Does anyone use Garmin/TomTom Sat Nav anymore?
Discussion
I have Nav in several of my cars but still stick a Tomtom on the screen - quick, easy and it works ok (far better than most car systems)
I use Google Maps at a push but I don't find it as easy to use - probably just because I've been using TT for 15+yrs also it / my phone has dropped for considerable periods of time whilst my TT is 100% reliable.
I use Google Maps at a push but I don't find it as easy to use - probably just because I've been using TT for 15+yrs also it / my phone has dropped for considerable periods of time whilst my TT is 100% reliable.
daemon said:
Not sure how much we'll use it on the A45. Its a plug in garmin card that uses the central touch screen.
Me and my mate did go to Germany using his MK7 GTi built in Nav, it did work well and a advantage I forgot of built in units is the sound being better if you have it turned on, it's just a ballache of is needing updates and becoming useless after the manufacturer has stopped supporting it, but I guess with easy updates over a 3G connection it's easier than the the old units with a CD. CaptainMorgan said:
daemon said:
Not sure how much we'll use it on the A45. Its a plug in garmin card that uses the central touch screen.
Me and my mate did go to Germany using his MK7 GTi built in Nav, it did work well and a advantage I forgot of built in units is the sound being better if you have it turned on, it's just a ballache of is needing updates and becoming useless after the manufacturer has stopped supporting it, but I guess with easy updates over a 3G connection it's easier than the the old units with a CD. 
Ended up with the Garmin mounted on the windscreen so i could listen to my CDs...
daemon said:
I'd an 07 Merc C350 coupe recently. Great colour nav unit as part of the sound system - unfortunately you could use the nav OR you could play a CD, as you needed the NAV DVD in.
Ended up with the Garmin mounted on the windscreen so i could listen to my CDs...
Oh really, I expected discs to have stopped being used years ago, my MK1 Fabia had a disc, expected most things made in the past 10 years to be disc-less now. Ended up with the Garmin mounted on the windscreen so i could listen to my CDs...
CaptainMorgan said:
daemon said:
I'd an 07 Merc C350 coupe recently. Great colour nav unit as part of the sound system - unfortunately you could use the nav OR you could play a CD, as you needed the NAV DVD in.
Ended up with the Garmin mounted on the windscreen so i could listen to my CDs...
Oh really, I expected discs to have stopped being used years ago, my MK1 Fabia had a disc, expected most things made in the past 10 years to be disc-less now. Ended up with the Garmin mounted on the windscreen so i could listen to my CDs...
It probably cost £2,000 or something mental as an option
I work in the automotive world, nothing from any manfacturer comes close to Waze or Google Nav & everyone has a phone that needs charging. Why look up the postcode on your phone to enter into your cars nav when your phone can do it in one touch/voice action. Can't see the point in another device except where data is costly.
cptsideways said:
I work in the automotive world, nothing from any manfacturer comes close to Waze or Google Nav & everyone has a phone that needs charging. Why look up the postcode on your phone to enter into your cars nav when your phone can do it in one touch/voice action. Can't see the point in another device except where data is costly.
Then you're fairly blinkered as people have given various reasons why a dedicated device works for them.And just to add another one - my phone doesnt need charging during the day. It runs for a full day and i charge it overnight, which i'd say is fairly typical these days. If i were to use it for Nav, i'd then have to charge it up either while driving (and thus have a cable hanging about me) or at tea time, which is just hassle to remember.
Edited by daemon on Thursday 20th October 19:33
I use Google Maps generally on an iPhone and it's great, not least because it can search for specific businesses or locations rather than address.
However, for those that live out of major towns, or travel there - there are still plenty of parts of the UK and definitely Europe that have no 3G or 4G signal and if you're lost or starting a route from that point, then no phone based system works.
I therefore keep an older Garmin in my glovebox and it has been called into action on a few occasions.
However, for those that live out of major towns, or travel there - there are still plenty of parts of the UK and definitely Europe that have no 3G or 4G signal and if you're lost or starting a route from that point, then no phone based system works.
I therefore keep an older Garmin in my glovebox and it has been called into action on a few occasions.
When we were running the XC90 as a main hauler for the family, it did have a sat-nav included. However, it was extremely basic, only provided overhead views etc. We would have updated it, but Apple Maps (Tom Tom powered) did the job very well, and £190 for the disc did not appeal at all. Did contemplate buying a really good tom-tom for that purpose, with £190 getting a very decent, large one with european maps. But, never got around to it.
Currently, the XC90 has been reduced to commuting, and the X5 is the main family car. iDrive is clearly miles ahead, even with the CCC system. Does provide both perspective and overhead view, with a very good UI, mainly due to there being one thing to control iDrive with. While not as advanced as CIC iDrive, it does give the option of faster routes, alternative routes due to roadworks etc, traffic updates, no motorway option and other good settings such as dynamic routes!
On top of this, it is running a 2009 update which clearly is old, as the area where I bought the car from is blank, and there has been times in the city centre where we have been on overpasses, and we were shown as going through many housing estates according to the map. Am planning to update it soon anyway.
Apple maps is kept at hand, just in case the iDrive sat-nav gets too old.
We don't use it, but there are many purposes for people to buy these today. Many BMW's still don't have sat-nav as standard e.g. 1 series, 3 series. Other lower-priced alternatives e.g. vauxhall, VW, audi don't have these as standard. Even the X5 didn't have it as standard up to 2013! People definitely still use these.
Currently, the XC90 has been reduced to commuting, and the X5 is the main family car. iDrive is clearly miles ahead, even with the CCC system. Does provide both perspective and overhead view, with a very good UI, mainly due to there being one thing to control iDrive with. While not as advanced as CIC iDrive, it does give the option of faster routes, alternative routes due to roadworks etc, traffic updates, no motorway option and other good settings such as dynamic routes!
On top of this, it is running a 2009 update which clearly is old, as the area where I bought the car from is blank, and there has been times in the city centre where we have been on overpasses, and we were shown as going through many housing estates according to the map. Am planning to update it soon anyway. Apple maps is kept at hand, just in case the iDrive sat-nav gets too old.
We don't use it, but there are many purposes for people to buy these today. Many BMW's still don't have sat-nav as standard e.g. 1 series, 3 series. Other lower-priced alternatives e.g. vauxhall, VW, audi don't have these as standard. Even the X5 didn't have it as standard up to 2013! People definitely still use these.
Updating the in-built Renault unit in my car costs about £70 a year for Western Europe maps. I figured I wouldn't pay that more than once.
The current Garmins, as well as all the whizzo fuel forecasting stuff, also have a good trip meter, which shows moving/stopped time, overall av, moving av, altitude, max speed etc.
You can get all this stuff on Android now, but the Garmins don't need a phone signal, and that includes finding phone numbers for hotels or locating a gas station.
It's a big benefit for travel in under-developed countries where phone signals and fresh food are in short supply, like Wales.
"everyone has a phone that needs charging."
Not everyone. Mine is used only for calls, because I don't pay for a data plan. Batteries last five days. :-)
The current Garmins, as well as all the whizzo fuel forecasting stuff, also have a good trip meter, which shows moving/stopped time, overall av, moving av, altitude, max speed etc.
You can get all this stuff on Android now, but the Garmins don't need a phone signal, and that includes finding phone numbers for hotels or locating a gas station.
It's a big benefit for travel in under-developed countries where phone signals and fresh food are in short supply, like Wales.
"everyone has a phone that needs charging."
Not everyone. Mine is used only for calls, because I don't pay for a data plan. Batteries last five days. :-)
Edited by Slushbox on Friday 21st October 06:01
nomank said:
I know Apple CarPlay and Android Auto keeps getting mentioned but wanted to know if you had to connect the phone up to the car with a wire to use it. Would be such a shame if you do...
depends on the car, it appears only some of the very latest support wireless connectioni think the idea of these systems is that you keep the phone in the arm rest box plugged in and out of sight and control everything from the in car display
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