hi out there, i am thinking of buying a garmin streetpilot i3. has anybody any comments on it thanks geoff
sat nav
- Thread starter geoff_5040010
- Start date
Damian
Moderator
Geoff,
If you visit this site, you will get all the info you are looking for, on virtually every sat nav system :
http://www.expansys.com/forumoverview.asp
If you visit this site, you will get all the info you are looking for, on virtually every sat nav system :
http://www.expansys.com/forumoverview.asp
Hello Geoff
why waste your money on a satnav when you can go on AA OR Google to get a route map and your good lady can navigate for you its a hell of alot cheaper and you can spend your well earned cash elsewhere where its really needed.Ian.L
why waste your money on a satnav when you can go on AA OR Google to get a route map and your good lady can navigate for you its a hell of alot cheaper and you can spend your well earned cash elsewhere where its really needed.Ian.L
also an aa map won't send you down narrow streets when you have a caravan behind you, or under low tunnels.
Damian
Moderator
A Sat Nav, or Map, will never send anyone anywhere, it is the Driver that does that, all on his /her own.
As with ALL nav aids, reading the road and signage is all important, they are NOT a substitute for common semse and concentrating on your driving.
As with ALL nav aids, reading the road and signage is all important, they are NOT a substitute for common semse and concentrating on your driving.
Geoff
Two weeks ago I got a Tom Tom One.
We used it a lot saint we got it. You can ask it to take you to the nearest shop centre which is good when you're away and you can pick if you can go the fast or the shorts root to get to place and if you tern at the wrong time it will do a new root and get you back on the right root.
Mark
Two weeks ago I got a Tom Tom One.
We used it a lot saint we got it. You can ask it to take you to the nearest shop centre which is good when you're away and you can pick if you can go the fast or the shorts root to get to place and if you tern at the wrong time it will do a new root and get you back on the right root.
Mark
If you want a good Sat Nav then Tom Tom are the best as they kepp up with unlike the other ones who tell you to turn when you are 30 yards past your turn
hi, we have the tom tom 700 its fantastic. it tells you the correct way to go to the sites the longest the shortest the fastest, no getting lost, you can avoid certain roads that you dont want to go down.if theres a traffic jam and you want to go another way it will tell you. it tells you how long the journey will take and how many miles it is and how long you have to go and how far you have left.
it tells you what supermarkets and where the supermarkets are which is great if your away and dont know where the shops are.
it tells you where the nearest petrol station is.
it tells you were you can buy food restaurants etc etc i could go on and on.
it might be dearer than a map but it does alot more.
i would recommend tom tom
jo-anne
it tells you what supermarkets and where the supermarkets are which is great if your away and dont know where the shops are.
it tells you where the nearest petrol station is.
it tells you were you can buy food restaurants etc etc i could go on and on.
it might be dearer than a map but it does alot more.
i would recommend tom tom
jo-anne
I have been using (Sat Nav( or rather GPS) since 1995, so have a few thoughts. Firstly, get one; you'll never regret having it. Secondly I ahve used and tried many brands and always return to Garmin. I fid the quality of their kit is superb and they bring out regular updates. Personally I have the Street Pilot 2720 which, although is expensive, pays for its;ef time and time again ensuring that we take teh right route, when towing (thinks it's a lorry) or when solo (uses smaller roads when / if necessary).
I still plan the route using a map however, because it's always good to have a good idea of where you're going !
John
I still plan the route using a map however, because it's always good to have a good idea of where you're going !
John
I have a garmin street pilot 3i and find it very useful. It is smaller than a tom tom and so much easier to hide on the windscreen. Afterall you should not be looking at it but listening to the comands.
You do get the odd time where road priorities have changed but generally it is accurate enough.
On failing of all sat nav systems is that they are computers and will do as they are told. If there is no A or B class road that is the shortest/quickest route, it will opt for country lanes and because they are not speed restricted will still assume 60mph can be achieved.
So therefore don't forget to apply some human common sense. Don't try to do 60mph on country lanes and also set via points to guide the sat nav to the main roads if needed.
otherwise a great asset to any motorist, even ones like me who can get around the uk without a map due to my previous driving experiences.
Steve L
You do get the odd time where road priorities have changed but generally it is accurate enough.
On failing of all sat nav systems is that they are computers and will do as they are told. If there is no A or B class road that is the shortest/quickest route, it will opt for country lanes and because they are not speed restricted will still assume 60mph can be achieved.
So therefore don't forget to apply some human common sense. Don't try to do 60mph on country lanes and also set via points to guide the sat nav to the main roads if needed.
otherwise a great asset to any motorist, even ones like me who can get around the uk without a map due to my previous driving experiences.
Steve L
We have a in car sat nav and now both have Nuvi Garmin 360 rather han previous Tom Tom. Takes us anywhere in Europe and we find turn prompt and update better then TT. Less gimicks, but fits in my back pocket and wifes handbag as about he size of *** packet.
Hi,
Is SatNav a good thing to have? Yes.
Is TomTom better than Garmin or vice versa? That's very much up to you - map data, turn point and positional precision are identical - the real difference is in the user interface and which you find easier to use. You need to try them out before you buy.
Both are good quality makes with lots of faithful followers - I have a TomTom 700 with full maps of Europe on a micro hard drive and my wife Brenda, and her 70+ year old parents, have the Garmin i3 models with UK mapping.
Neither TomTom nor Garmin have let any of us down, and the bargain prices currently on offer for the Garmin i3 make it very attractive - but only if you are happy with UK only mapping.
If you do need France or Benelux, please consider spending a bit more on an upgradeable Garmin or any of the TomTom models.
Actually you can buy additional European maps for the i3, but the i3 transflash memory card is not meant for repeated removal and re-insertion, and you would be better served by the SD memory cards in the more expensive Garmin and TomTom units.
And it's a good idea to have a paper map in the boot - as both a back-up and if you want an overview of a route from say Oxford to Porthmadog, you may want some idea of places and towns to avoid or include on your SatNav route.
Robert
Is SatNav a good thing to have? Yes.
Is TomTom better than Garmin or vice versa? That's very much up to you - map data, turn point and positional precision are identical - the real difference is in the user interface and which you find easier to use. You need to try them out before you buy.
Both are good quality makes with lots of faithful followers - I have a TomTom 700 with full maps of Europe on a micro hard drive and my wife Brenda, and her 70+ year old parents, have the Garmin i3 models with UK mapping.
Neither TomTom nor Garmin have let any of us down, and the bargain prices currently on offer for the Garmin i3 make it very attractive - but only if you are happy with UK only mapping.
If you do need France or Benelux, please consider spending a bit more on an upgradeable Garmin or any of the TomTom models.
Actually you can buy additional European maps for the i3, but the i3 transflash memory card is not meant for repeated removal and re-insertion, and you would be better served by the SD memory cards in the more expensive Garmin and TomTom units.
And it's a good idea to have a paper map in the boot - as both a back-up and if you want an overview of a route from say Oxford to Porthmadog, you may want some idea of places and towns to avoid or include on your SatNav route.
Robert
My son inlaw has latest Tom Tom ???. Accuracy is much the same but TT and Garmin use different mapping and turn prompting is better even on my daughters
My garmin i3 came with euro mapping as standard.
It is also updateable over the internet too. As 90% of my driving is UK based it does a grand job.
Being pocket sized it also allows easy transportation for days out in other cars.
I personally don't believe you need the toys to play with, after all it is supposed to be a "driving aid" and not a mobile play station.
I'm sure it will come under the same umbrella as mobile phones so don't try setting it on the move, as I've seen some folk doing.
Steve L.
It is also updateable over the internet too. As 90% of my driving is UK based it does a grand job.
Being pocket sized it also allows easy transportation for days out in other cars.
I personally don't believe you need the toys to play with, after all it is supposed to be a "driving aid" and not a mobile play station.
I'm sure it will come under the same umbrella as mobile phones so don't try setting it on the move, as I've seen some folk doing.
Steve L.
Are you sure Steve ?
My son inlaw has just said they only cover UK and partial Ireland(only just fully mapped and not available from Garmin yet) and Calais area unless you got a supply of micro SD cards with other European countries.
Standard installed I3 maps will only roughly show you on main roads and will not take you to European addresses.
He has tried my daughters in France alongside his TT and away from Calais it only showed Autoroute and some main junctions and at time due to the basic no detail mapping it showed him to be along side the road he was on.
My son inlaw has just said they only cover UK and partial Ireland(only just fully mapped and not available from Garmin yet) and Calais area unless you got a supply of micro SD cards with other European countries.
Standard installed I3 maps will only roughly show you on main roads and will not take you to European addresses.
He has tried my daughters in France alongside his TT and away from Calais it only showed Autoroute and some main junctions and at time due to the basic no detail mapping it showed him to be along side the road he was on.
I have a Garmin Streetpilot 2610 which is excellent. I've had it for a couple of years. I have the full European mapping but reduced memory. You use your PC to put maps on or take maps off as required. I've just upgraded my mapping and was surprised it cost less than
Also be aware that these Satnav things are now (officially) the most stolen item from vehicles.
Apparently the toerags look for sticky sucker marks on the screen where the device has been mounted. Even if you take your Satnav with you, they will probably break in to search for it.
Wipe the sticky marks off obviously.
Me.........I'm sticking to maps. i don't travel that far anyway, and I couldn't even begin to justify spending over
Apparently the toerags look for sticky sucker marks on the screen where the device has been mounted. Even if you take your Satnav with you, they will probably break in to search for it.
Wipe the sticky marks off obviously.
Me.........I'm sticking to maps. i don't travel that far anyway, and I couldn't even begin to justify spending over
Keith.
I think you are very wrong.
Satnav will grow and grow with improvements I believe.
Yesterday whilst out my wife wanted to go to a B&Q store, satnav told us where the nearest was and took us directly there without getting lost and wasting fuel and we would have had no clue if a store was near by or how to find it with out the little gizmo.
We missed getting fuel on the way back to the UK on the new Autoroute from LeMans to Rouen but were able to go directly to the nearest off motorway service station. I'm told satnav could end up as standard feature in mobile phones or even wrist watches.
It even warns us of the multitude of speed cameras and reminds us if we drift over the speed limit.
I think apart from full mapping of Europe I have over a 100000 points such as cash points and fuel stops to restaurants and hotels,Tesco,Auchan,E leClerc and Sainsbury.
My wife has hers linked to her mobile phone by blue tooth, you can find a hotel and it will dial the number via your mobile as well.
My daughters cheap garmin I3 has over 20000 uk points to hand as well.
And ours reads books to us and plays music to and can translate
I think you are very wrong.
Satnav will grow and grow with improvements I believe.
Yesterday whilst out my wife wanted to go to a B&Q store, satnav told us where the nearest was and took us directly there without getting lost and wasting fuel and we would have had no clue if a store was near by or how to find it with out the little gizmo.
We missed getting fuel on the way back to the UK on the new Autoroute from LeMans to Rouen but were able to go directly to the nearest off motorway service station. I'm told satnav could end up as standard feature in mobile phones or even wrist watches.
It even warns us of the multitude of speed cameras and reminds us if we drift over the speed limit.
I think apart from full mapping of Europe I have over a 100000 points such as cash points and fuel stops to restaurants and hotels,Tesco,Auchan,E leClerc and Sainsbury.
My wife has hers linked to her mobile phone by blue tooth, you can find a hotel and it will dial the number via your mobile as well.
My daughters cheap garmin I3 has over 20000 uk points to hand as well.
And ours reads books to us and plays music to and can translate
I have an older version Garmin & now a PDA based unit using Navigon software. A few guys at work have PDA's & Tom Tom software. They all have their plus & minus points but they all seem to work well & I doubt that you would have any major problems with any of them. I agree with the previous correspondents point about the advantage with Garmin systems in that you can create the route to take on your PC & then transfer it to your GPS.
It is better to do some planning rather than just taking the route indicated by the GPS as this can help to avoid roads that are unsuitable for a caravan. However, if this does occur, all you need to do is stay on the main roads & the GPS will find an alternative route.
One thing I would not do is take advice from someone who has never used, let alone owned, a GPS. I makes about as much sense as going to Jeremy Clarkson for advice on whether or not to buy a caravan.
It is better to do some planning rather than just taking the route indicated by the GPS as this can help to avoid roads that are unsuitable for a caravan. However, if this does occur, all you need to do is stay on the main roads & the GPS will find an alternative route.
One thing I would not do is take advice from someone who has never used, let alone owned, a GPS. I makes about as much sense as going to Jeremy Clarkson for advice on whether or not to buy a caravan.
Now hang on a cotton picking minute guys!!
I didn't at any time say "Don't buy a satnav".
I just said........They are not for me!
Please respect that not everybody wants or needs one.
If YOU think they're great..........Great!
Thank you. Matter closed.
I didn't at any time say "Don't buy a satnav".
I just said........They are not for me!
Please respect that not everybody wants or needs one.
If YOU think they're great..........Great!
Thank you. Matter closed.
Just as a quick addition.
I use Streetmap.co uk, which will find any street in Britain.
I don't travel abroad any more, as the cost of fuel and ferry etc is now too excessive to take a caravan. We fly now, and stay in a hotel which when costed out is less than the cost of towing, site fees etc, unless you are going for a few months.
For Broad Street Oxford Rob, Yes, I CAN find it on streetmap.
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=451396&y=206424&z=1&sv=broad street&st=6&tl=Broad Street, Oxford, OX1&searchp=newsearch.srf&mapp=newmap.srf
I use Streetmap.co uk, which will find any street in Britain.
I don't travel abroad any more, as the cost of fuel and ferry etc is now too excessive to take a caravan. We fly now, and stay in a hotel which when costed out is less than the cost of towing, site fees etc, unless you are going for a few months.
For Broad Street Oxford Rob, Yes, I CAN find it on streetmap.
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=451396&y=206424&z=1&sv=broad street&st=6&tl=Broad Street, Oxford, OX1&searchp=newsearch.srf&mapp=newmap.srf
Geoff
I have a TTG 500 and wouldn't be without it. It's the most useful piece of equipment I've ever had as I don't do maps. Obviously bear in mind that sometimes sat navs might try to take you down unsuitable terrain but use your common sense and you shouldn't have a problem.
I just get in my car, programme it and have a quick look at the demo and if I don't want to go a particular route, I can change it as appropriate. No more stress and constantly having to stop and ask people for directions.
I think the Garmin Streetpilot i3 has been covered on here in the past and the general consensus was that it was fine for the price.
Just lookout for the speed of the processor as some are quite slow.
Lisa
I have a TTG 500 and wouldn't be without it. It's the most useful piece of equipment I've ever had as I don't do maps. Obviously bear in mind that sometimes sat navs might try to take you down unsuitable terrain but use your common sense and you shouldn't have a problem.
I just get in my car, programme it and have a quick look at the demo and if I don't want to go a particular route, I can change it as appropriate. No more stress and constantly having to stop and ask people for directions.
I think the Garmin Streetpilot i3 has been covered on here in the past and the general consensus was that it was fine for the price.
Just lookout for the speed of the processor as some are quite slow.
Lisa
No war Keith, and we did with maps for years.
Wife and daughter had to pick up an elderly relative by car in London today. They took route maps just in case!
Sat nav took them to the hotel door around all the one way streets, and then on a London route my daughter has known for years the road was closed, sa nave had it workedout in 20 seconds and routed around one ways with no probs. try it with an A to Z driving in city traffic.
My brother inlaw worked with a driver/foreman for 20 years who could not read or write and no one including him ever knew at the works. The man got others to read the map or stopped and asked the way all the time.
So I guess we don't really need maps.
Wife and daughter had to pick up an elderly relative by car in London today. They took route maps just in case!
Sat nav took them to the hotel door around all the one way streets, and then on a London route my daughter has known for years the road was closed, sa nave had it workedout in 20 seconds and routed around one ways with no probs. try it with an A to Z driving in city traffic.
My brother inlaw worked with a driver/foreman for 20 years who could not read or write and no one including him ever knew at the works. The man got others to read the map or stopped and asked the way all the time.
So I guess we don't really need maps.
Satnav? What's that? The crusaders got all the way from here to Jerusalem and Marco Polo overland to China, all without satnav, so what's the need for all this new-fangled stuff?
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