Sat nav

We are buying a new car, and thought we would invest in some sat nav. Would anyone have any particular recommendations or suggestions of things to look out for.

[preiffer]

This one, every time.

Not only will it incorporate live traffic info, you can speak to a (yes, real-life) human being to get your route sent down to the unit. (Kind of like a sat-nav enabled directory assistance service).

I'm a TomTom fan - currently have it installed on my PDA (Compaq Ipaq).

The Tom Tom GO 700 is a rather exquisite piece of kit. It's totally portable and has a hard disk in it which is big enough to store maps for pretty much everywhere, so you can take it with you on holiday. It couldn't work out where it was while flying over Iceland though :).

It also has Bluetooth and can therefore act as a handsfree kit for your mobile phone.

Having said all that, have we read your original enquiry correctly, or are you asking about getting a factory fitted sat nav installed in your new car?

Well for starters what car are you thinking off getting?

And for me it has to be an Alpine system but it is expensive also that way you DON'T have things all over you dash.

Phil

Thanks all. No I am not thinking about a factory fitted option. I made that mistake in my car, and regret it deeply. As to the car type it has to be able to tow horses, doesn't worry about mud, be able to double up as an everyday/work car and start first time every time in the morning. For me that cuts it down to a landrover or a jeep. As the land rover is ugly and unrliable, then it has to be a Jeep. Sarah says it also has to be a nice shade of green.

Originally posted by sailor99
Thanks all. No I am not thinking about a factory fitted option. I made that mistake in my car, and regret it deeply. As to the car type it has to be able to tow horses, doesn't worry about mud, be able to double up as an everyday/work car and start first time every time in the morning. For me that cuts it down to a landrover or a jeep. As the land rover is ugly and unrliable, then it has to be a Jeep. Sarah says it also has to be a nice shade of green.

Volvo XC90?

As for the Sat-Van, I am a fan of the TomTom Go 700, Avis use them for their portable systems now (having replaced the Navman), they are very good, easy to use and the bluetooth handsfree is a nice touch too [y]

Volvo XC90?

Nah! Toy 4x4;) And they don't do it in a nice enough shade of green

Originally posted by sailor99
Thanks all. No I am not thinking about a factory fitted option. I made that mistake in my car, and regret it deeply. As to the car type it has to be able to tow horses, doesn't worry about mud, be able to double up as an everyday/work car and start first time every time in the morning. For me that cuts it down to a landrover or a jeep. As the land rover is ugly and unrliable, then it has to be a Jeep. Sarah says it also has to be a nice shade of green.

WHAT?????
You ARE kidding right? ugly? and unreliable? NONSENSE.
Without a doubt the Discovery and Range Rover are without a doubt the best looking of ALL 4x4's in the world.
as for unreliability again rubbish. We have had Discos and Rangies for over ten years and not once have we been let down by them. The rangie we have at the moment is a joy to drive and superbly comfortable, with not a hint of any problems.

if you want an estate car with big wheels, then go for a jeep, because that's all they are. talk about ugly and unreliable! [V][V]

How can you rubbish LR's like that[}:)] I had an ex MOD LR for a good few years before the new Discovery and Freelander came out. I now have one of each and apart from a few probs with the Freelander when I got it they have been going strong for a good few years! I personally use TomTom on my PDA for sat nav.

Land Rovers score very badly in the Top Gear survey. Range Rovers do marginally better, but 91st out of 159 is hardly representative of a good ownership experience.

So, clearly, there are plenty of LR/RR owners prepared to rubbish their cars. And of course, Jeep scores almost as badly. Top in the SUV/4x4 stakes was the Lexus RX300.

BC

the problem with these surveys Bc is two fold, as you say, the majority only fill in the surveys if they have a perceived bad time with a vehicle, plus it all depends also on the volume of sales of a perticular vehicle.
the Honda S2000 came first, but how many were actually sold compared to say, the BMW 3 series?
With japanese imposts such as the Lexus Rx300 are controlled as to how many can be imported by Toyota by the EU. Its always been a problem for companies such as Toyota with a very large range of vehicles and how they split the importation per model, but how many RS300 were sold in the lifetime of the survey compared to the Discovery?

I must be one of the lucky ones then[8D] As I said earlier I have had no problems with my LR's. Even the ex MOD one was in pretty good nick. Having used one when I was in the army I know how we treated them!

First disco I had the sun roof fell out, then the steering wheel broke. So I sold it. The second Disco I had, the diff went to pot after 18k miles, the doors squeeked, the sun roof winder fell off, the drinks holder broke, and it locked up in 4WD. Sold that too. The styling still looks like it was when it was designed; little brother to the A380. I've seen more attractive sights stuck in the front grill of a transit van head first.

But you are right guys, apart from that Discos are great.


But a puckker LR is different matter all together. A superb work horse, and probably quite the best on the market. However while we do need the work element, therefore have to dismiss the softroaders (Under 2 tonnes towing ability just doesn't cut the mustard), we also need it to be an everyday car you can happily turn up to say a meeting in. As such I am afraid we cannot pick the landie, but have to compromise. Were it to be just used for the horses then our choice would be pretty instant - a 60/70's vintage LWB. Especially as it comes in Green!

[Scrooge]

Not knowing what cars are imported to the UK anymore,do you get this
link or thislink

I agree if it is just for the horses then I would go fotr the ex MOD but for a 'proper' 4X4 with a cab then you are on your own[B)]

Originally posted by jetwet1
Not knowing what cars are imported to the UK anymore,do you get this
link or thislink

The Landcruiser certainly is: probably the most robust 4x4 if you don't want the hairshirtedness of the Landie.

BC

As the land rover is ugly and unreliable, then it has to be a Jeep. Sarah says it also has to be a nice shade of green.

I have owned both and the first grand cherokee was a very nice shade of green:D.The Range Rover is far superior to the jeep in every respect,but then it should be as it costs twice as much.Never had a problem with any of the Jeeps or this Range Rover. It's the best 4x4 money can buy(also has a good sat nav system installed)

Try an AUDI ALLROAD we have one and love it. We tow a good ton and 3/4 with no problem. It also looks ok outside the office, in the drive, with kids in it, covered in mud, at a wedding and my mother will get in it![ii]

The audi is a fine car, no doubt about that. But the rule of thumb for safe towing (where the trailer is braked) is up to 80% of unladen weight, which for the Audi is 80% x 1795kg = 1.5 tonnes. With 2 horses, tack, and trailer we go well over 2 tonnes. If you then put the trailer in a field, at the top of steep hill, you need some serious pulling power and even more serious braking. Then the Jeep is about £20k where as the Audi is £30k upwards. Range rovers are great, but the price.... Landcruiser is also great, but not to our taste. I think the ideal vehicle for raw pulling power, great braking and so on has to be an A343!

To be honest it was never my intention to turn this into "which car is best" debate. I just wondered if there were any satnav recommendations.

If you did want the Audi AllRoad you could put 1000kg cement in the boot and go for the 4.2 V8 petrol model, plus recomend you buy some shares in shell[?]

A343[n] B747[:?] A380[:w]

Just to get back on thread i would not buy the Audi for the fitted Satnav as its rubbish. TCM only works the other side of the channel[V]

Stephen,
I take it you are saying the TMC only works the other side of the channel for the Audi system?

I have just crawled back along the M40/M42 in the fog with my TMC merrily telling me that it was foggy (thanks very much, as if I copuldn't see that!! )

Um[:?]

Are you saying that TCM works in the UK! Maybe I need to contact Audi and get it activated over here[|:)]

I hate Fog, glad you have made it home[^][^][^]

Originally posted by stephen
Um[:?]

Are you saying that TCM works in the UK! Maybe I need to contact Audi and get it activated over here[|:)]

I hate Fog, glad you have made it home[^][^][^]

gosh yes. I had to get a replacement disc mind you as the original one did not have TMC on it, but now it works fine (will post a picture when I can be bothered to go out to the car in the cold! )

Originally posted by AlanA

Originally posted by stephen
Um[:?]

Are you saying that TCM works in the UK! Maybe I need to contact Audi and get it activated over here[|:)]

I hate Fog, glad you have made it home[^][^][^]

gosh yes. I had to get a replacement disc mind you as the original one did not have TMC on it, but now it works fine (will post a picture when I can be bothered to go out to the car in the cold! )

I've just got a new Passat, and the TMC function is built in, but not activated by Volkswagon (I assume for Audi too - as they are part of the same group).

Apparently, it is down to the DVD you put into the SatNav - you can apparently purchase DVD's with TMC activated - not sure from where though (and one thread said you could download them - if anyone knows from where let me know [y])

Where did you get the replacement DVD from AlanA?

Rich.