[fiatdrivingfan]

Bought a Garmin Streetpilot a few months ago, first satnav. I found the mapping to be accurate, directions are clear. Navigated around London with no probs, very impressed. I would buy a nuvi as a replacement, Garmin was first in satnav technology so you shouldn't be disappointed.

[Stu DemonD]

Nice one - seems to be heavily rated as well, according to this:

http://www.gpsmagazine.com/buyers_guide.php

Most store prices are £200, getting it off the net delivered for £170 - the 200W that is.

[fiatdrivingfan]

The streetpilot comes with UK and Ireland already loaded. The card slot is for POI's or euro maps. There is a camera database that Garmin supply, including safety camera zones, it can be updated from their site, first 12 months free than you pay a fee. The Euro maps come on a DVD and you transfer what you need to an SD card. It's all very easy to do, my only criticism is that you can't recharge the battery in the satnav from a AC source (mains electricity) without buying an adaptor, but thats really a minor thing.

[OXCiD3]

All Sat Nav news is here.

[richardwp]

Nobody seems to have mentioned the 'Which' Best Buy which a knowledgeable mate of mine owns (no, it's not Jason Plato, but he does know about these things) and rates as the very best - The Syrius Snooper S600 plus - http://shop.instant-shop.com/Snooper...uct530186.html
More than just sat nav and could save you points.

[OXCiD3]

Originally Posted by richardwp Nobody seems to have mentioned the 'Which' Best Buy which a knowledgeable mate of mine owns (no, it's not Jason Plato, but he does know about these things) and rates as the very best - The Syrius Snooper S600 plus - http://shop.instant-shop.com/Snooper...uct530186.html More than just sat nav and could save you points.

From my experience snoopers sat navs are poo.
and the idea that they are better speed camera detectors unfortunatly is false, these use the same technology as practically every other sat nav, it doesn't phisically detect cameras, it simply uses a database to tellyou where they are.
this technology is availible on all tomtoms/garmins/navmans and on all three of them the actual satilite navigation is much better quality.
You simply pay for the name "Snooper"
249.00 for that price you could buy a tomtom one europe and about 3 years speed camera subscriptions.

[richardwp]

Thanks for the advice. Always willing to be persuaded something else is better VFM. Trouble is, as an old fart who knows diddly squat about this stuff, I tend to rely on my 'technical' mate' as I'm totally lost among the huge selection of choice. All I want is a decent sat nav, with camera detection/warning and, if possible, 'bluetooth' hands free. Any recommendations then? Incidentally, I see Lidls are advertising The Becker Traffic Assist Pro 7916 from Thursday this week at £160. Never heard of it and the ad doesn't mention camera detection or hands free. Any views/advice for a noddy? Help!

[Stu DemonD]

If you want a decent SatNav with Bluetooth, then look at one of the Garmin Nuvis. Think the 310D has Bluetooth - personally, I prefer the wider screens, so have a 200W [no Bluetooth - paid £145 + VAT ]

Do you need European maps? Or just UK?

[richardwp]

Originally Posted by Stu DemonD If you want a decent SatNav with Bluetooth, then look at one of the Garmin Nuvis. Think the 310D has Bluetooth - personally, I prefer the wider screens, so have a 200W [no Bluetooth - paid £145 + VAT ] Do you need European maps? Or just UK?

Could manage with just UK but France too would be good (or do you have to have the whole of Europe?)

[OXCiD3]

Originally Posted by richardwp Could manage with just UK but France too would be good (or do you have to have the whole of Europe?)

Tomtom one Europe is currently £149.99 in halfords. bargin if you ask me.

[richardwp]

Nobody got any views on the Becker Traffic Assist Pro 7916? I've looked it up and it seems to have a high spec for £160, but I'm still not clear whether it can download speed camera data. All it says it does is warn you if you're exceeding the limit at any time (adjustable), but I don't see that as especially useful. I drive pretty safely, but sometimes quite fast esp on M'ways and dual carriageways and just wanna know if I'm coming up to a camera. Also Ferrari use a model based on the 7916 (for when I get my Ferrari that is).

[richardwp]

Here's a link to Ferrari's one:
http://www.beckerstore.com/product.p...3c35541f59e99b
And another to the 7916, on which the Ferrari one is based, that Lidls are advertising for £159.99:
http://www.handtec.co.uk/product.php...61e6c2b5ee0774
Wadja fink?

As for the Snooper my mate recommends, one of its claimed advantages it that it updates new camera information for download every 48 hours, compared to every 3 or 4 months for the other systems.

But unless people really rate the Becker at £160, I'm discounting the Snooper on price grounds and am now looking at:
Garmin StreetPilot C510 for £95 on Amazon;
Garmin GPS Nuvi UK and Ireland + France pack at £143 from Pixmania;
Tom Tom One Europe for £149.99 at Halfrauds; and
TomTom One GB GPS (V2, I think, with Bluetooth, NOT V3) for £122.99 at Amazon. This last sounds especially good value?

Decisions, decisions. Help!