Buying first car, no sat nav?

2010RACHEL

Ok looking at getting first car though possibly had sat Nov but does not. Am planning on doing a few tripps around Ireland and back over to UK so what is the best one to get and do I really need it or is there other options?

Really don't want days out getting lost and arguing over directions. Had years of trying to do things with the kids shipping around on buses really want to make the most of it now getting own transport.

Adamocovic

You can get a cheap phone stand that for the car, plus a phone charger. Have it plugged in and work away when needed. Will use your data though, but it's always a last minute option.

Shefwedfan

2010RACHEL wrote: »

Ok looking at getting first car though possibly had sat Nov but does not. Am planning on doing a few tripps around Ireland and back over to UK so what is the best one to get and do I really need it or is there other options?

Really don't want days out getting lost and arguing over directions. Had years of trying to do things with the kids shipping around on buses really want to make the most of it now getting own transport.

The days of expensive Sat Navs are long gone. Majority you can pick up cheap as chips

I have one, never use apart from the UK last year.

Most days, I just use maps app on phone....I have sat nav on one car, it is 151 and even those maps are out of date.....I had maps on A6 2011 and they where all out of date and it and it costs a fortune to update

bazz26

Cars coming with built in sat nav are coming to an end too. Mirrorlink is becoming the norm where you connect your smartphone to the car's infotainment system via Android Auto or Apple Carplay and use the likes of Apple or Google maps threw your phone. That help the OP I know but OP you can buy a TomTom or Garmin portable sat nav in the likes of Halfords for about €100 or so and it will come with free lifetime map updates.

2010RACHEL

Ok will have a look in to that as does have infotainment system that's a great help. If not will check out the sat naval recommended. Thanks

theteal

Just use your phone. Google maps, Navmii etc. all have option to download maps for offline use if concerned about data (although free roaming now). I've a cradle that sits in the CD slot, perfect position.

The maps in some built-in sat navs in older cars can be very out of date.

oscar2

As said you can get a Garmin or Tomtom for around €100 just make sure you get lifetime map updates. Your phone and google maps can work well too but be aware that you can lose signal at worst possible times and if working offline, make sure your phone has good GPS.

I found the Moto range had generally good GPS whereas Chinese Androids were poor.

Lantus

Google maps reign supreme. Most modern cars provide a link so you can run Google apps through your console via voice activation. Even so your phone is your best bet. You can download all the maps you need and use them offline and even without mobile data.

mikeybrennan

oscar2 wrote: »

As said you can get a Garmin or Tomtom for around €100 just make sure you get lifetime map updates. Your phone and google maps can work well too but be aware that you can lose signal at worst possible times and if working offline, make sure your phone has good GPS.

I found the Moto range had generally good GPS whereas Chinese Androids were poor.

Chinese androids are fine if they're snapdragon and not mediatek

oscar2

mikeybrennan wrote: »

Chinese androids are fine if they're snapdragon and not mediatek

True.

grogi

mikeybrennan wrote: »

Chinese androids are fine if they're snapdragon and not mediatek

Even the new mediateks are ok now.

harr

Had an older Volvo with sat nav and it was absolutely shocking as the maps went out of date so quick and costs a fortune to get updates.
Newest Volvo opted out of the sat nav option and now just use google maps played through Bluetooth in the car and it works perfectly.. Have a cheap European tom tom if heading out of the country but didn't even use this on the last trip as I downloaded the map on the phone to use off line...

funkey_monkey

As above. I've used both Here and Google. Both were very good and got me stress free to my location.

One of the main benefits of the mobile phone method is that it is more easier to upload new maps etc.
If you require further features such as lane assist then to can make an app purchase for this.
I think you need data turned on though for traffic warnings/reroute etc and other such things.

I had been looking into Sat Nav, but everything is pointing towards this being on phone.

MobileAudio

What car is it ?

darragh o meara

As loads have already said, your phone ( if it's anyway decent ) will be better than and more up to date than any inbuilt satnav and aeven a lot of the standalone satnav a too. That said, it's nice to have it built in to a car but what use is it if the maps are out of date?? The only reason I'd have one is for the extra features that the car would have as a result of a sat nav upgrade, such as Bluetooth and digital radio etc.

Download google maps and if your going to Europe and don't want to use your data just download the area your going too before you leave. Even so, they don't use a whole pile of data anyway. Most newer cars now have smartphone integration where you can use the satnav from your phone and display it on the cars screen, there is an aftermarket option that Pioneer sell that could be fitted to your car if you really wanted it. A trip into Halfords would be a good bet as they always have them on display.

jimmycrackcorm

O can't even understand why someone would buy a tom tom when Google maps does real-time traffic and suggests shorter routes.

Shefwedfan

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

O can't even understand why someone would buy a tom tom when Google maps does real-time traffic and suggests shorter routes.

I travelled around the UK last year, I had a really old garmin I hadn't turned on in 3-4 years but it was great, saved a fortune on roaming...

Blazer

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

O can't even understand why someone would buy a tom tom when Google maps does real-time traffic and suggests shorter routes.

mightn't have mobile roaming, tomtom does real time traffic as well and I actually find Google is very hit and miss on directions. I use both TomTom and Google.

grogi

Blazer wrote: »

mightn't have mobile roaming, tomtom does real time traffic as well and I actually find Google is very hit and miss on directions. I use both TomTom and Google.

Despite reasonable amount of data roaming is included within EU, one can always get an offline navigation for the phone... Here We Go for instance. Will get traffic updates etc when it is online, will fallback to map-only info if offline.

That's always one device less to charge and carry around.

2010RACHEL

Is a Fiat 500L 2014 lounge.

Nekarsulm

I have a Medion sat-nav that I bought for about 120 euro about four years ago. Been using it in France, Belgium, a bit in Germany and in the UK. Works fine.
I didn't have a 4G phone at the time anyway.

grogi

Nekarsulm wrote: »

I have a Medion sat-nav that I bought for about 120 euro about four years ago. Been using it in France, Belgium, a bit in Germany and in the UK. Works fine.
I didn't have a 4G phone at the time anyway.

Why would you need 4G? To this day I don't use 4G... 2.5G (EDGE) is sufficient to keep the navigation going, 3G to plan the journey.

Nekarsulm

grogi wrote: »

Why would you need 4G? To this day I don't use 4G... 2.5G (EDGE) is sufficient to keep the navigation going, 3G to plan the journey.

Well, I had an old Nokia without wifi of any kind..

Cee-Jay-Cee

I was going to Uk last year and bought the cheapest sat nav I could find on AliExpress. It cost me €35 posted AFAICR. Anyway we toured about the south of England for 5 days and it never put us wrong once.

Cloudio9

I've BMW pro nav. Looks nice on a big screen in the middle of the dash. Cost about 2k new but it's rubbish compared to google maps.

Wildcard7

I wouldn't buy a stand alone sat nav, after having had a few (supposedly good ones from garmin and tomtom, not cheap garbage). The maps are generally not up to date unless you pay for it and update the yoke, and they are essentially cheap little computers with slow processors and crappy touch screens. They're a pain in the bum. (Mind you, the last time I had one of those is > 5 years ago, but I did have a few and they were all rubbish).

As others said, get a cradle and a charger for your phone, and use google maps. Google maps finds every business/venue/point of interest, is always up to date, and has real time traffic information. If you need to use your sat nav in countries where you can't use your data, you can consider buying an app called Sygic. Cheap as chips, and life long map updates.

grogi

Wildcard7 wrote: »

I wouldn't buy a stand alone sat nav, after having had a few (supposedly good ones from garmin and tomtom, not cheap garbage). The maps are generally not up to date unless you pay for it and update the yoke, and they are essentially cheap little computers with slow processors and crappy touch screens. They're a pain in the bum. (Mind you, the last time I had one of those is > 5 years ago, but I did have a few and they were all rubbish).

That's why you need to buy one with Life Time maps updates.

I was a follower of TomTom around 10 years ago, when the NavCore 6.x was in use. I think it was 6, but... anyway... I was prepared to pay premium to have a tested and working device. Later with the HD Traffic versions they TomTom Home - and I could not be bothered anymore. It was such a mess, gave up on them. Never was fan of Garmin either.

I kept using my old TomTom unit until it died and switched to maps on the phone. I have world license for Sygic, but recently just use only Google Maps.

mikeybrennan

I find sygic doesn't have all the locations like maps

It can be handy to have both though if you go offline

grogi

mikeybrennan wrote: »

I find sygic doesn't have all the locations like maps

It can be handy to have both though if you go offline

Yep. In Europe I rely on the roaming now, but in the rare cases of driving in the US/Canada Sygic is my friend.

JohnBoy26

Wildcard7 wrote: »

I wouldn't buy a stand alone sat nav, after having had a few (supposedly good ones from garmin and tomtom, not cheap garbage). The maps are generally not up to date unless you pay for it and update the yoke, and they are essentially cheap little computers with slow processors and crappy touch screens. They're a pain in the bum. (Mind you, the last time I had one of those is > 5 years ago, but I did have a few and they were all rubbish).

As others said, get a cradle and a charger for your phone, and use google maps. Google maps finds every business/venue/point of interest, is always up to date, and has real time traffic information. If you need to use your sat nav in countries where you can't use your data, you can consider buying an app called Sygic. Cheap as chips, and life long map updates.

Well most sat navs come with free lifetime updates now so no more paying and no more out of date maps. This isn't a recent thing either it has been available for a number of years.

Personally id prefer a sat nav to a phone.

Wildcard7

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

Personally id prefer a sat nav to a phone.

Why? I'm genuinely curious. Assuming you already have a semi decent smartphone of course.

You have a computer with a decent processor and a responsive touchscreen in your pocket, that is also always connected and has realtime access to the biggest data collector of all times (google maps comes with traffic information, streetview, reviews, hotel prices, etc). This computer can do pretty much anything that a computer can do. It's not some kind of experts tool either, google maps or sygic are as user friendly as anything.

Why would you buy another, grossly overpriced, lump of cheap hardware with a proprietary system on it that can only do one thing (satellite navigation), has no access to realtime news or reviews, doesn't find half the things google finds, and that you manually need to update in order to have halfway current maps?

Sorry, but that doesn't make any sense to me.

mikeybrennan

Some people have a preference for separates

Nekarsulm

mikeybrennan wrote: »

Some people have a preference for separates

And its easy to give a friend or colleague a loan of a sat-nav if they want/need to visit some of the stored locations.
Be that holiday camping spots abroad, or remote rural locations if you're an auctioneer, etc.

oscar2

Twice in last month used phone while travelling outside Ireland and lost phone signal/data problems. Had to dig out my Sat nav, set up and then was able to find my destination.

Google Maps has way more detail and is great for Traffic updates etc when it works but I would have been lost (literally!) without a Sat nav.

Dravokivich

Wildcard7 wrote: »

Why? I'm genuinely curious. Assuming you already have a semi decent smartphone of course.

Sat Nav apps kill the battery on my phone for me rather quickly. (Sure you can plug it in, but wouldn't want to have to do that all the time). What's the battery usage like on a Sat Nav device itself? That'll be something that stands out to me.

job seeker

I got a sat navigation in halfords last year. It's a Garmin and it has free lifetime maps. Payed about 90 as it was a 2015 model with 2015 maps. This was in January 2016. So I updated the maps and I was good to go. The Garmin software is very user-frendly as well.