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Thread ID: 135573	2013-11-20 01:13:00	Which is best car gps system for NZ	Misty (368)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1360256	2013-11-20 03:58:00	I agree! I have a smartphone with Maps but the screen is to small to get an overview. I find a road map is quick efficient and cheap. I can get a good overview of where I am, where I am going and how to get there. Ken :+1: :thumbs: At least with good ol maps, you don't have to worry about the battery going flat, poor signal or no signals all the modern stuff that it relies on.	wainuitech (129)
1360257	2013-11-20 04:42:00	:+1: :thumbs: At least with good ol maps, you don't have to worry about the battery going flat, poor signal or no signals all the modern stuff that it relies on. That is true although it does help to have someone reading the map who know's which way North is in relation to which way they are reading the map ;)	Webdevguy (17166)
1360258	2013-11-20 05:54:00	If you are looking for a GPS. I would suggest have a look at your maybe current Smartphone and just try out Google Maps. Even a old phone will do with a 4" screen, some of them now new are not that expensive either. With a cellphone if you use them for overseas holiday, you can also get nearly free price apps but it doesn't speak to you, you can follow the screen's map - which should be ok for many tourists. IMO Smartphones are good enough and it saves you carrying an extra item and maybe need to put in the glovebox each time you leave (or take it with you). You can use 3G/4G and google the address should it not be in the satnav comptuer database or simply if you are looking for a place to eat or sleep etc. Smartphones tend to have less info panels like ETA, DTG, speedometer etc. Even my 2008 Navman have 4 or 5 of them. My 2013 Android only have 2 panels including a few 3rd party apps that I have tried. Oh yeah - also when you travel, you can simply just use mobile data again maybe a local simcard to avoid roaming charges or pick up a $5-15 app. But technically a real car GPS is better designed, buttons larger etc .. more info panels, the words may be sized better so you can read it easier. But to me a Smartphone is good enough and provides affordability and versatility esp for both local and overseas usage. For the car GPS I quite like Navman b/c of the colors of the map - looks like those maps you see in the travel brochures. TomTom tend to have more maps thou, needs to be paid however, you might find ways to rent them though.	Nomad (952)
1360259	2013-11-20 06:42:00	I can't understand what's wrong with a good old fashioned map. Most people I know, who drive a car, belong to the AA and you can obtain as many maps as you want for no charge. I have found that all of the AA maps are quite accurate - at least I've never had any problems. So why not use a map? Or is that too last century? Updating a map is a bit on the dull side of tedious. Besides, your horse may try to eat it. ;)	R2x1 (4628)
1360260	2013-11-20 06:44:00	If you had tried a Tomtom you might find the phone is no longer "good enough", ;) If you are looking for a GPS. I would suggest have a look at your maybe current Smartphone and just try out Google Maps. Even a old phone will do with a 4" screen, some of them now new are not that expensive either. With a cellphone if you use them for overseas holiday, you can also get nearly free price apps but it doesn't speak to you, you can follow the screen's map - which should be ok for many tourists. IMO Smartphones are good enough and it saves you carrying an extra item and maybe need to put in the glovebox each time you leave (or take it with you). You can use 3G/4G and google the address should it not be in the satnav comptuer database or simply if you are looking for a place to eat or sleep etc. Smartphones tend to have less info panels like ETA, DTG, speedometer etc. Even my 2008 Navman have 4 or 5 of them. My 2013 Android only have 2 panels including a few 3rd party apps that I have tried. Oh yeah - also when you travel, you can simply just use mobile data again maybe a local simcard to avoid roaming charges or pick up a $5-15 app. But technically a real car GPS is better designed, buttons larger etc .. more info panels, the words may be sized better so you can read it easier. But to me a Smartphone is good enough and provides affordability and versatility esp for both local and overseas usage. For the car GPS I quite like Navman b/c of the colors of the map - looks like those maps you see in the travel brochures. TomTom tend to have more maps thou, needs to be paid however, you might find ways to rent them though.	R2x1 (4628)
1360261	2013-11-20 08:24:00	TomTom. You might want to ensure it has bluetooth to allow hands free on your mobile. Battery? Plugs into the car doesn't it, if your cars not got a battery you won't need the GPS :-) Signal, well maybe in a city when a skyscraper gets between you and the many satellites. If it's a stick on the window type then work some petroleum jelly into the rubber face (then wipe clean) to make it stick better. Screen? While big is good you shouldn't be looking at it that often or you will end up off the road, the audio instructions are what makes them great. They do help with warning of speed limits too, maps don't do that. Doubt that anyone who has a real in car GPS would say they were sorry they bought one, or am I asking for trouble?	Ofthesea (14129)
1360262	2013-11-20 09:38:00	TomTom . Just curious, but have you tried any other brand of car GPS? We have a Navman which I purchased due to being able to hire overseas maps much more cheaply than having to purchase them . Not having used another brand I wouldn't know how it compared to TomTom, etc but my brother, who has tried several brands, recommended the Navman as being his preference . Our Navman did the job in Europe but I sometimes wonder what planet "Lucy" is on sometimes when she directs me down streets a bit out of my usual route of travel here in Christchurch . Whilst it is very useful in indicating where a property is down a busy road or street I mainly use it for kicks and giggles around here . With my warped sense of humour I find some of her place pronunciation and being instructed to "Perform a U-turn as soon as possible" when disobeying her instructions entertaining . It has been corrected now but it WAS rather amusing when she used to say "Queue E eye eye drive" for "QEII Drive" . :p On trips it is handy having the destination distance shown and speed reminders when coming into small towns, and the "safety" camera alerts . I quite like seeing the names of the towns we are passing through without having to bury my nose in a map book and you can also see what twists and turns are coming up in the road ahead . As with around town, we have sometimes been directed down roads that we disagree with but Google Maps has done that plenty of times too when I have used it to plan a route . If you have a smart phone, which I don't, then the GPS apps available seem to have good reviews, or just use Google Maps as previously mentioned . Battery life would be an issue however, unless you had a car charger that you could plug it into . At the end of the day, however, whatever you get don't throw away your map book . ;)	FoxyMX (5)
1360263	2013-11-20 17:51:00	having followed a few people blindly following their GPS it scares the hell out of me they are allowed on the road, people straddling the line on multi lane roads waiting to find out which to take etc. Prior knowledge i.e doing some homework before leaving home is a must if going somewhere new	gary67 (56)
1360264	2013-11-20 17:56:00	Car gps too short??? What is telling you that? I entered that into google: www.google.co.nz Gave me loads. Husband has a Navman, he likes it, I hate it. It has 2 modes more or less - fastest route - best route. Neither are smart. The maps cost to update so he gets comments from it now like do a U-turn on the Sthwestern Motorway - because it doesn't know about it. The one thing I think is useful is, ignore it's suggestion from your starting point, cause it will take you some stupid way, but once you are near....then it can be handy to take you to the actual street you are not familiar with. Case in point, we went to collect a trademe item one time. I looked up address (on a map) and suggested the most direct, traffic free way. Husband followed Navman which was a major pain and the worst possible solution. So we did it my way on the way back....much better. It has it's uses, and a lot of limitations. Another thing I have noticed - he is getting to be reliant on it...he always has to look it up on that thing, whereas I am getting to know my way around more ithout maps at all,, probably cause I am driving around without a machine and therefore paying attention to the roads, streets and changes.	pctek (84)
1360265	2013-11-20 19:10:00	GPS maps on an Android or iPhone also have the advantage of showing you the map and highlighting the most optimal route plus 2 other alternatives so that you can choose which one you want based on preference or local knowledge - or - you can do your own thing and just use the map as a guide :)	Webdevguy (17166)
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