Should I buy a Garmin or something else

[Alfie]

I'm looking for a semi portable Satellite Navigation system and am considering a Garmin streetpilot III Deluxe. Does anyone here have any good or bad experiences of these? I need to have postcode location and petrol station locations etc. If there are any other makes/model I should consider then I'm all ears.

Thanks

[RichardM]

They are quite old now, there are a lot newer models available with 3-D mapping, post code entry etc. Have a look at Navman or the new TomTom GO. Garmin do newer units too.

[jaymanek]

Hi,

I went for this one, Its neat, no extra wires or seperate antenas and is a fully funtioning pda.. Very light and portable and covers all of europe...

http://www.navman-europe.com/product_details.php?id=AA00XXXX

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=5359&page=2&pp=15&highlight=potable

Thanks


Jay

[NormanB]

THE SPIII is good but dated (I have one).

I do not believe you will get full post code support with any Garmin product though :(

[scotth_uk]

PDA based units may/may not suit you, but they are worth a look. Some are wired solutions, with spaghetti all over the dash (unless you can bothered to try and hide everything) and others are wireless.

The newer generation of standalone units are very good value around the £400-£500 mark. Each has it's pros and cons, but I believe that all represent good value for money.

Personally, I went with the TomTom Go solution and am very happy with it for the money. Most PCWorld's have one on display if you want to take a look at one.

Read up on all of the different device as sites like http://www.pocketgps.co.uk/ . The forums at their site are very informative too.

Most devices have sizeable Points Of Interest databases which contain everything from cash machines to petrol stations to beaches to fun parks. Navigation to your closest petrol station is about 4 clicks from the default screen in TTG. TTG is also releasing an update tomorrow which adds Custom POI support, for things like Speed Camera locations.

Postcode routing is not perfect on the TTG, but the first 3 or 4 letters/digits works ok. On the PDA based units, there are Postcode routing add ons which probably work better.

[RichardM]

Postcode routing is not perfect on the TTG, but the first 3 or 4 letters/digits works ok. On the PDA based units, there are Postcode routing add ons which probably work better.

Yep my TT3 on an iPAQ supports full postcode via the addin and works perfectly.

[Sp!ke]

I like the look of Tom Tom Go but this new SmartNav thing has really got me interested.

http://www.smartnav.com/smart/default.htm

[RichardM]

The voice instructions are ok on TomTom but you often need the screen to see where you need to go at junctions etc, so don't know how effective SmartNav would be. Even the optional screen is only an arrow, not 3-D mapping.

[scotth_uk]

Got a ride in an executive car last night (Audi S8) and on the dash was a TTG unit. The guys was really excited about it, but was gutted when I told him he paid £70 over the odds for it. ;-)

[mickl]

I've got a full Smartnav setup installed in mine. The lack of a display hasn't been much of a problem and talking to a real person when searching for a destination is much less fiddly than playing with buttons. The GPS speed camera locator has been a lifesave in London as well and the tracker option saves on your insurance :D

Best thing is it's so discreet, it doesn't attract any attention.