Garmin550 or 660?

[Borderbob]

I've had both Garmin and Tomtom products for the bike and car and Tomtom wins hands down.

The routing is better and the user interface is more intuitive. My TT Rider 2 has worked flawlessly for over 3 years now and will be heading to Morocco next year as TT maps are available for there.

You can plan routes on your PC using either TT Home or, better still, Autoroute and ITN Converter which is quicker and easier to use than Mapsource

Thanks thats helpful. Agree with the intuition and interesting to hear about Autoroute with ITN convereter. Will look into.

 

[Borderbob]

If I 'HAD' to replace my Garmin (I have a 660 used to have a 550) I'd get the 660.

However now having an Iphone, faced with a £400 outlay, I'd buy an Iphone and add either TT or another routing app. You can get a water proof case for £30 and the only issue is that with a conductive screen it does not like gloves.

I do lots of long distance stuff so the Garmin with Mapsource has been excellent (even though in convoy routes get called "Davies detours" ) but for day to day use with shorter trips the Iphone will do the job and you'll have an item you use EVERY day!

Yes that's a possibility as I use an iphone 4. Used to connect to my iphone to the Zumo through bluetooth and the Zumo via cable to starcom. Most of the time that worked OK. Could i do that with the Tom Tom? Anyone done it?

 

[andyclift]

I have an iPhone with CoPilot Europe software and a RAM iPhone mount on the handlebars. I also have a Garmin 660.

The CoPilot software is very good indeed and cheaper than a Garmin map update, some things it does better than Garmin but if I lost the Garmin I would buy another.

Although the software is good the iPhone screen is too small, it's a pain when a call comes in while navigating, it's not waterproof and putting it in a waterproof case is a nuisance and has implications for powering it (It will only run for a couple of hours navigating on battery). The real clincher is the need to stop and remove gloves for the slightest thing.

The iPhone is just about OK in a car and it provided a useful backup if the Garmin fails or walks when on holiday but in my opinion the dedicated satnav is vastly better.

 

[swissrob]

My new car has a tomtom. I'd be very wary of buying one for the bike. Maybe its the cheapest model, but some of the logic it uses is completely infuriating.

compared to some thing on the garmin its totally sane

 

[andyclift]

My first satnav was a Tomtom Rider. So was the second, supplied by Tomtom when the first one gave up. So was the third, supplied by Tomtom when the second one gave up. Then I bought Garmin.

Since then I have had a Garmin 2720, Garmin 550, Garmin 660 plus a couple of hand helds for backpacking. Better mapping, better software and vastly better customer service.

 

[rodders]

That clears that up then. The garmin is the best and the worst , the 550 is better than the 660 , the 660 is better than the 550 , the tom tom is the best, the tom is the worst... get an ipad,,,,, no get a map.....no follow your nose...no follow someone elses nose.,stay at home . sorted

 

[Borderbob]

That clears that up then. The garmin is the best and the worst , the 550 is better than the 660 , the 660 is better than the 550 , the tom tom is the best, the tom is the worst... get an ipad,,,,, no get a map.....no follow your nose...no follow someone elses nose.,stay at home . sorted

LOL Rodders. Nice one. Yes it really does seem like horses for courses and I guess I knew that. Just when you are forced with shelling out serious money (even on insurance claim) you want to get it right. Not sure what I'm learning form this thread but its been interesting and I think helpful. Thanks for everyone whose posted already and any further ones.

 

[Borderbob]

I have an iPhone with CoPilot Europe software and a RAM iPhone mount on the handlebars. I also have a Garmin 660.

The CoPilot software is very good indeed and cheaper than a Garmin map update, some things it does better than Garmin but if I lost the Garmin I would buy another.

Although the software is good the iPhone screen is too small, it's a pain when a call comes in while navigating, it's not waterproof and putting it in a waterproof case is a nuisance and has implications for powering it (It will only run for a couple of hours navigating on battery). The real clincher is the need to stop and remove gloves for the slightest thing.

The iPhone is just about OK in a car and it provided a useful backup if the Garmin fails or walks when on holiday but in my opinion the dedicated satnav is vastly better.

CoPilot - forgotten abut that . I used to use that on a PDA years ago and it was sort of OK. Will have come on a lot since then. Agree about the iphone in waterproof case. Good back up but I think a dedicated unit is the way to go. Cnat do with the non glo9ve friendly screen.

 

[andyclift]

That clears that up then. The garmin is the best and the worst , the 550 is better than the 660 , the 660 is better than the 550 , the tom tom is the best, the tom is the worst.

As a rider who has used all three(550, 660 and Tom tom Rider (Mk1 and Mk2) on bike, car and with the 550 and Rider, on a 7.5 tonne multi-drop truck,maybe this makes sense.

Easiest to use straight out of the box
- Probably the Tomtom

Straight forward A to B routing.
-Nothing in in for ease of dialing in the route and most of the time they all do the job OK. I have had problems with the Rider telling me to take one way streets the wrong way and turn right at no right turns. This was a real problem on the truck. The Garmins had no problems on the same routes.

Routes with waypoints
-Definitely the Garmins. Easy to add multiple waypoints and I used the feature to auto sort waypoints in best order to work out my delivery route on the truck.

Route Planning on computer
-Garmin wins easily. Although it is possible to use thrid party software to get routes into the Rider the dedicated Mapsource software supplied with Garmins makes it a no-brainer. I have seen complaints about Mapsource and Basecamp but I have used them with no problem for some years for driving and backpacking.

Map Coverage
For UK equal but go into Europe and the Rider shows a blank screen east of Germany and Austria. To go further means another map at extra cost. Garmins detail mapping stretches to Turkey and, for main roads, covers the world.

Outputs
Tomtom Bluetooth
Garmin Bluetooth plus hard wired for headset and mic or Autocom etc.

Customer Service
-Warranty Replacement on my Rider took eight weeks and only then after complaining to CEO of Tomtom. Garmin warranty replacement took three days. I have also had two Garmin's replaced for free after accident damage when out of warranty.

MP3
-Only on the Garmins

This is a straight Garmin - Tomtom comparison. Regarding 550 - 660. My preference is the 660 but the 550 took me all over Europe with no problem and my wife is still very happy with it.

Comparing Apples with Apples
Garmin comes with bike and car fittings, I think the Rider is still bike only with a car kit for about £50.00. The Rider has a Scala Rider headset and the Garmin requires either a Bluetooth headset or some sort of hard wired system at extra cost. Map coverage better with Garmin. So he it comes down to where you want to go and how you get the audio out. For UK and Western Europe and happy with the Scala headset maybe Rider is better. Want to use an Autocom, stray further from home and maybe use it in the car then maybe Garmin.

 

[sven]

My first satnav was a Tomtom Rider. So was the second, supplied by Tomtom when the first one gave up. So was the third, supplied by Tomtom when the second one gave up. Then I bought Garmin.

Since then I have had a Garmin 2720, Garmin 550, Garmin 660 plus a couple of hand helds for backpacking. Better mapping, better software and vastly better customer service.

Was yours the first or second version of the TT Rider though? There were problems with the cradles on the early ones, but the redesigned version 2 cradle works perfectly

 

[andyclift]

Was yours the first or second version of the TT Rider though

Long answer

The first one was a Mk1. That failed within weeks and Tomtom, after a row, decided a new bracket was in order.

The new bracket failed soon after so with that and other issues with the damned thing (See below) I bought a Garmin 2720 and dumped the (£600) Rider in a drawer. Later my wife passed her test and wanted a satnav so I bought another bracket (could not face another round of stupid suggestions from Tomtom) but after a few days it stopped charging.

Back on to Tomtom and after the usual Tomtom stupid suggestions to fix it (have you turned it on? etc.) they agreed to take it back. Two months later, after I emailed the CEO of Tomtom they finally got round to sending me a new Rider and bracket. I then got a phone call saying they were giving me a Mk2 complete with car mount as an apology - and I could keep the new Mk1.

Initially very impressed. The new kit was couriered from Amsterdam inside 24 hours and was followed by a call from Amsterdam to say my web account had been marked for free additional map downloads (that solved the problem detailed below). I gave the Mk1 to a friend who used it for a few months before the problems stated and I used the Mk2 in a truck for a while (my 2720 had been nicked from the truck) and discovered that all the stories about truck drivers and satnavs were Tomtom's fault. It often suggested impossible turns and routings that the 2720 did not do) so I bought a 550. My wife used the Rider for one holiday before the problems started. Every time it was turned off, it turned back on again, thus flattening the battery. She also discovered it just showed a blank screen east of Austria but my 550 carried on a usual all the way through Slovakia and Poland.

Wife then got my 550, I bought a 660 and will never go near anything from Tomtom again.

See below comment

The original Rider came with UK only mapping and Europe cost extra. I bought the Europe mapping and then discovered that it consisted of separate maps of most countries with just a few smaller ones joined as one map. It was necessary to pick which map to use so it was impossible to make routes which used more than one map.

I could not for example, make a route from Brussels to Trento as this went from Belgium through Germany and Austria to Italy. I needed to find a mid point on the borders, make one route to there, change maps on the Tomtom and make another route to the next border.

All this involved getting out a paper map to see what point was a practical border point to choose.

The result was that the Rider was OK for LOCAL trips anywhere in Western Europe but useless for trans- Europe travel. The 2720 that replaced it provided seamless trans-Europe navigation.

I have detailed all this because on the surface the Rider at £600 + £100 for the Europe maps was, at that time, a very good buy compared with Garmin options - but I was not comparing Apples with apples.

 

[Borderbob]

Weighing this up, its beginning to look like I need to go for the 660 which now seem to be available at £374.95 including VAT. About the same as I paid for the 550. Very helpful posts. The ability to plan on a computer, add multiple waypoints easily, connect to my coms system, phone etc all favour the the Garmin. As I've said before, at least the aftersales sevice is really good in my experience. Just hope I wont need it this time.

 

[motormike46]

Garmin Zumo 660

Oops!

 

[motormike46]

Garmin Zumo 660

I was never sure which Satnav to go for but after a brief chat with the lads down at Touratech I setled for the 660 with the Ram mounting system. I can just about squeeze it in the centre of my extended screen on my GS800. It covers my speedo but has it's own on screen with the Max speed limit displayed as well which is very useful.
So far the system has been excellent, quick to install with just two wires for the cradle straight to the battery (don't dissconnect the battery or you will have to get the bikes computer reset at a dealer) the other wires were just zip tied out of the way (I don't use head set etc).
The guidence is spot on with only a few wrong turns at multiple mini roundabout junctions and it's quick to re-calculate when I miss a turn. The find accomodation, petrol station, ATM etc feature is invaluble and the lane indicator is also useful.
The only thing I would say is make sure it's clipped into the dock properly or get the Touratech lockable system (very useful when at short stops like petrol stations). My 660 fell off on the motorway at about 110kph (70ish mph)resulting in a very slapstick comedy rutine of me swerving all over the road trying to cath it. I eventually managed to flick it off the end of my right boot onto the hard shoulder so it wouldn't get run over. A glance over my shoulder saw it slidding painfully along the rough ground and coming to a holt in the gutter. I pulled up and ran back, fearing the worst. On inspection it looked dead, the screen was off and the casing was scratched beyond recognition. I gingerly pressed the on button and it turned straight back on, loaded the maps and found the satalites. No fuss, no lines or fuzzyness on the screen. It just worked perfectly and has done since. Tough peice of kit!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

 

[andyclift]

the screen was off and the casing was scratched beyond recognition

May be worth giving Garmin a ring. A few years back when I did the same thing with my 2720 I phoned them and asked what it would cost for a new case and they exchanged my very battle scarred 2720 for a new one free of charge. They seem a bit fussier about exchanges these days but it would only cost you a phone call to find out.

 

[motormike46]

May be worth giving Garmin a ring. A few years back when I did the same thing with my 2720 I phoned them and asked what it would cost for a new case and they exchanged my very battle scarred 2720 for a new one free of charge. They seem a bit fussier about exchanges these days but it would only cost you a phone call to find out.

Cheers but I kinda like the scratches, tell a story like a good scar

 

[v8legend]

Cheers but I kinda like the scratches, tell a story like a good scar

They'll tell a different story when you come to sell it.

 

[motormike46]

Can't sell it, can't read a map to save my life Plus the map pocket on my BMW Mottorad tank bag steamed up the first time it rained and made my directions so wet I couldn't read them. The pocket has never dried out since, despite propping it open. Not impressed.

 

[eonbkuk]

I had a 550 and after 6 years the screen died on me contacted Garmin and for £100 ish they exchanged it for a 660

never had a tom tom as when i started in satnavs they were not on the horizon had a streetpilot 3 then onto a 550 now a 660 and if push comes to shove a iphone with co pilot

Garmins customer service to me has been brilliant

just my two penneth

 

[The Grey One]

Interesting

Interesting thread for me-my 2610 is showing signs of age and I suspect I might have to replace it this year. Had (still got somewhere) a Streetpilot 3 before the 2610. Both units worked fine, that is up to the recent problems with the screen.

I see literally hundreds of satnavs each summer mostly either Garmin or TomTom. Both have their good points and both have their share of problems. I think it is down to personal preference, I will buy another Garmin, in my case because I am used to Mapsource and find the Garmin suits my needs better than the TomTom. I do use Tyre as well as Mapsource- have to so that I can offer our routes to the guests.

One observation from this is that a lot of people never read the instructions and often hardly know how to use the device they spend hundreds of pounds on! Strangely it is often these people who have the most to say about having problems with the device. I'm not suggesting this applies to the people who have replied on here but if I had a Euro for every time somebody has complained to me about their "bloody satnav" when the problem really was the bloody operator, I would be well on the way to that new bike-even at Austrian prices

As for smart phone apps, personally I can't see the point of something that has a small screen(might be my age-eyesight not as good as it was) and is not waterproof or designed to deal with the pounding it will get if fixed to a bike. When conditions are bad I just want to concentrate of riding so a decent sized screen in view and spoken instructions through the Autocom system works for me. Great that we are all different though,makes life interesting!

John