To be honest though, I've used the fiat blue&me tomtom 2 over a period of days and I would not buy one. I found it moved and wobbled whilst underway.
It adds trip computer functions in one screen, but nothing you can't see by scrolling through the dash display.
The Eco screen is a waste of time, it's like a vacuum gauge of old. The more you put your foot down, the more it goes from green to red.
The music player could be handy, but for me I use my iPhone and control tracks from there.
The main problem for me would be the constant installing and removal of the thing for daily use. Some scrote is going to smash your window if you don't take it away. You may as well just buy a cheap navi and use it on the rare days you need to because I don't know about others but on 99.8765 of my journeys I know where I'm going.
I would agree that the Blue&Me Tom tom is expensive, it's a bit clunky and has to 'man-handled' to get it off the dash. On the wobby bit - I've tightened mine up and don't really notice any shimmering but I would admit that it is there.
There are some new 'thin' Garmins that can be used with a dongle from the diagostics connection to give information abput what's going on with your engine and you can turn your sat nav into a series of gauges if you know if you don't need to know where you're going. Covered it later on.
I haven't got the B&Me functionality working on the MiTo because 'the jury is still out' if a replacement B&Me ECU will do the job but there's still a remote possibility that it
might still work.
The media center feature is possibly a key selling advantage of the unit. On the MiTo there's no ECO USB download feature (not that it's up to much anyway) so the Tom Tom can improvise on this. The vacuum gauge thing I've seen wouldn't 'float my boat'.
The B&Me Tom Tom is based on the GO LIVE 1000 model. This should be the exact same carcass and can be got much cheaper that the B&Me Tom Tom unit (seen it for £100). Cradle can be bought independently for around £45. There was a woman on here before who bought the cheaper set and broke a 'tooth' on the unit. I incorrectly assumed at the time that it wouldn't fit but I reckon it works. The genuine B&Me Tom Tom unit can be got for £250 now on ebay which is still a bit expensive if P&P has to be added on top. But IMHO if you can get it for £250 'all in' it is still worth the money. If you opted for the GO LIVE model it supposedly has the full Tom Tom feature set e.g. POIs which was cut down on the B&Me Tom Tom so you not really getting 'less'.
I've been using the B&Me Tom Tom since late Jan and so has the OH. Recently changed to an Italian voice - no idea what he was saying but I liked the sound of 'Arrivee'.
Haven't got a word of Italian but I might learn a few basic words.
The UK default female voice is very nice. Traffic updates are supposedly the BEST and gives it the substantial edge over the Garmin. Tom Tom has a 'department' somewhere in Europe which are dedicated to real time traffic updates. The more Tom Tom units installed and working the more accurate the information.
I have arrived on time for some appointments despite 'hold ups' using some of the re-directions that it suggested. I've had to fine tune the speed alerts because it was beeping all the time turning off 1 or 2 of the 'alert' settings. Graphics particularly on laneway guidance is brilliant and this wasn't on the old Garmin. The touch screen is
very responsive and on par with an iphone.
Recently started to use Map Share so that the speed limits are right and also correcting 'dead ends' where the roads have gone 'one way'. Still working on the routes where it has not 'coped on' that there's no legal right turn.
With 2 mobiles I have the 'standard' mobile hooked up to the B&Me in the car and the other mobile linked with the B&Me Tom Tom unit. Sound from the Sat Nav for the phone would be very average and not in the same league as the built-in handsfree.
My car is parked in a Garage so generally I only take the Tom Tom Live 2 out of its bracket but if I'm parked on the street I put the unit into a little pouch. If I'm in a dodgy area the bracket is removed sticking it into the glovebox (I have one
). I also have an alarm installed so it should make it that bit more secure.
I'm now debating if I should get for a Tom Tom GO LIVE 1000 since only one of our Mitos will ever have the Blue & Me functionality or to go for a Garmin with the geeky gadgets.
I was looking for a 'virtual' boost gauge which unfortunately is not available with the Garmin setup & would have to go with something else. Some great promises on the bluetooth ECO route dongle with check lights and the ability to reset them. Don't know if the claims are justified but for £79 it
might be worth the cost.
Real world example after the PR clip above
Don't believe all that it can say it can do but the iphone equivalents seem to be currently more expensive...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Garmin-ECO-Route-HD-Nuvi-3790T-3760T-2460LT-2360LT-/260844943666
