Which GPS?

[PIGGLET]

Not particularly bike related but help needed! (unless the recomendation happens to be for a 2720 then it might get "borrowed" )
My Girlfriend is in the enviable position of being able to purchase a GPS unit on company expenses. It will primarily be used in one vehicle and must have postcode search facility.
I've recommended getting a Garmin unit as I have one and their build quality, customer service, and cartography is IMO the best.
She is thinking TomTom.
Cost is not as much an issue as much as:
It must be usable with up to date mapping in 3 years time as getting another won't be an option untill then.

Quality of maps and direction (cos thats what they're all about Right?).

Ease of map upgrades.

Cost of map upgrades.

Not get confused at roadworks and preferably have some sort of traffic congestion/alert.

It would also be nice to route a mobile through it to negate the use of a seperate hands free kit.

All info gratefully recieved
Thanks
David

 

[Tomcat]

hmmmm... I use TomTom Navigator 5 on a PDA in the car, and recently bought a Quest for the bike. If it is really just for your girlfriend (ie you don't want to borrow it ), and she just wants to go from A to B then I recommend TomTom. Simple to use, easy to follow route instructions, full post code search, and very easy to set a re-route to avoid a section of road. Speed camera database easy to load, traffic service update available (needs mobile phone data link) and works well once setup. I think the new 510/710 series have radio traffic info receivers, tho' this option not available in the UK until later this year.

Not sure I'd fret too much about map upgrades unless she needs to find her way round new housing estates etc. - how many major new roads are being built in the UK ?

Having said all that, the Garmin i3 is very nifty and terrific value at £150 from Halfords, but if she is spending company money maybe price is less of an issue.
HTH
TC

 

[PIGGLET]

Cheers Tomcat. I reckon your probably right about the tomtom ( I was hoping for loads of posts saying the new 2820 will be the only one to go for ).
will investigate the traffic info on the tomtoms.

 

[JohnB]

The new 2820 is the only one to go for!

 

[cookie]

The new 2820 is the only one to go for!

i agree. someone else is paying and you can borrow it, it's the only way to go

 

[Deleted account W]

If I was buying a gps for car use then this is what I'd buy....

TomTom GO 910

Easy to use: Extra wide 4” LCD touchscreen gives you smart design and easy to use navigation literally at your fingertips.

Maps of the whole of Europe, the USA and Canada on hard disk: Door-to-door navigation across Europe, the USA and Canada.

Clear spoken instructions, including street and place names: TomTom GO 910 speaks some 36 languages in over 50 different voices and can even announce street and place names.

Hands-free calling: Doubles as a hands-free car kit using Bluetooth® technology. So you can make & receive calls as you drive with just a touch of the screen.

Smart extras: Built-in Mp3 player; 20 Gb (12 Gb free) of hard disk, enough for 1000’s of songs and pictures; remote control; and much more.

Here

 

[Tomcat]

TMC

Piglet, take a look here http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=index for more info on traffic services. I had a quick look at the TMC forum and it seems that TMC may not be as good as I'd hoped.
TC

 

[PIGGLET]

Cheers

Thanks for the info chaps. My borrowing plans have been scuppered, she's gonna get a PDA and put the tomtom maps on it. Bummer