Does anyone have a satnav that has live traffic updates? Would you recommend yours?

[AintNobodyHereButUsChickens]

Our trusty old TomTom is on its last legs, we really need a new one and we want one that has live traffic updates on it. Should we go for TomTom again or get a Garmin this time? Would you recommend yours?

Both mine an DH's cars have built in satnavs that do this. Yes, it is useful but you have to learn to trust it.

I use google maps on my phone. If you use it live it updates you (but not if you're on offline downloaded maps).

Waze is another one.

Wouldn't bother with an external unit again, what with updates and whatnot all the time.

Another vote for a phone here.

Personally I like HERE Maps, because it displays the speed limit (unlike Google Maps).

I can't describe how utterly pants the cars (Citroen) inbuilt sat nav is.

Google maps is ok and we do use it in an emergency but it eats your battery and data which is far from ideal on an 8hr car journey plus a fortnight of using it to get around and then another 8hr journey home.

TomTom on the iPhone here - it keeps the maps and data locally, so doesn't chew up your data. Wouldn't be without it. £18/year I think.

Any GPS app will eat battery, but a lighter-socket USB charger will sort that out.

But surely you won't be using the phone for 8 hours solid?! Much of a journey like that will be on the motorway, so you could turn it off until you're approaching the junction you know you need to exit.

I use my phone plugged into the USB socket in the car, although I have found that, for some reason, you don't get audio instructions then - but you still see the route on the screen. And one of you can act as navigator anyway.

I'd definitely go with the phone as it's live and regularly updated.

I use Google maps all the time. It does use up your battery, but it's not a problem for data. I have PAYG, so I'd notice if I was using lots of data. Not sure why yours is using up so much data.

Google maps is ok and we do use it in an emergency but it eats your battery and data

Don't you charge your phone in the car as you go ?

There are a lot of reasons why GM is shite as you've found out. But there are plenty of other mapping/direction services available.

I did have a Garmin with Lifetime Maps and Traffic (LMT). But it's more work to update than just "having a phone", plus I got fed up of having to carry it plus my phone when I left the car.

FGS I just want to get a bloody satnav. Why is that so hard to understand?!

FGS I just want to get a bloody satnav. Why is that so hard to understand?!

I don't think it's a question of not understanding, just "trying to help" . Community spirit and all that.

You might struggle for answers though, as dedicated sat navs are going to fade away as more cars have them inbuilt, and people who drive ones that haven't will just use something they already own, rather than spend £xxx on a single-use device.

I can't really give my husband an app for christmas though can I?

@AintNobodyHereButUsChickens

FGS I just want to get a bloody satnav. Why is that so hard to understand?!

FFS - you didn't say that in your OP! If you'd said you were looking for a present you'd have got completely different advice.

Blimey don't think I've ever seen someone throw their toys out the pram for folks trying to help like that before.

Anger management issues ?

We have a couple of different Tom-toms, the first one used to work very well, but nowadays we seem to find both of them have problems connecting to the phone to get the traffic data. We've taken to checking on google maps at the start of a journey and a few points between if it's a long one.

Ahahaha Laurie

Seriously though OP do people get satnavs anymore? Google does such a good job with traffic updates. I drive so much for work and use solely my phone and Google maps. From a data sharing perspective it's not the best but I don't think my work journeys are that interesting...

Why not buy him a cable to charge his phone in the car

FGS I just want to get a bloody satnav. Why is that so hard to understand?!

Go in Halfords and tell them this.

I have the same problem with my phone - no audio instructions as soon as it's plugged into the charger. Very irritating! And if I don't, it eats all my battery. Not sure about data.

So I too prefer an actual sat nav., as it's larger screen and I find easier to read. I have a Garmin, but I don't have the traffic on, so can't comment on that bit - but I do like the large screen and find it quite clear.

I would like traffic, and I'd also like to be able to download my route before I go, as it tends to always take me on small roads that it decides might be shorter, when really they're just an utter pain because they're single track or something.

I have the same problem with my phone - no audio instructions as soon as it's plugged into the charger.

I noticed a small on-screen audio icon on my last long drive (iPhone with volume button at max, google maps, plugged in to charger).

Over on the top right (in red circle area on pic) where there are a couple of icons while you navigate, was a toggle option which had options like "silent", "alerts only" and "on". That seemed to be the control, overriding the actual phone volume?

Hi OP.
We splashed out on TomTom Go 5200 a year or two back.

Lifetime Worldwide maps, live traffic updates and speed camera updates.

It connects to your home WiFi itself so no need to update via a laptop or pc anymore.

Haven’t used Garmin so can’t compare.

Is the audio issue to do with the settings you've selected on your phone? Lots of people have their phone at to 'no alerts' when it's charging.

@Bimbleberries - same problem here with no audio instructions once it's plugged into my car usb - found the solution to be changing to the other music channel on my car stereo & the sat nav audio then comes out of there

Chickens I have just replaced a 10 year old TomTom. I borrowed a newer model Garmin and TomTom from friends and drove with them both on side by side to compare. In terms of routes etc there is very little in it. The Garmin had a bit of lag eg around roundabouts so it wasn't always obvious which exit it was aiming for, the Tom Tom was significantly faster when changing screens and showing directions. I also preferred the TomTom menus and ease of use compared to the Garmin. However the TomTom was frustrating as it has changed from the older menus and has dropped some of the functions. It will take a bit of getting used to if you are familiar with a legacy model.

I went for the Tom Tom in the end and link it to my phone for live traffic if and when I need it rather than one of the more expensive all singing and dancing units. If money was no object I've have gone all on for a higher spec model.

Ultimately there is very little in it and the prices are more or less the same for similar spec units. The TomTom just pipped it for me (and their European maps are better if you drive abroad.)

Have Google Maps started showing speed limits yet ?

Last time I looked (2 years ago) they didn't and trawling the GM forums showed it was a feature that had been requested back in 2011 or so.

I CBA to install it to find out

thanks for suggestions on the settings - sadly none of those have helped. It seems to be something to do with the connection to the car, and I have read online about lots of people having problems, and no one solution that seems to fix it. I will try changing the music channel though, and see if that does anything, as one of the possible settings was meant to allow the sound to come out of the car speakers.

And yes, speed limits and speed camera beeping is another good feature of the actual sat nav, rather than the phone. It shows clearly what my speed is, too.