I recently purchased the new TomTom Europe 22 from Halfords. I was originally going to buy the V3 of the TomTom Europe as the price is genuinley lower than the new one is. I'll get to that now. I actually, did, buy the V3 model first. When I did and went to set it up in the car I noticed the windscreen suction piece wasn't in the box and to top that, the actual sat nav seemed 2nd hand. Scratches - deep scratches - all over the sat nav. So I boxed it all back up and went back into Halfords. Served by the same person - baring in mind, it's the assistant manager. I told her the situation and that I wasn't pleased. She said, "I must of forgotten to tell you
the sat nav I sold you was originally a display model". Which I don't believe as I doubt a display model would have scratches all over it as it's stuck behind glass. She explained to me they don't have any more of that kind back in the stock room so she said she'll cut a deal with me. I followed her to the display cabinet and we took the TomTom Europe 22 as the final agreement. The V3 model is 92.99 if you reserve or order on the internet. The V4 model, instore, I think was around 130 quid but she said she'll let me have it for 100. So 7 pound more than V3 - I think I got a good deal.
Ever since having the new TomTom I have been extremely pleased. Yes, the little guides given in the box are useless but I think there was a good point for that. The TomTom range are very, very simple to use. A primary school child could work it with ease. I've taken it out, even though I know exactly where I'm going, just for the sake of it. It alerts me of speed cameras I never even knew were there. Very pleased with that. The windscreen suction is just incredible. Never get a loss of suction, ever.
One of the aspects of the TomTom sat navs that I think is incredible, is if you accidently turn a wrong turn, it recalcuates your journey within 4-5 seconds where my sisters Sony sat nav asks you to do a "turn around" procedure. I was amazed.
The TomTom ONE is the basic navigation of the range, but why pay £400 for a sat nav which will literally do the same thing as a £130 sat nav is able to do.
When I first browsed the sat nav on the internet I thought the screen was too small but let me tell you, it may be small but it's big enough. Very clear screen with a clear map.
The sat nav will find a signal very easily outdoors. My sat nav will find a signal inside my house where as some other people may not be able to do. It may well vary where you live and whether you live in a built up area (where I do not).
Sometimes the sat nav will lag a bit so where your car is, the GPS may be a few yards behind. But if you've got the screen on 2D rather than the 3D screen, it's easier to see the route ahead (on a roundabout) clearly. You can also zoom out for a clearer image ahead. But the instructions are given WELL in advance and it will say, if you're approaching a roundabout, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th or even 5th exit in advance. Don't let the lag damper you're thoughts about the sat nav though, the lag really isn't a problem as when it does lag it's only a few yards behind. It's not major. I've been using the sat nav and it's been spot on. When I'm half way past a junction, the GPS has been half way past the junction with no lag. I think it depends on how many satellites you're sat nav has picked up.
Another thing I like about the sat nav is that you can preview you're route in text and then if you want to avoid maybe a street, motorway, roundabout etc. during the given route, you can. It's literally at a touch of a button. If you were travelling in France, as an example, and the route given went directly through Paris, and you're probably going to expect jams in Paris, you can avoid Paris all together with a touch of a button. It will also ask you if you want to avoid toll charges. Press yes and you're route will be toll charge free but you're route is around 60 miles longer depending where your destination is.
To summarize this, if you want a sat nav which will do what it's made to do around Europe, this is the perfect sat nav. If this doesn't satisfy you, Lorry drivers use this sat nav around Europe on a day to day basis. I think that say it all.
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Car Navigation System - Fixed Monitor - 16:9 Monitor - without Traffic Message Channel, with Traffic Message Channel - with Touchscreen - without Voice Control, with Voice Control
What's the point in reading an atlas when you can buy a satellite navigation system which will do the same thing, 1 million times better. To read an atlas while driving, you need to pull over, so it delays your journey time. Plus, if you have pulled over, you may be a hazard to following traffic. If you choose to read it while driving, you are a potential danger to anyone on the road. Satellite navigations make you driving safer, give you confidence and gives you a sense of relief.
blissman70 08.04.2009 21:54
What's wrong with the old atlas system?...blissman
very helpful by (100%):
