV M600 which is basically a PDA but the size of a Mobile Phone. Got Tom Tom installed and bought a mount from a Vodaphone shop that simply clips to driver side air vent.

To be honest I am well pleased with the result. Drove the Griff to the Growl last year open top and could hear it fine. By having the phone down low on the dash it is still possible to hear it without needing additional speakers.

As a solution I think this works a treat as it means your only carrying around your mobile phone just as you normaly would!!.