TomTom,Garmin or Navman

[RobG]

Any and all opinions gratefully received regarding which one to get. Obviously they all have numerous specs, just wondering about accuracy, reliability etc. TIA

[TheBoy]

Any and all opinions gratefully received regarding which one to get. Obviously they all have numerous specs, just wondering about accuracy, reliability etc. TIA

With regard to accuracy - there are 2 mapping companies, which all satnav providers have to use:

Navteq
Teleatlas

These are broadly similar in mapping accuracy, expect to find minor errors with both, not normally a problem.

Reliability from a 'stop working' point of view, again in my experience, similar. All are build to a cost, and suffer equal unreliability. You may buy a tomtom unit and it lasts 5yrs, next person buys the same one and it lasts 13 months.  To be honest, map updates are not far off the cost of a new unit, so probably cheaper to replace the unit every 1.5-2yrs than update the mapping.

As to satellite reception, all work reasonably well unless you have heated screens or that metalised windows that reduces the signal.  All portable units WILL let you down in cities and in woods, none of them will provide the resilience and accuracy of a built in system in 'difficult' areas.

Portable ones also leave the tell-tale signs on the windscreen, ensuring your car will get broken into (regardless of whether you take the unit with you or leave in glovebox)

So, assuming you can't afford or don't want built in, go for what matches your needs - tomtom and navman often have larger screens than garmin etc.

[RobG]

Thanks for the in-depth response TB

[STMO123]

I, personally, use the A-Z paper navigation system It's never let me down

[crazyjoetavola]

I, personally, use the A-Z paper navigation system It's never let me down

I wouldn't argue with that one STMO

[zirk]

I, personally, use the A-Z paper navigation system It's never let me down

I wouldn't argue with that one STMO

Ive allways used Becker, found them relieable and good value.

[TheBoy]

I, personally, use the A-Z paper navigation system It's never let me down

We used to, but always ended up in an argument when my navigator couldn't read a map, which then lead to a tense, silent trip.

Since satnav, in car arguments stopped overnight

[waspy]

Don't ever buy a Mio. They are crap
I've had a Tomtom One for 13 months & it's been very good

[STMO123]

I, personally, use the A-Z paper navigation system It's never let me down

We used to, but always ended up in an argument when my navigator couldn't read a map, which then lead to a tense, silent trip.

Since satnav, in car arguments stopped overnight

And that's bad?

[Del Boy]

Navman, had nothing but troubles with all 3 tomtoms, One, Go 520, Go 530.
Got a Navman S100 now and it's brilliant and the S90 I had before was brilliant too. 

[TheBoy]

I, personally, use the A-Z paper navigation system It's never let me down

We used to, but always ended up in an argument when my navigator couldn't read a map, which then lead to a tense, silent trip.

Since satnav, in car arguments stopped overnight

And that's bad?

tis when i miss the turn, coz she has a monk on after i've called her stupid and incompitent

[TheBoy]

Navman, had nothing but troubles with all 3 tomtoms, One, Go 520, Go 530.
Got a Navman S100 now and it's brilliant and the S90 I had before was brilliant too. 

had no end of hassles with navmans, particularly touch screen going out of sync all the time.

luck of the drawer. personally i'd go for tomtom, even though they are the scum of the earth

[Del Boy]

Navman, had nothing but troubles with all 3 tomtoms, One, Go 520, Go 530.
Got a Navman S100 now and it's brilliant and the S90 I had before was brilliant too. 

had no end of hassles with navmans, particularly touch screen going out of sync all the time.

luck of the drawer. personally i'd go for tomtom, even though they are the scum of the earth

They are?? Just honestly had nothing but troubles with TomTom's.

[Entwood]

I have a TT 700 that is well over 5 years old.. and still going strong, running a map that covers the whole of Western Europe in serious detail 

(and if TB is looking away ..... it is running an operating system software that TT say will not work on it with the very latest maps - I won't discuss how but it can be done)

Officially, new maps are about £75 each and come out once a quarter. OS upgrades are usually free but are limited to what TT say your device can run.

Things like speed cameras, points of interest etc etc are available from many sources, so IMHO tomtom is the best option.

It is scertainly easier to use and more up-to-date than the built in one in the miggy

[Omegatoy]

Hmm, when we were looking for  satnav, we spent ages reading various reports and tests etc etc, finally went for Garmin,
and very glad we did!! never been any trouble taken us all round france and spain, and only now does it complain that it needs an update as the maps are out of date!! so full marks from us, anyone know where i can get it updated on the net???
Omegatoy