we are about to hit the road for a few months and our Tom Tom is now five years old and not able to update new maps so we are thinking of buying another one any recommendations. Don't want all the bells and whistles,and we don't have a smart phone to use. Thanks for any advice
This is not Tom Tom specific but applies across the range of GPS's available. Our criterion was basically made of two conditions:
1) Free lifetime map update
2) Early warning when one is required to make a left hand turn or right hand turn in order to get in position before missing the turn
Any additional functions are bells and whistle.
Larry
I bought myself a new GPS/Drive Camera Navman MyDrive LM for Xmas.
Main reason was the combined unit so only needed one power socket.
From day one it would not record and when I took it back to Dick Smith's they would only send it back for repair. I was told two weeks but it took eight and within two days it would not power on.
After a long search to find a phone number for Navman Australia I contacted the company and demanded a new unit. It arrived after two weeks and at the moment a month on, appears to be still working correctly.
My previous GPS was a Garmin and I much preferred that to the Navman. Both map content and Speed limits on the unit were far more accurate on the Garmin. It seems the data is updated more frequently and the map updates seem to be more up to date.
Driving between Esk in Qld and Ipswich the posted speed limits on the Navman GPS are wrong eight times in the forty odd K's. Sometimes GPS says 80 when in fact it is 100. My older Garmin has the correct limits for the same trip.
I am sure others will have different views and experiences so I hope you end up with a unit that suits your usage.
For me the Garmin is the better bet.
The newer Garmin six or seven inch screens are easily readable and I would have in retrospect bought the seven inch version that has large vehicle content. My Motorhome is Eight tons so the height and weight specs on the bigger Garmin would have suited me better. Lifetime maps included.
You should be able to update your Tom Tom, I have one the same age and I can still get updates for it, at a cost of about $50 per year. I'll be buying a new one though, so I can get lifetime free maps, also I'll go for a bit bigger screen this time. I'm going to stick with Tom Tom as the current one has worked well for me and I'm familiar with their menu system
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Cheers, Steve.
"Any day above ground is a good day... unless you're a spelunker :)"
In my past life I was running motels. When I decided it was time to buy a sat/nav I began asking my guests, many reps, what they used and the pros and cons of each brand. I eventually went with a Garmin. Very happy with it although it died within 3 months of purchase. Took it back to place of purchase and it was replaced immediately without question.
In my past life I was running motels. When I decided it was time to buy a sat/nav I began asking my guests, many reps, what they used and the pros and cons of each brand. I eventually went with a Garmin. Very happy with it although it died within 3 months of purchase. Took it back to place of purchase and it was replaced immediately without question.
I have a Garmin and have not had any problems with it. I found my Tom Tom would not pick up a satelite at certain places around the country Eg: Port Wakefield in South Aust. and at Mount Barker in Western Aust.
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If I don't get there today, I'll get there tomorrow or the day after.
John & Irona..........Rockingham Western Australia
I have used Navman for years both on land and in boats - had about 5 or 6.
My latest Navman in the tug is the MY series and was a complete disaster,,, it caused no end of problems BUT as I was out of the 14 day window for a replacement,,, it was repaired under warranty and I argued for ages for it to be repaired correctly.
They stalled and I did downloads and resets etc but to no avail and finally the screen failed 50% black.
I eventually received a new unit after arguing for ages and finally saying that the product was not fit for its intended purpose.
Some problems in the new replacement unit I can live with BUT WILL NEVER BUY NAVMAN AGAIN IF THAT IS THEIR AFTER SALES SERVICE ATTITUDE.
I have a small Garmin for bushwalking - excellent.
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Why is it so? Professor Julius Sumner Miller, a profound influence on my life, who explained science to us on TV in the 60's.
We have new and older Tom Tom .. Both work fine and get you there .. Ok at times have to be careful of road weight limits and no right hand turns .All part of driving .. . You can get app on your smartphone too.. Ok as backup..
Have a look on the 'net for reviews of the GPS units that take your interest. Very worthwhile
We felt it time to upgrade to a new unit. Having had a Garmin for 5 years we thought a change of brand may be good.
. Saw a TOM TOM & a Garmin in 6 inch at good prices.
Did a search on the 'net and found a large number of negative reviews on the Tom Tom but mostly positive reviews on the Garmin.
Ended up getting a Garmin LMT65 ( 6 inch screen ) and what an improvement over the old Garmin !!
Lifetime maps & all the fruit ( Just because it's there doesn't mean you have to use it all.)
We bought an unlocked phone & the Garmin from The Good Guys and got an exceptional deal. ( pays to ask " What's the best price you can do for cash ?)
Good luck with your hunting. The facts,figures & deals can be bewildering .
We had a his & hers Garmin for many, many years. I had a small basic one, missus had a big super-duper one. Missus got a new car with a in built GPS at the same time that her battery failed. Mine was so far out of date with maps, buying a newer larger device seemed a good idea. Got a Navman. It had all sort of problems. Had to return it for a new battery within a weeks and it took 3 weeks to get it fixed. Obviously not tested as all the other problems that I'd listed along with the dodgy battery, were never fixed even though I was told it was all fixed. Added to that, I could not use it with my iMac. The Navman site said it would work in an iMac for updating but then they admitted that it didn't really work. Trying to explain problems to an off-shore help desk was not easy either. Eventually got my money back only thru JB HiFi. Navman wiped their hands of everything. JB was great.
I then bought a new Garmin zumo for my bike and it was brilliant. Got a new battery for my wife's old super-duper one. They both work on my iMac planning trips etc. Just brilliant.
We had a his & hers Garmin for many, many years. I had a small basic one, missus had a big super-duper one. Missus got a new car with a in built GPS at the same time that her battery failed. Mine was so far out of date with maps, buying a newer larger device seemed a good idea. Got a Navman. It had all sort of problems. Had to return it for a new battery within a weeks and it took 3 weeks to get it fixed. Obviously not tested as all the other problems that I'd listed along with the dodgy battery, were never fixed even though I was told it was all fixed. Added to that, I could not use it with my iMac. The Navman site said it would work in an iMac for updating but then they admitted that it didn't really work. Trying to explain problems to an off-shore help desk was not easy either. Eventually got my money back only thru JB HiFi. Navman wiped their hands of everything. JB was great.
I then bought a new Garmin zumo for my bike and it was brilliant. Got a new battery for my wife's old super-duper one. They both work on my iMac planning trips etc. Just brilliant.
Garmin are very good. Mine even has up to date maps of New Zealand which is handy as we go there to see my sister who currently lives in Christchurch.
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If I don't get there today, I'll get there tomorrow or the day after.
John & Irona..........Rockingham Western Australia
Another vote for Garmin. We have had a standard one for a few years - now a fixture in my car. Driver recently bought the large screen, truck driver's model. We have the height of bus and length of rig programmed into that and it sends us on appropriate routes. Very handy.
