john aston Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 Going to Italy- hire car co can't guarantee sat nav on car; dread idea of Naples and Rome without one , so need to buy one (ten years after everybody else ). Needs to be cheap ,cheerful, user friendly and do European stuff as well as UK . POBC - what to buy please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Kay Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 Would you use a 'phone app (meeting all four requirements) or does it have to be a dedicated satnav device? Jonathan Edited by - Jonathan Kay on 23 Jun 2014 10:44:14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 I use Google Maps most of the time direct on my phone. The only issues are battery life, so you will need to take a charger, and data roaming charges. I am lucky enough to have a company mobile! Otherwise Tom Tom seem to be a popular choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TobyCoulson Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 I'd go for a Tomtom as well. Plenty of options and doesn't have to cost a fortune. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Ford Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 I've gone back to a dedicated satnav, and would suggest you do the same rather than trying to use your phone. It's simpler to use, doesn't need a data connection and/or use up valuable storage on your phone, comes with a supplied, effective mount and a power supply that will keep it running all the time - unlike my Galaxy SIII which drains its battery doing satnav stuff even when plugged in. TomTom Start 25. Add a pack of wipes to take it over £100 and get a £10 saving for spending £100 on satnavs and accessories. Then if you buy it with club vouchers it will cost you a tad over 80 quid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delbert Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 Not many hire car companies do not offer Tom Tom or Garmin hire . Its normally an extra I know Europcar / Alamo certainly do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Titanium7 Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 Don't know whether you would consider this a 'cheap and cheerful' but a good discounted price for a high end model. here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team Golf Juliet Tango Posted June 23, 2014 Leadership Team Share Posted June 23, 2014 Quoting Roger Ford: I've gone back to a dedicated satnav, and would suggest you do the same rather than trying to use your phone. It's simpler to use, doesn't need a data connection and/or use up valuable storage on your phone, comes with a supplied, effective mount and a power supply that will keep it running all the time - unlike my Galaxy SIII which drains its battery doing satnav stuff even when plugged in.Absolutely right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frying Pan Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 £100 or so shoudl get you a reasonable satnav with full Euro mapping. Spend more if you want a bigger screen or more features (3D buildings / traffic etc.) Don't do as the driver we saw driving home from France was doing - he was using his iPad as a nav screen stuck to his windscreen. The blind spot it created must have been huge ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy bell Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 Quoting Right Charlie: The only issues are battery life, so you will need to take a charger, and data roaming charges Depends on what type of phone you have as Windows Phone allows you to download the maps to phone via nokia drive and not use any data. Rather useful and in side by side comparison with in car satnav was very good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john aston Posted June 23, 2014 Author Share Posted June 23, 2014 Many thanks all, and for the pm too. By the way , my phone is not smart.(Quite deliberately- I'm with Luca Di Montezemolo on this one) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grim Reaper Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 I have a spare one you can borrow, 2014 maps on it, Garmin Nuvi 200, oldie but goodie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Kay Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 That's one tough call for a technophobe but a small step for... I suggest that one smart 'phone is less technology to learn and manage than a dumb 'phone and another standalone device. I use NavFree on iPhones (3GS and 5) as a satnav for driving in the UK and France. I'd do the same in Italy.. Addressing the possible disadvantages of this above: 1 It does charge even when it's used constantly, but only just. 2 It doesn't need a network connection. 3 Cost of the software, including updates, is nil. 4 Storage is 557 MB for UK and RoI and 762 MB for France. It's easy to remove and reinstall these as needed. Other disadvantages: 1 It doesn't do "Give me windy roads" or support multiple waypoints 2 I don't know if it can download routes from another computer, but I use other apps for cycling and walking. The problem with a strange satnav in a hire car is deciding at what point you're going to learn how to use it. Jonathan PS: Grim Reaper's offer looks good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Ford Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Cost of a new dumb phone - £20 Cost of a new EU satnav - £80 Cost of an iPhone plus a decent mount ... ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Driving in Naples, navigation is the least of your problems. You need eyes on stalks, the ability to turn your head like an owl and strong nerves! Also parts of Naples are pretty rough and intimating. The suburbs we drove through trying to find the Solfatari craters on our last day had tonnes of rotting rubbish because the Mafiosa control the waste collection. It was a relief to make it to the airport! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john aston Posted June 24, 2014 Author Share Posted June 24, 2014 I will be looked after..my nephew is marrying an Italian girl(who looks like a 50s film star) and her family comes from Sicily... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DohNut Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 I am not sure that mucking about with a Sciliians daughter will get you the "looking after" you were hoping for on topic - I am not sure I would suggest Garmin as a car sat-nav. I will keep the one I have til it dies but will try another make with better routing. e.g. have sat-nav on while driving a route you know, it tells you to get off at a random junction, you ignore it, it recalculates and gives you a new quicker arrival time WTF! (but garmin sports gps are wonderful ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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