Used a tomtom one on the weekend for getting around the suburbs of auckland (im from napier). I know my way around the country so never needed a gps before.
Im moving to Perth in two weeks to live and I know im going to need a GPS. I hear people saying tomtom is easy to use. Well with the scenario im in im looking at buying a 5inch garmin nuvi 50 for $199. Garmin comes with both OZ and NZ maps which appeals to me.
Is garmin actually that much more difficult to use! Whats the main pros and cons of each brand! I just want a GPS unit that will do the job well and get me places without any hiccups.
Cheers
tmenz,
Jan 24, 10:50am
Buy the Garmin - I took a Garmin Nuvi over to Perth in 2006 & 2009 - onethat had NZ and Aus maps in it. It was excellent and well worth what we paid for it. Easy to use - no problems!
ralphdog1,
Jan 24, 11:00am
Garmin also have another advantage in that it is easy to write maps for them, as a consequence there is a project that runs here in NZ (www.nzopengps.org) that provides free and very up to date maps. Therefore there is no ongoing need to have to fork out for map updates. I do not know if there is anything similar in Aussie but it would pay to consider that. Have not used a TomTom so am unable to comment as to the comparative ease of use, however you look as though you can string a sentence together (unlike some) so would expect no problems learning to drive a Garmin. They are all reasonably intuitive.
carstauranga001,
Jan 24, 11:30am
I like my Garmin, but it did tell me to turn down a railway line once. LOL.
intrade,
Jan 24, 11:52am
so did my tomtom in whangarei once .
yogibearz,
Jan 24, 1:10pm
Garmin for me.
-90-,
Jan 24, 1:16pm
Having used both, TOmTOm FTW.
3tomany,
Jan 24, 3:47pm
+1 for garmen
socram,
Jan 24, 4:00pm
Comparing my cheap Garmin in NZ and my brother's 22 European countries Tom-Tom in the UK, prefer the Tom-Tom, but that might be because it isa better model.
A lot of that is also because the UK postal codes are limited to about six properties, so all you ever really need to type in is the post code.
tmenz,
Jan 24, 8:26pm
My Garmin does that - it has the UK map in it!
socram,
Jan 24, 9:02pm
Good to know!
zak1998,
Jan 24, 10:18pm
garmin you get free map updates
divermark,
Jan 26, 8:58pm
Garmin, when you call them for advise you speak with a kiwi from the local distributor. unlike Navman.
shagged,
Jan 27, 7:45am
I have owned all three brands. I currently have a garmin (can't remember the model but it is the really thin one) and I love it, it also came with lifetime map updates when I bought it.
Tomtom would be my second pick. Tomtom used to be my fave until I got a garmin. Would never by a navman again, I hated it.
Get a garmin
db.price,
Jan 27, 8:30am
If I was buying anew one I would have to look at Garmin but only because of the lifetime map updates that they have.
Tom Tom is next choice as they are just so easy to use
rockie6,
Sep 9, 2:53pm
How do you download the maps onto the Garmins if you go overseas. I have just bought one and am so confused. It does take me where I need to go, but I thought it had lovely graphics but doesn't seem to.
intrade,
Sep 9, 3:00pm
you just get the map and put it on in a folder called garmin. free maps for nz europe also has free maps here the nz link http://nzopengps.org/ make a new folder on your sd card called garmin and dump that immage in the folder and woala you got the latest navigation on your garmin for nz 20120909_gmapsupp.zip08-Sep-2012 22:3427M http://www.nzopengps.org/public/Direct_gmapsupp/
thejazzpianoma,
Sep 9, 3:21pm
I have what was at the time a high end tomtom. However having had the use of an Iphone for a while I found I didn't use it. Personally, I would put the money towards an Iphone instead, the Iphone was always with me anyway and was more useful in that you could look up a business or person and then often click their link straight into google maps. Each to their own though.
b.j.nichols,
Sep 9, 3:34pm
Had a Navman but now got tomtom. Tomtom is crap. Was looking for a place in Havelock North last week, no such street WTF! Turned out the city I was suppose to use was Pakipaki, well Pakipaki isnt even a city! This same scenario has now happened a couple of times, Tomtom lists small areas as cities, go figure! I am off to buy a new Navman, at lease Navman knows what a city is!
m16d,
Sep 9, 3:39pm
Just be aware that Perth is constantly building new freeways, intersection, flyovers and stuff. So whatever you get must have the latest updates in it. I've just come back from my latest session in WA and my navman is a bit out of date with some of their new roads.
intrade,
Sep 9, 5:39pm
dont forget to unzip the map first befor you put on Garmin folder
carclan,
Sep 9, 6:26pm
I have used them both and find the Garmin is the most user frendly
rockie6,
Sep 9, 7:01pm
Is this all done on the computer! I tell you I am that dumb when it comes to these things. I will get someone to show me, then it might click.
flashgordon_nz,
Sep 9, 8:44pm
how about the uniden IGo! i have one in my truck, and love it. 12v/24v, 5 inch screen, does trip meter, fuel consumption, etc as well as easy to use maps etc.
icemans1,
Sep 9, 9:35pm
navman here, i paid $129 for an EZY45 with 3 years of updates, price was right
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