Sat Nav Comparison

[Unity_neil]

I chose not to spend the cash out hoping to get something else cheaper, but it seems that after market sat nav is even more expensive than the £2300 Lexus want.

Has anyoine tried the cheaper alternatives?

Do you have the inside track on this?

Will Lexus fit sat nav after you've bought the car??

let the rest of us in on the deal then...cheers!

[Matthew_McNally]

I have the Lexus sat nav system.

it is very good - very comprehensive coverage - never let me down.

I use it to get me all over the UK - wouldn't be without it frankly

[Rodders_UK]

I put a VDO Dayton MS5000 unit into my wife's car - every bit as good as the Lexus device, but doesn't have a touch screen.

I've seen them for sale for around £1600

[ricky_is200]

I've just ordered a NavMan 3400 for my iPAQ PDA. It was £350 and offers voice navigation, re-routing etc. I've had a demo and it looked pretty good. So much cheaper than the other after market options and you can use it out of the car whilst out hiking etc and covers all of europe.

[Unity_neil]

I'd be really interested to find out how you get on with it, Even needing to buy an ipaq would be cheaper than either the lexus option or Alpine/pioneer etc etc

Cheers

[ricky_is200]

I'll let you know after I've had a chance to have a good play. I found this website www.pocketgps.co.uk which gives good reviews of all the PDA units available.

[JOHNNY-BOY]

Will Lexus fit sat nav after you've bought the car??

Lexus won't/are unable to fit their unit after purchase. Only available as an option when ordering a brand new car.

[Unity_neil]

Thanks for that, it's another avenue closed.

So far my options seem to be:

a PDA based system ala IPAQ etc

an aftermarket car system (VDO etc.)

a dedicated mobile gps ala StreetPilot III

could anyone who has one of these rate on:

1. Quality of Direction (visual and audio)

2. Quality of Mapping

3. Quality of Visuals (ease of use whilst driving)

Thanks for all help so far.

p.s. I love my IS200 SE (just so you know)

[Nick]

The latest thing on the market which we are about to fit to a couple of cars is called Smart Nav. The cost is £599 inc vat fitted.

It doesn't have a screen but gives full verbal instructions as you would expect with a screen system. The other added benefit is that it is made by Trafficmaster, who have all the little blue boxes around the country montoring traffic flow. Because of this it automatically reroutes you before you hit a queue, which is an advance on the Lexus System. There is a subscription charge of £120 per annum or you can pay as you go. We will be supplying these at Lexus Leicester, within a matter of days. People who have used it reckon it is excellent, and of course unlike Lexus or aftermarket products it doesn't have a mapped disc to go out of date.

[Matthew_McNally]

Nick

welcome to the club mate!

one thing - you might want to change your sig, and take your email address out.

there is software which trawls the internet looking for nice email addresses to send lots of spam to.

so, removing it might be a good idea (unless you actively want a load of porno, herbal viagra and shady nigerian financial delas cluttering up your mailbox)

:D

[ricky_is200]

I looked at the SmartNav but was put off by it not having a screen, I find Sat Nav systems with a screen showing the road layout much more useful (and fun to use). With SmartNav you also have to connect (via the built in phone) to an operator each time you want to program in a destination.

For Europe, there are only two major mapping companies that supply digital maps to companies. Navtech and TeleAtlas. Therefore the quality of mapping shouldn't vary greatly between systems.

[Nick]

Matthew,

Thanks for the tip!

[Wallace]

Hi Nick, welcome to the club. Sounds a nice system.,Do they give "Gold " discount?

[Nick]

I agree about the screen, which looks great in any car, although aftermarket ones are a real "steal me" attention grabber and factory fit is very expensive. I think at £599 and bearing in mind the traffic avoidance facility, it still represents good value.

With reference to the Gold discount the answer is yes, meaning a price of £509.15. In other words, if you aren't already a Gold member, perhaps you should be.

[Monster-Mat]

Hi Nick........welcome,

that does sound a good system......is it totally hidden within the car,where is the speaker?

mat

[ricky_is200]

Also Nick, how does the phone connection work to the call centre? Do you need a seperate airtime contract or sim card? Or is everything provided? Great price for gold members.

[Nick]

There is a web site which will hopefully answer more technical questions. We are fiiting it soon to a couple of demo cars, and I will report back with an honest opinion.

The website address is www.smartnav.com