Sat Nav - Aftermarket Best Buy

[Grudgee]

I'm looking for an sat nav that I can swap between cars and want to know if anyone has any recommendations. All the search results were old threads, so I'm looking for some up to date recommendations.

Cheers in advance.

[bondy]

mate ive got a garmen ..and it works pretty good .and it picks up red light cams as well ...but you have down load the soft wear for it ..

[Twisty]

Yeah, I've got a Garmin aswell... love it.

Download the speed camera locations, and it's all good.

It's got text to speech, so it tells you turn turn in 500metres into "suchandsuch st"

which makes it a lot easier when driving around, just listening to instructions rather than having to look at the screen.

Mine is the Garmin Nuvi 310.

It's got a nice big screen, all the features are accessed by touch screen, so the screen takes up the hole unit.

Nice and easy to use, even while driving...

[1axr]

I got the tom tom go910 which is great and has blue tooth for hands free.

I think the new one on the block is the tom tom go720.

[tmac450]

I had a Navman Pin. What a piece of sh*t!

It had to be replaced twice, it took forever to find signal, and was constantly freezing. On top of that Navman told me they weren't doing any updated maps for it, but they'd get back to me with a discounted offer for a new unitl with new maps. They never sis call back, useless mob.

Anyway, I now have a HTC tytnII phone with a great GPS build in, it is also a Windows based mini PC. Best thing I ever did. What's even better, if you're like me and upgrade your phone every couple of years, there's no need to pay for expensive GPS map upgrades, just get a new phone.

[Superdan]

Hey Grudgee, I sell them mate, so lemme ask you a few questions first and that'll tell you what you need;

a) Would you prefer the unit to say 'Turn left in 100 metres.' or 'Turn left in 100 metres onto Charles St.'?

b) Do you have a Bluetooth mobile? and would you use a feature like making and receiving calls through the sat nav unit? ie phone rings and it comes up on screen with persons name, number, and 'Yes' & 'No' button. Tap yes, and you speak and listen through the unit itself?

c) Will you be taking it overseas?

d) Would you use off-road maps?

e) Would using it as an mp3 player and running music and commands wirelessly through your car stereo benefit you?

let's start with those eh?

Dan

[Superdan]

  tmac450 said:

if you're like me and upgrade your phone every couple of years, there's no need to pay for expensive GPS map upgrades, just get a new phone.

Sat Nav units are going the same way as phones tmac, they're cheap enough for upgrading every couple of years too. the map updates inly come out every 12 months, so if you buy one just after EOFY, when they're been updated with the latest maps, and dont need it to be updated within two years, just but a new one

[Grudgee]

Thanks for the quick reply, guys.

Dan, in response to your questions..

a) I'd like it to say the street name also.

b) Bluebooth phone setup would be good, but I wouldn't spend an extra $200 to have this facility. If the feature cost less than a couple hungie, I'd be all for it.

c) I'll never take it overseas.

d) When you say "offroad" do you mean tracks and trails kind of thing? Like 4WDing stuff? If so, definitely not necessary.

e) No need for MP3 as my TT already has the iPod thingymajigga.

Thanks for your help mate. Truly appreciated.

[Superdan]

Ok, groovy! cheapest decent option will be the Navman S80 RRP $499ish , can get them for a little over $400 at most bigger retail places (and $50 cashback until 14th April!!!) so that's a good cheap option.

One that will do all of that, plus your fm transmitter, decent text-to-speech that can read out your text messages (and type them from memory) upload most older phones phonebooks into it, heaps easier to set up (BT etc) far better customer service go with the TOMTOM GO720 @ $599, bit more $$ but worth it for reliability, ease of use and aftersales support

Dan

[ms700]

Id recommend steering as far away from Navman as you can, their after sales service is nothing short of shocking. I was on hold for well over a hour waiting to talk to someone about my GPS in my boat, and from the boating forums im not the first to have trouble with Navman products.

Id go TomTom.