Or to reduce clutter, download NavFree onto your smartphone. Get a windscreen mount. Hey presto. Might not suit those who like chatting and map reading at the same time though in which case the standalone sat nav might be better

I've got the Nokia system on my N8 but the screen is too small.

My TomTom sat nav is 5 years old.  I've never updated the maps.  It gets me to where I want to go in Europe and the UK every single time...  why?  Well the roads have not really changed that much have they?  And if he tells me turn right where there is now a no right turn, or cross a roundabout where there is now a flyover, I still thankfully have my eyes to see this and I'm in full control of my pedals and steering wheel to drive past.  And guess what happens then?  The sat nav works out a new route and guess what?  I STILL get to my destinations on my TomTom maps that are five years old.  Cost saved?  £31 x 5 = £155 or £190 x 5 = £950 if I had had a Columbus.  So really I do not see the point in ever updating the maps unless you really can't control and steer your car using your own eyes and brain.  

A few years ago the A505 from the A1 to Royston was substantially re-developed and being shown on screen as travelling "off road at 70mph in a saloon car was mildly amusing once and became irritating. My old Garmin is however coming on holiday tomorrow to navigate around Italy.

I use this site for my Columbus updates as they also give the option to have speed camera Poi as well

 

<link to illegal download site removed>

I have the latest maps in my Columbus 7920 which has the cameras

7918 is the latest update from the dealers it just doesn't have cameras on it

The thing with the map updates is that its not a firmware update so is not going to brick your Columbus and is easy to do the only hard part Is burning it to the DVD properly.

Edited 23 September, 201312 yr by mannyo
remove link to illegal download site

My TomTom sat nav is 5 years old.  I've never updated the maps.  It gets me to where I want to go in Europe and the UK every single time...  why?  Well the roads have not really changed that much have they?  And if he tells me turn right where there is now a no right turn, or cross a roundabout where there is now a flyover, I still thankfully have my eyes to see this and I'm in full control of my pedals and steering wheel to drive past.  And guess what happens then?  The sat nav works out a new route and guess what?  I STILL get to my destinations on my TomTom maps that are five years old.  Cost saved?  £31 x 5 = £155 or £190 x 5 = £950 if I had had a Columbus.  So really I do not see the point in ever updating the maps unless you really can't control and steer your car using your own eyes and brain.  

My sentiments exactly !!

Yup, my 1998 Michelin Altas Routier is the same.  A one off €7.50 payment - it was the previous years when I bought it, subsequently years of enjoyment for all the family. 

Only downside, no speed trap indication.  (sensitive issue)

 

Is there a trap app the partner can put on her blackberry?  Or the nokia thing I have in a drawer somewhere?

My TomTom sat nav is 5 years old.  I've never updated the maps.  It gets me to where I want to go in Europe and the UK every single time...  why?  Well the roads have not really changed that much have they?  And if he tells me turn right where there is now a no right turn, or cross a roundabout where there is now a flyover, I still thankfully have my eyes to see this and I'm in full control of my pedals and steering wheel to drive past.  And guess what happens then?  The sat nav works out a new route and guess what?  I STILL get to my destinations on my TomTom maps that are five years old.  Cost saved?  £31 x 5 = £155 or £190 x 5 = £950 if I had had a Columbus.  So really I do not see the point in ever updating the maps unless you really can't control and steer your car using your own eyes and brain.  

 

I agree mostly, but travelling around the south east mainly it is surprising how much changes over a few years and new road appear. Tom Tom/Garmin etc will never reroute to a route that isn't on its map......which is why I always update my maps - but seeing as they are free............

 

I also kept my Columbus up to date - my dealer updated the maps when they were released at no cost to me (other than the large cost to buy.

 

I is a right royal pain in the proverbial having to remove my sat nav from the car between 4 & 6 times a day, finding somewhere to put it (not in the car) specially if I don't want to carry anything around with me and maybe only for 10 minutes or 3 hours.. Then there is the advertising that you have a removable sat nav in the car etc etc. 

 

I much prefer built in systems ,so much less clutter. As posted elsewhere, I have the mount for the iPhone and another for Tom Tom.... 

Just had my annual dealer call to book my car in for its first service. A very reasonable £100 plus vat has been agreed but my question on getting the Amudsen updated at the same time, for free, obviously, was not satisfied well at all.

" if we have got a disc' we will do it.....but you might need to go on line.....eh.....methinks I have a little battle ahead......

My motto is about to be tested...

"Victory is certain......timing less so"

I'm using v8 maps and surprised that the Hindhead Tunnel (A3) still isnt shown, my TomTom which I updated just after it opened showed it !

I agree that most roads do not change but when in unknown territory changes with junctions on major roads can cause a lot of hassle.

My Garmin 2595LMT 5", Bluetooth handsfree, with free Lifetime Maps and Traffic Alerts cost me £135.00 back in April. Two map updates issued since purchase and it also interfaces really well with my Apple Mac, the Garmin app alerts you to new updates. Having an S spec I use the centre dashboard open tray with a Garmin universal friction mount, the whole thing can be hidden under the seat in seconds. Easy peesy and great value.

I've just looked at one of those for our trip to France next month, jeep. Are they as good as they look?

I have the Garmin 2595LMT, too, but for the time being on a Brodit mount over the centre vents.  IMHO significantly better - easier - than the TomTom unit that I sometimes look after for a friend, despite the usual inadequate (!) manual.  This may be slightly biased, as I've used Garmin hand-helds for years.  Nevertheless, I haven't yet seen anything I'd prefer.

Thanks for that.

Ditto the Garmin thing, as I use a little handheld for Geocaching and have always had ex-ebay car Garmin's until now, but the current one doesn't "do" Europe and the UK maps are very out-of-date.

Used a friend's TomTom whilst we were in Crete earlier and didn't find it at all easy or intuitive to use.

Looks like it will be a trip to Halfrauds as they have the cheapest at the moment, when I looked this afternoon.

I've just looked at one of those for our trip to France next month, jeep. Are they as good as they look?

No complaints, I like the visual guidance for the correct lane on complex motorway junctions, I've yet to get a traffic alert though, but I don't do much driving in congested urban city areas with motorway links.

As I said somewhere my TomTom is getting very old.  And it seems this free maps for life, free traffic for life business with Garmin is worth having...  On their website it says that you can get free traffic via the data connection on your phone via Bluetooth - which I've had on my TomTom since they day I bought it as it was top of the range back then - but because I don't pay the yearly subscription anymore, I don't get these traffic updates anymore...

 

http://www.garmin.com/uk/traffic

 

The Garmin reviews for this sat nav mentioned above on Amazon, near one and all say the traffic function does not work...  unless you plug the aerial cable in it seems.  Which I really don't want to do - again I had such a cable with my sat nav and NEVER used it.  So has anyone made this traffic work via Bluetooth to their phones with this Garmin?

 

EDIT:  seems it can't do this and the Bluetooth is only for handsfree phone usage.  You have to get the newer model of this to get this data feature.

Thanks for that.

Ditto the Garmin thing, as I use a little handheld for Geocaching and have always had ex-ebay car Garmin's until now, but the current one doesn't "do" Europe and the UK maps are very out-of-date.

Used a friend's TomTom whilst we were in Crete earlier and didn't find it at all easy or intuitive to use.

Looks like it will be a trip to Halfrauds as they have the cheapest at the moment, when I looked this afternoon.

 

 

 

 

I'm using v8 maps and surprised that the Hindhead Tunnel (A3) still isnt shown, my TomTom which I updated just after it opened showed it !

I agree that most roads do not change but when in unknown territory changes with junctions on major roads can cause a lot of hassle.

It has taken the Columbus about 3 'updated' versions to catch up with the fact that there is now a western motorway that by-passes Reims!

As I said somewhere my TomTom is getting very old.  And it seems this free maps for life, free traffic for life business with Garmin is worth having...  On their website it says that you can get free traffic via the data connection on your phone via Bluetooth - which I've had on my TomTom since they day I bought it as it was top of the range back then - but because I don't pay the yearly subscription anymore, I don't get these traffic updates anymore...

 

http://www.garmin.com/uk/traffic

 

The Garmin reviews for this sat nav mentioned above on Amazon, near one and all say the traffic function does not work...  unless you plug the aerial cable in it seems.  Which I really don't want to do - again I had such a cable with my sat nav and NEVER used it.  So has anyone made this traffic work via Bluetooth to their phones with this Garmin?

 

EDIT:  seems it can't do this and the Bluetooth is only for handsfree phone usage.  You have to get the newer model of this to get this data feature.

The model linked does not seem to have Bluetooth though. Garmin seem to have a great many similar models. When I got my 2595LMT from Amazon I looked also at the 2545LMT which seemed the same apart from not having Bluetooth, very little difference in price.

Re the Garmin 2595LMT, I don't do Bluetooth (or any other colour), nor do I plug anything in except the power lead, but it seems traffic info is somehow received.  Twice on recent motorway journeys (very infrequent, usually) I've had congestion diversions offered. 

The model linked does not seem to have Bluetooth though. Garmin seem to have a great many similar models. When I got my 2595LMT from Amazon I looked also at the 2545LMT which seemed the same apart from not having Bluetooth, very little difference in price.

 

Apologies yes...  there are drop down menus at the top of the Amazon ad that is very confusing...  so even though you clicked on a Bluetooth model it then takes you to a non bluetooth one that has free traffic.  But to get a free map, free traffic AND Bluetooth one you have to go somewhere completely different.  Daft.  Here is the proper one:

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Garmin-2597LMT-Lifetime-Updates-Bluetooth/dp/B00B3SELA8/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1380194759&sr=1-1&keywords=Garmin+nuvi+2597

I have recently bought the TomTom GO 6000. Very impressed with it. Yes it has mixed reviews but it does what I want-Europe lifeltime map updates and lifetime traffic. No need to have phone attached as it has a sim built in and traffic works in Europe as well at no extra cost to me.

The new interface is very good, but different to the 'old' TomTom's.

TomTom apparently has the best by far traffic feed. So far I haven't been able to fault it.

And it had a great 6" screen WHICH I CAN SEE :lol: an added bonus. (The 4" screen on the iPhone is too small for sat nav, but big enough for phone use.)

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have recently bought the TomTom GO 6000. Very impressed with it. Yes it has mixed reviews but it does what I want-Europe lifeltime map updates and lifetime traffic. No need to have phone attached as it has a sim built in and traffic works in Europe as well at no extra cost to me. The new interface is very good, but different to the 'old' TomTom's. TomTom apparently has the best by far traffic feed. So far I haven't been able to fault it. And it had a great 6" screen WHICH I CAN SEE :lol: an added bonus. (The 4" screen on the iPhone is too small for sat nav, but big enough for phone use.) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Thanks Mike...  I wonder who the competitor is in this TomTom map?  Could it be Garmin?

 

 

If so it is clear who you should go with if you want Live traffic...  But can a TomTom show junctions and where to go in detail like this:

 

Apologies for hijacking this thread further.  But it is vaguely on topic. This is the one I got (the LMT at the end stands for Lifetime (free) Maps (and) Traffic.

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00B3SELA8/ref=pe_385721_37038051_pe_217191_31005151_M3T1_dp_1

 

I got it yesterday.  At first I was not impressed (in the office sans satellite signal).  The traffic did not want to work. Then I read that the power cable in the car is the aerial and that has to be plugged in. So once home I did this and it got the satellites immediately (first time out of the box, or when in a new place these things sometimes take ages). So impressed. Set a random destination and immidiately it told me there were no delays. Set Edinburgh as the destination and it clearly showed the traffic. I set off and within moments it said it had recalculated the route due to the M11 being shut. The original and proposed routes clearly shown.

 

The live junction screen on the right of the screen is very nice and helpful and at times it shows 3D photos of junctions with the arrows of where to be.  Even neater still (these are still images though).

 

Sadly only one voice does the spoken street names and "Real Directions" - the latter where it says turn left at Big Ben or turn right after the fuel station.

 

I thought I was going to miss my TomTom's remote - which was BMW iDrive like in its simplicity in that you knew what the buttons did by touch and never had to look down to control the sat nav. But then I tried the voice recognotion. Golly it is good. You say your phrase to wake it - WITHOUT touching it like you have to do on the Yeti - and you get a screen of options like, Town, Junction, Stop Guidance, etc. You say "coffee shop", she asks "on the route", "in a specfic town" etc, you say "on the route" and a list appears numbered 1 to 4. Don't like any you say "down", 5 to 8 appears.  You say "7" and she says "add to current route" or "new route" and wham off you go. SUPER easy. No need for a remote or to tap out the postcode etc via the remote!

 

What I will miss from my top of the range TomTom: a cradle to charge it at home (so you don't have to plug it into the cable in the car for shorter trips), numerous computer voices that do the full spoken instructions, the ability to go Where To/point on a map (which is totally hidden on a Garmin) and an easy map overview of where you're heading. Could not find an easy way to get this up on the Garmin. Maybe I'm just a bit thick.

 

Another neat feature is that this sat nav remembers all your trips and you can switch on where you have been before as a layer of breadcrumbs! It also keeps a running total of your time on the road and in total.

 

Not used it in anger - will do on Tuesday when I'm driving to Telford for work - but based on the limited driving around my house this was £160 well spent to upgrade my six year old TomTom. Thank you for the recomendations.

 

Sadly there are no Yeti 3D cars!!!  http://www.garminheaven.com/vehicles/

Looks nice.  I downloaded all the reasonable additional voices for my 2595 and opted for an Australian girl (English sounds like rate and lehft, Oz like roit and lift !! and the female tone carries better than male).  See what's available? 

 

I have managed to do a 'point and go' - once - and no idea how!  Breadcrumbs sounds good. 

 

And, re my #37 above, I've just had my friend's TomTom back for updating, and still I think I prefer the Garmin

I can't remember exactly what model my Garmin is, but it has LMT, Bluetooth and voice control. I actually use the smartphone app for traffic, as I find it's more reliable than the traffic aerial. I think its a cracking unit with beautiful maps, the voice control is excellent and you can dial any name in your phone book without having to set up a voice tag first. I had the Columbus unit in my Superb and, while it was nicely integrated, it wasn't as clever, and it cost a bomb when it broke. So Garmin for me over the built in unit.