To buy a SatNav or use iPhone or even use a Map??

jam_boy · Post by **jam_boy** » Mon 09 Jul, 2012 14:01

Hey everybody!

Im planning a 9 country european tour in 2 weeks time in the Z and Im debating to either buy a TOM TOM or download the app for the iPhone.

Pro's and Cons?

Any advise given would be much appreciated!

XVar · Post by **XVar** » Mon 09 Jul, 2012 16:24

While the TomTom app for the iPhone is very good, I've found a major flaw with it. On the trip down to Croydon to get my new roof a few weeks ago it was a rare sunny day in England, around 26°C. It turns out that when an iPhone gets too hot, it dims the screen, which is a bit of a problem when you're using it as a satnav! It dims it so much that you can't see it at all, and only un-dims it once you lock it and leave it out of the sun for a few minutes.

Just something to bear in mind if you're planning on using it in warmer climates..

Olly2012 · Post by **Olly2012** » Mon 09 Jul, 2012 16:52

I've seen the TomTom app running on an iPad2 and I think it's really good because of the large screen area for display purposes. The 3d element was quite impressive and enabled you to drive ahead. And because it connects to google maps you can punch in short notice diversions like when someone calls and says can you stop at the supermarket and get something on the way home, it can quite accurately search for the nearest supermarket of your preference and you can add it as a
waypoint. I would imagine its just a bit cumbersome in a Z3 though as nowhere to put it really- they weren't designed with this technology in mind. You need a good solid cradle too whether it's iPhone or iPad. Another benefit is you're travelling light and whilst you can take either for a walk, the iPhone battery will drain quickly using the GPS as I've found out on other apps like runkeeper on my 3GS.

If your going down the satnav route then i hear Garmin provide lifetime updates in their price whereas with TomTom as I understand it you have to buy them.

I think I'd probably buy the Garmin or wait for an iphone with a slightly larger screen- if they go that way.

Hope that helps.

jam_boy · Post by **jam_boy** » Mon 09 Jul, 2012 18:53

Thank you guys, I saw the Garmain one on halfords website and that it does come with the lifetime updates. I think my decision has been made!

THANK YOU!

weedram · Post by **weedram** » Mon 09 Jul, 2012 20:27

I purchased a garmin 2595 lmt with european maps off amazon for £170 and £30 cash back a couple of weeks ago, its now £165. What a piece of kit, really good. I previously used copilot on an htc phone, no comparison. The 2595 includes bluetooth, traffic and upto date maps, costs extra for speed cameras.
Hope this helps

jam_boy · Post by **jam_boy** » Tue 10 Jul, 2012 06:24

Hi WeedRam

Thank you it really does and you have sealed the decision for me!

12 days until my european tour kicks off!!!

Olly2012 · Post by **Olly2012** » Tue 10 Jul, 2012 07:07

Glad we could help jam_boy. Enjoy your trip- hope the Garmin lives up to its billing! And give us some stories/pics of the Z on the trip. Happy travelling.

Dave L2 · Post by **Dave L2** » Tue 10 Jul, 2012 07:09

weedram wrote:I purchased a garmin 2595 lmt with european maps off amazon for £170 and £30 cash back a couple of weeks ago, its now £165. What a piece of kit, really good. I previously used copilot on an htc phone, no comparison. The 2595 includes bluetooth, traffic and upto date maps, costs extra for speed cameras.
Hope this helps

Don't forget you are not allowed Speed Camera warnings in France. Have a great trip.

jam_boy · Post by **jam_boy** » Tue 10 Jul, 2012 07:39

Thats great, I dont speed anyway

ill post pics up upon my return. once again thank you everyone

weedram · Post by **weedram** » Tue 10 Jul, 2012 16:30

Jam_boy
You can download a "dangerous areas" poi for france from garmin which gives areas such as railway crossings, schools and camera locations, better still you can download it for free on a one months trial. I'm off to france on Thursday, touring the alps, so if I find any problems i'll let you know.
Cheers

Post by **Robert T** » Tue 10 Jul, 2012 16:47

That bottom slot looks suspiciously like the card slot on a cash machine!

Cheers R.

pingu · Post by **pingu** » Tue 10 Jul, 2012 18:03

I use a sat-nav all day, every day, but...

Unless you use sat navs for business (or you go to lots of different places) they make very little financial sense.

Do sat navs on phones dowload maps as req'd? If so, don't use a phone-based sat nav abroad unless you have cheap/free roaming charges.

Maps are very cheap and because you have to look at them, you notice interesting places to visit that you wouldn't know about if you only used a sat-nav. Remember a sat-nav is only any good at getting you from A-to-B. I'd be interested in what is around A, what is around B and what is inbetween the two. You will end up buying a map as well.

I've already got a sat-nav, but if I didn't I wouldn't buy one for just one trip. £50 on maps and £100 on beer sounds like a much better holiday.

Have a good time and don't forget the photos.

msassoon · Post by **msassoon** » Wed 11 Jul, 2012 08:11

I have used the Nokia Maps for some time and they are cracking. I tried Google Maps and was not so impressed. Anyway, the only thing I can warn away from is TomTom. The software on them is so bad it looks like a 4 year old wrote it. I am dealing with two of the blasted things for family and they are proving to be a nightmare. A software update has disabled the blasted aerial!

weedram · Post by **weedram** » Wed 11 Jul, 2012 16:23

Before I had a satnav I used to use maps, they were called patnav.
It was very good and included voice navigation but it suffered with it's auto rotation. If we travelled north everything was fine but if going south its rotation didn't include the text and all the writing was upside down, this used to cause some right problems. It also had problems with its gps, sometimes I would be well past junction before it would tell me that I should have turned back there.
It also had in- built points of interest, these mainly included shops but excluded golf courses
Sometimes it was very good but sometimes it was moody and wouldn't speak at all particularly if I said that its directions were incorrect, it quite often told me to do it myself , that's when I got a satnav and peace descended for evermore

Mouldy · Post by **Mouldy** » Wed 11 Jul, 2012 17:39

msassoon wrote:I have used the Nokia Maps for some time and they are cracking. I tried Google Maps and was not so impressed. Anyway, the only thing I can warn away from is TomTom. The software on them is so bad it looks like a 4 year old wrote it. I am dealing with two of the blasted things for family and they are proving to be a nightmare. A software update has disabled the blasted aerial!

I don't agree. I bought a new TomTom Go Live 825 earlier this year to replace my ageing TomTom Go 720 and it is excellent. The Live traffic service is good and works well and I can use Google for various sites and services even when abroad without incurring roaming charges on my mobile. The route planning is superb and it can easily been seen and heard even in the wife's Crossfire. I've just returned from covering over 2,000 miles in France without a wrong turning, so I personally don't understand the criticism.

I deliberated long and hard before buying another TomTom instead of a Garmin, based on various reviews and reports that I read and eventually elected to stick with TomTom and am definitely glad I did!

I guess sat-navs are like cars and cameras. Some folk swear by BMW's and Nikons, others recommend Audis and Canons.

mfckeith · Post by **mfckeith** » Wed 11 Jul, 2012 18:11

msassoon wrote:I have used the Nokia Maps for some time and they are cracking. I tried Google Maps and was not so impressed. Anyway, the only thing I can warn away from is TomTom. The software on them is so bad it looks like a 4 year old wrote it. I am dealing with two of the blasted things for family and they are proving to be a nightmare. A software update has disabled the blasted aerial!

Can't agree about the Tom Tom,bought a 730 three years ago and have been all over UK and europe and its been brilliant

Post by **Robert T** » Wed 11 Jul, 2012 18:24

Another vote for TomTom from me. Use mine for work in UK and Holland. Works a treat including traffic.

Cheers R.

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk 2

pingu · Post by **pingu** » Thu 12 Jul, 2012 09:23

When they are working, sat-navs are brilliant and I couldn't do my job as fast without them, but they can go wrong. I've had this happen - and it can be a nghtmare. I got out of trouble by using a map and the directions on road signs.

Even a wet or torn map can still be read. A broken sat-nav is just another paperweight.

I'm a Tom-Tom man, but I've heard good reports about Garmin.

PCSAM · Post by **PCSAM** » Thu 12 Jul, 2012 11:29

Alfords are doing a great deal on some Garmin sat-naves at the moment ...... might upgrade my old tom-tom 500 .......
i use either my iPhone or iPod touch for the zed . works well through Bluetooth ..as when playing muzak it fades then instructs you them muzak back

zroadster.net