clarky666 Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Looking for some advice. Absolutely scunnered for Christmas present idea but as my parents have both semi-retired this past summer and have more time and thus traveling more i was going to get them a Sat Nav as part of their Christmas. I've only really used them personally as loan when i've been going on football trips or away with work so probably only experienced them 3 or 4 times myself. Looking at prices there is a big scope from £50 all the way up beyond £400. I was hoping between £90 - £120 bracket and looking for recommendations on what would be suited to that budget? Would only be for UK based driving and whilst my dad is very technical savvy and good with gadgets my mum is the opposite so it would have to take that into account. Have seen a new model of Garmin for £89.99 in some of the shops which looks decent ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 I always recommend TomTom but Garmin are pretty good too. TomTom is as easy as it gets when it comes to operation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimojameso Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 I bought a couple of cheaper ones but tom tom is def the best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 I have the TomTom XL LIVE IQ Routes edition and think it's wonderful, the live features are very handy to have, especially the traffic updates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 i got mine free through the post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz6002 Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 I've always got on well with Garmin units personally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJI Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Aldi in my area are doing a Medion satnav with euro maps at 1/2 price. Looks like a good buy but I have no idea how reliable or user friendly medion units are. I have a tom tom and that works quite well, apart from the battery which gave up the ghost a while back and now only runs on power cable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 I've tried most of them over the years, since 2003 when I first got TomTom. I've never found any that are as good as TomTom or as easy to use. We're gonna be getting our lad a sat nav for Christmas and the only decision is which TomTom to get. BTW, I've seen some of those £50 Medion ones, they are utter rubbish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 TomTom for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westcoaster Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Garmin make some decent budget sat navs which are easy to use and around the £100 mark. I would also recommend the biggest screen you can for the money, it make them easier to read. For sheer size and ease of use, I can recommend Becker sat navs. I got one with a 4.3" screen including Western European maps for £99.99 from Halfrauds. Becker are a well known make of car electronics in Germany and Austria I got me door to door on a 2600 mile trip to Bavaria with no wrong turns, which is not something my mates with TomToms can claim! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Garmin make some decent budget sat navs which are easy to use and around the £100 mark. I would also recommend the biggest screen you can for the money, it make them easier to read. For sheer size and ease of use, I can recommend Becker sat navs. I got one with a 4.3" screen including Western European maps for £99.99 from Halfrauds. Becker are a well known make of car electronics in Germany and Austria I got me door to door on a 2600 mile trip to Bavaria with no wrong turns, which is not something my mates with TomToms can claim! Are the Becker ones not quite complex to use? I remember seeing a review a while back and although good once going they took a bit of setting up. My Tom Tom gets it wrong every now and again, as far as I know they mostly share maps though... do they not? Jamesy W's sat nav gets him lost everytime he switches it on. Can't remember if thats a garmin or not though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barneybrendan Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 tom tom for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 I used a Garmin to get me from the UK to Kos and was very impressed with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mcgoo Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 See here; http://www.ebuyer.com/product/167473 Have a read of the reviews of this one and the 3.5in version. If you don't like the software thats on there already (some like it some don't) than you can just download TomTom or IGO etc and install that. all the links for it are in the reviews. All for less than 50 quid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 I bought a Garmin 7200 for the truck and use it in the car now, if going to strange city centres. 7 inch screen, so a big unit, but very clear ad easy to use, IMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 I've been using a Navigo with the 'turbodog' OS. It was only £50: http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?t=142672 Thanks Michael 98% of the time it works perfect but cr*ps out intermittently in central London. Still mean to install TomTom OS on it which is available for free via various sources Even with the current system it’s still excellent VFM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aweegin Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 ..I'm in the TomTom camp now too. Works well and easy to use..pop the Homer Simpson voice on it..makes me lol!!! I have a lower end IQ routes model. Have a bud with a higher end Garmin and he rates it also. EDIT: I've been using a Navigo with the 'turbodog' OS. It was only £50: http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?t=142672 Thanks Michael 98% of the time it works perfect but cr*ps out intermittently in central London. Still mean to install TomTom OS on it which is available for free via various sources Even with the current system it’s still excellent VFM. I did all this before i bought my TomTom..popped the TT sofware on..and it was the biggest reason to buy the real thing... it did work/does work... for me though it really wasn't successful and seemed very 'glitchy' (rapidly reset everything and got my money back) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarky666 Posted December 16, 2009 Author Share Posted December 16, 2009 Thanks guys. Managed to get a Tom Tom XL Classic in the end which seemed to have good recommendations and ticks all the boxes for what is required. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARTIN R Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Thanks guys. Managed to get a Tom Tom XL Classic in the end which seemed to have good recommendations and ticks all the boxes for what is required. Good choice:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathanc Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 Well rather bump this topic than create a new one I bought an import and its odometer+speedometer is still in KMs. Now I know its probably cheaper just buying a simple thing to convert the speedometer to miles but I suddenly remember sat navs shows speed readings too! So I figured I could get myself a sat nav that shows speed readings, camera/speed limit warnings and also the regular maps. I haven't been looking at sat navs for a long time now so I'm a bit outdated. Ideally I will want something slim and small (I have a very old TOMTOM 300 at the momet that's pretty bulky and has not-so-good reception) plus have all the features I've mentioned above that's not too expensive. Any tech savvy peeps here kindly help out? Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.