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Best Sat Navs on a budget
anditsinthere
07-12-2007
I am looking for a decent Sat Nav...i am stuck between a couple at the minute the Tom Tom Go 520 and the Tom Tom One XL GB any ideas on these? Got around £200 to spend.

The Informant
07-12-2007
Best sat nav is TomTom. The end, don't let anyone tell you any different.

As for which one, it depends what you need.

TomTom One V3 is the cheapest, at around £119, but doesn't have a SD card slot - meaning if you buy the UK version, you won't be able to upgrade to the euro maps at a later date.

TomTom One XL (I assume you mean GB), is around £149 from PC World, and has the largest screen in the range - even beating the x20 range. HOWEVER be aware, that it may well be too big for your tastes - particularly at night.

TomTom Go 520 is an absolute bargain at around £210 from Halfords Online with instore pickup. I have a vested interest in it - since I have one. Although only has GB maps, it has all the features of the 720 barring the lack of euro maps.

If you can stretch to £200-£210, I would say go for the 520, as the new features not available in the other models are quite cool. Plus it has a better spec, more ram etc.

Regardless of model, make sure you have a look at a program called Tripmaster which will record your movements, and allow you to plot it into google earth. pointless, but cool.
anditsinthere
07-12-2007
Do you get a bigger SD card in the 520? For the music and map downloads? I must admit i am looking at the 520, i have found it for around £190 on the net, TBH i dont need euro maps just GB.
The Informant
07-12-2007
you dont get any sd card with it. it has i believe 256 onboard mem, and a card slot for music etc if you require it. can also put euro maps on a card too.
anditsinthere
07-12-2007
Is it worth getting a 1GB Card just to be safe? Looks like Amazon have got the best deal on the 520. How is the suction pad? Heard a few stories that the Sat Nav can fall off!!
The Informant
08-12-2007
They aren't great. In my focus, its fine, but my dad struggles sometimes )And randomly) in his discovery. I put it down to the slope of the roof - the focus windscreen is gradual, so the sucker mount is pulled softly nearly directly downwards, but the Discovery windscreen is a lot closer to vertical, so the pressure is on one side of the mount.

I'm not sure what you mean about the sd card? they are only a fiver so you may as well buy one I guess, but they are completely not required to run as a sat nav. your choice I guess!

btw, mp3 files must be in a /mp3/ folder on the external card.
anditsinthere
08-12-2007
So is the TomTom GO 520 the best on the market? It scored very highly in the recent edition of Which? mag. I was looking at the TomTom XL GB too.
The Informant
08-12-2007
The x20 range is the best, yes.

The 920 is the best, and has some weird motion sensors to predict your direction in tunnels (not much in the UK).

The 720 has euro mapping, and 2 gig internal memory, with a card slot

The 520 has UK mapping, and 256mb internal memory, with a card slot.

If you don't need euro maps, go for the 520, as you can always buy a card for the europ maps later.
anditsinthere
08-12-2007
Yes i am only going to use it for GB only, so i am going for the 520, i would like it to answer my texts but my phone (W880i) isnt compatible, but it aint the end of the world...it is the best and for £203 a bargain.
The Informant
08-12-2007
only about 5 phones work with the text thing anyway!

You'll not regret your choice. They are definately nice units.
anditsinthere
09-12-2007
i may get the 520 with traffic updates, i have found it for £238.99 is there anywhere else that would sell it cheaper? or do i wait until the January sales where it could go down to £199?
Pingu
09-12-2007
I can definitely recommend the x20 range - I bought a 720 last week. Amazon are selling it for around £225, which I got PC World to price match.
I like the mount more than the one from my old 500, as it's much more compact and fits in my glovebox. Haven't had any problems with it falling off. (used in a 02 Focus and 57 Astra)
poppasmurf
09-12-2007
I've just bought a Tom Tom One Ver 3 GB. According to the TomTom website it can be upgraded with the Euro Maps for £39.99.

I do find the thing extremely easy to use, and it's already shown me a couple of roads I never knew existed around the M42.
poppasmurf
09-12-2007
Sorry. Please ignore what I said above about being able to load the Europe map to the Tom Tom One GB. It cannot be done, and I'm taking mine back tomorrow for the Euro version.
anditsinthere
09-12-2007
Why dont you get the 720 with everything?? 2GB memory and all Euro maps?
MP01
17-12-2007
Tom Tom 520T available from Halfords at £218.99 - reserve for in store pickup...I think currys are also doing the same deal.

Bought one over the weekend - very good.
anditsinthere
17-12-2007
Yeah the 520T is head and shoulders above the rest in terms on UK maps only....Excellent bit of kit and i find the traffic updates brilliant, highly recommend one of these to anyone and i want to thank the Informant for the advice so thank you.
Rian1988
20-12-2007
Tried looking but can't find. What mobile phones work with the sms to speech thing?
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