Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) Sat Nav - Recommendations Please

I am looking to buy an inexpensive Sat Nav with European mapping, for use in my 4/4.
The lovely Lady Budster feels that it will make our pending trip to France more peaceful, Her reasoning is; that I have been known to get a bit "tense" when navigating, especially when trying to find a hotel for the first time.


I don't want to spend much, as it is unlikely to get used except on holidays.
Any recommendations would be welcomed.
Thanks

Bud
__________
2003 - 4/4

ps I am sure this has been discussed before on TM, but my search did not reveal anything.

If you have an I phone get the Nav-free app. I don't use a sat nav now just the I phone. UK app maps are free and it is a few pounds for the map of France.

No I Phone, or Blackberry...

Bud
_________
2003 - 4/4

Just returning from France after a couple of (very wet) weeks. Bought a Garmin nuvi 2445 last year for about a £100 and it has been great. Thoroughly recommend it and Garmin. Usual no connection etc etc
DJC

Simon,

You are welcome to borrow my TomTom which covers France. Not used much these days as tend to use IPad or android phone.

Neil

I would also recommend a Garmin: there are many models but you can have hours of entertainment (or pain depending how you look at it) reading user reviews on Amazon or elsewhere. It actually encourages a more "off-piste" driving style having a sat-nav as once the destination is set it will always re-calculate a route when some road catches your eye and you take a detour. Some argue that you don't learn where you are because you just follow the pink road and there is some truth in that, but the upside is that those er.. discussions.. don't happen in the same way anymore! Now you just both blame the sat-nav when things go wrong.. Our is called Mercedes for some reason...

I would recommend a "shot bag" holder as it will go nicely on the gearbox tunnel just in front of the gearstick..

Route Planning is best done using Google Maps and Google Earth in my opinion, and then manually transferring the waypoints to the sat-nav. There are ways to interface the two, but good luck with that.. it's a lot quicker to just enter the places into the "trip planner" as it is called in Garmin. Actually a good old fashioned MAP still works best for planning..

Have a lovely trip.
Oliver S.

Tom Tom and Garmin both very good.

Or if you are not going to use it very often think about hiring one. Colleagues from distant shores do when they pitch up in the UK

This lot are just one of many and I have no personal experience of them.

sat nav hire

If you have a smart phone have a look at http://www.sygic.com/en

It works very well and does not cost the earth. You can download it from the ap stores and try it for 7 days for free. You will need some sort of mount for the phone and a charger to hook up in the car.

I've got to agree with Oliver and his 'off-piste' driving- I've been down minor roads, through the most delightful scenery, which I would have missed if relying on a map. Still use the good old paper charts when setting up way points and checking the general direction. Gerry.

I use Co-pilot live on iPhone or iPad it is not expensive and has full EU maps can buy the lot or selected countries, directions are good and accurate and has regular speed camera (sorry safety cameras) warnings updated.

I can demo it to you!