Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Sat Nav without power point

As a new user of Sat Nav and as a warning to others not yet in the know, please beware of instructions to 'bear left' when in reality it may actually be a junction where you have to stop. Several instructions to turn when it's just a bend too. Take care, perhaps some of the 'doddering drivers' I've met on the road are, like me trying to cope with confusing instructions. I know of one person has suffered a write off as a result of Sat Nav 'mistuctions', fortunately not hurt.

Yes indeed. Sat Navs know the physical layout of the roads, but they don't know what white lines the local council might have painted upon them.

Fortunately we all come equipped with the Mk1 Eyeball (2 off), and so are able to combine Sat Nav guidance with an assessment of the situation.

I say all. A couple of years back an HGV driver tried to bring his 35-ton load up our lane, despite the visual indications that it may not be suitable. I would have though the fact that the lane is only 9 foot six wide might have given him a clue, but no, he persisted until he got jammed between the walls outside our house. It took all day for a recovery wagon to winch and drag him backwards out of it, apparently it cost something like GBP20k in the end.

The driver's excuse was that (a) the Sat Nav told him to go that way and (b) he was from Suffolk.

Don't know if it was this incident but recall seeing a story like that on the TV. What a nightmare! Quite right about the Mk1 eyeball. With all this talk of 'automated convoy driving', can't help wondering if the eyeball will only be needed to find the 'Go' button!

Driving Solo, The map was fine but no good for reference when moving.

I had to pull over quite a few times and put on the old 'close work' glasses to see the detail. I also found that the Road Numbers list I had taken from the maps was not only out of date in many cases but not that many signposts stated them when I needed them.

The Sat Nav will definitely be replaced for all of the reasons mentioned. I normally use post codes with the setting 'Non Motorway' and then choose which roads to actually take as I approach them.

Just before my TomTom Go failed I tried locating it in the top right hand corner of the dash instead of on the Left Hand Instrument Glass and that seemed to be a better place to glance at. This would have reduced most of the flapping about on its long holder (which snapped in two soon after)

As suggested by Metal Micky we place ours on the highly polished walnut dash between the glove box and the switch panel. The support grips just as well there as it does on glass and I find it reasonably easy to see if I need to look at it.

I agree about turn instructions. You will often get an instruction such as "turn left" when the road only veers slightly to the left and there is a goat track that goes straight ahead or to the right that is clearly not the main road.

The result of using a SatNav without also employing brain power:

http://tinyurl.com/c8hpjba

Being from Suffolk was a good excuse then???

BTW - like the llamas!

I preview a trip on a map (and usually have one with me) - gives me more fun discussing route options with the Satnav

Cheers

I agree, that is a better position. Unfortunately we have a Centenary Badge fitted just there.

I have finally had time to check and thanks to petemog I located the powerpoint in the glovebox, now to choose a contraption.

Garmin seems to be very popular and I believe they have them with camera locations and road speed limits.

Plenty of tips on here,thanks chaps!

Tomtom start2 ok with the provisos discussed eg. MK1 eyeball. Also neat and attaches to windscreen with the standard suction pad on the back of it. I bought a spare lead (not tom tom one) for a few quid and leave it all ready to plug in, with lead hidden on the pull down rubber mat thingy under the dash. Works for me and doesn't intrude on vision. Just unplug, push lead back under rubber, pocket it and go. Leave a lead in each car.