Sat nav

Having managed to get myself lost and take close to 2 hours to make what should have been a 30 minute journey this morning I've decided I should probably invest in a sat nav.

Any thoughts on "Garmin Nuvi 310 GPS"

http://www.dabs.com/ProductView.asp...1203&PageMode=1&NavigationKey=11203&InMerch=1

 

haha! Just noticed all the anti-sat nav comments on ATs car thread

 

Yeah.

I truthfully wouldn't be without mine, for the rare occassions I now take trip out.

If you have an efficient map reader with you it maybe different. I don't.

Having said that you need a working knowledge of your route. When I went down to my brothers last xmas mine noticably ommitted to tell me about the Heathrow turn off. Its not the only occassion either.

 

I have many not so fond moments of getting stuck in one way streets in Macclesfield because my ex has a tomtom as its easier than reading a map. "This is a one way street" it dosn't matter the tomtom says go left so i will "it says no entry!!!! stop!!!!" then she replies "why did that asian man just beep at me, have I been spotted", no you nearly crashed into him!

 

I've had a tomtom for about a year and I think that whilst it has its limitations, it's pretty good. Compared to the two Garmin satnav's I've used I reckon imho that the tomtom is better; easier to use and has clearer maps and instructions.

Thing is, satnav's are driving aids and shouldn't be relied upon 100% as they get clearly things wrong, but tbh if you're dumb enough to listen to a satnav when the signpost says otherwise then you're just plain silly.

Anyway based upon ease of use I think the tomtom is better, but perhaps the Garmin maps are better? Me not sure.

 

round here the council are having to put up signs telling moronic HGV drivers to reroute their sat navs. We've got a lorry so stuck in a local village the recovery truck can't get to it and it is going to be 2 days at least to get it out! Tits.

 

I've had TomTom and Garmin (the TomTom fell out of its crappy motorbike mounting and smashed to pieces on the road).

IMHO Garmin has better mapping, better routing and a better user interface (and better motorcycle mounting!).

TomTom has a better map view (especially when approaching roundabouts), better live traffic updates (if you pay for it) ..... and a better marketing department.

 

Garmin have a solid grounding in rugged professional navigation equipment, so really they hit the ground running when they went into car systems.

 

Whereas my TomTom hit the ground full stop

 

...too many wheelies methinks.

 

Thanks

Considering it's relatively cheap price, does this one have any obvious features missing that would make it worth paying more for something else?

I've seen many costing £hundreds more. What does the extra money get you?

 

I have one and it's great.

 

Ordinance Survey and a Silva. Cannot be beaten.

 

Do you mean you have one of the Nuvi 310's?

 

My map reading skills have never been fantastic and as I'm starting to go a lot of new and interesting places recently I think one would be very useful indeed.

If I was a sole driver doing deliveries or a sales rep etc visiting new places every day I'd have one instantly. Only trouble with them I can see is the extra mileage, if they plot routes anything like the online route planners they're absolutely moronic.

Think I'd get to where I knew was the shortest route in my local area and then let it take over (i.e. start listening to it rather than ignoring it) - as otherwise from looking at online route maps I'd be doing anything up to 10+ needless miles at times

 

I have a tomtom and on the 8 or so occasions I have used it, it does not recognise the post code and on most occasions not even the street. This is very frustrating as in essence I have to google maps at home first to get an idea of the route then see if tomtom has the first clue. Which usually it does not.

People attempting to get to my workplace with a tomtom always land up 11 miles away f they put the post code in. So all in all my experience is a bit shit.

 

I use a Garmin - an old model rather than the one you are looking at. It was cheap so has none of the fancy stuff but it has been worth every penny.

I chose Garmin over TomTom simply because both do well in Which? reviews, and since I used to fly gliders, all the nav equipment I have used previously has always been Garmin.

 

YOu sound a shade unlucky there gary.

IME the end of the jouney you DO need a bit of initiaive ....but not usually 11 miles worth .

I went to pick up a comp moniter froma graphic company a few weeks ago.....ended up ina farm yard......but i should have guessed it was wrong avenue. The right road was the next one on.

 

Mmm, that's a bit unfortunate as (any sales rep will tell you) it's never the 50 miles to get there that's the problem it's the last 50 yards :newbie:

I was kinda thinking that's what it'd be good for but it's a bit pointless if not!

 

yeah, as our office is on a business park and visitors using sat navs always get lost on the last section and usually have to ring us up asking for help...!