After market GPS Naviagtion

[1stVeeDub]

I have a manual 2011 Mk V1 Golf Comfortline 118TSI. It has the basic RCD310 radio with some aftermarket speakers to the front stage. I'm looking for an aftermarket GPS unit. As I only plan to use it infrequently I wont need it permanently installed or to replace the RCD - just looking for another cheap aftermarket system that can be removed when not needed. I'm not sure what to look for in regards to maps, features such as speed limit annoucements, direction announcements, safety camera announcement, etc. Has anyone gone down this path? Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks Tony

[Bambazonke]

There are a number of brands out there. They basically offer the same map detail as they all buy their maps from Sensis. My personal preference is for Garmin as they do map updates up to four times a year. They also have the ability to have additional maps for overseas travel to be loaded on them via a micro sd card slot. A typical good one with Bluetooth voice activation glass touch screen 3d graphics can be purchased off eBay for about $200 (Nuvi 3790LMT) this comes with maps of NA but a set of AUs/NZ maps can be purchased off eBay for a nominal fee

[1stVeeDub]

Thanks for that infor. Does it matter if I have an Apple Imac rather than a PC to download the maps, etc?

[brad]

They basically offer the same map detail as they all buy their maps from Sensis.

This is incorrect.
I think you'll find some (Garmin is one) are transitioning to NAVTEQ.

to the OP: I've had Navman & Garmin. I can thoroughly recomend Garmin (any of the Nuvi series fits the bill). I got mine from JB with lifetime AU map updates & lifetime SUNA traffic monitoring and it was ~$220.
Map updates are great - I've had 3 since September 2011.
SUNA is flakey. It's steered me around major traffic jams twice but steered me into them plenty more than that.
Suprisingly, the bluetooth phone coupling is pretty good too.

[kamold]

A friend of mine bought a TomTom with HD traffic (it has a simcard in it to receive traffic updates over the mobile network).
He reckons its the greatest thing since sliced bread. This is the way of the future as the only way to get timely traffic info is from a network source. SUNA has had fairly mixed success using TMC over FM radio. THey will have to move to using the mobile network/internet to stay relevent IMHO.

Else use a smartphone and Google Navigation/your favourite flavour of aftermarket nav software.

[Bambazonke]

The database that navteq are using i suspect was the old sensis database as it has inherited many of the errors that I notified Garmin about 3 years ago. I have just checked against the latest CN Australia & NZ 2013.10 maps and confirmed this is the case

[brad]

The database that navteq are using i suspect was the old sensis database as it has inherited many of the errors that I notified Garmin about 3 years ago. I have just checked against the latest CN Australia & NZ 2013.10 maps and confirmed this is the case

I have a mate in the business. I'm just going by what he tells me. He seems to think NAVTEQ are better. Maybe he's / I'm wrong.

[Bambazonke]

You are correct Garmin have moved to Navteq from Sensis and there are probably now differences between their databases around the major cities now which I am not really aware of.

My point is, I drive regularly past a Lake Elphingstone which is about 150kms inland from Mackay. If you look in either map sets (Google Maps use Sensis) you will see a series of streets in a grid format just north of the lake. These streets do not exist. It just open bushland! So someone must have copied someone!

To get back to the OP I would still advocate the Garmin route based on their ability to offer quarterly updates than previously annual updates by Sensis based systems. I cannot comment on the traffic management options as I don't suffer from these issues but what I can say is the smartphone option using assisted GPS is not an option here as mobile coverage is limited and not much good outside the main towns.

Garmin have software suitable for both PC (Basecamp) & Mac (Mapinstall & a Mac version of Basecamp)

[Transporter]

I've replaced my old Navman with Garmin Nuvi50, the Garmin screen daylight visibility is great compared to Navman but the navigation is not very accurate. I was told by one great 4x4 man that TomTom is the best for accuracy.

I like the Garmin's speed and red light cameras warning.

[ian]

I bought a cheap Tomtom from Harvey Norman last week for my Ute as the Mio was way out of date , This GPS is very good for the money
had loud audible warnings for cameras you only need the post code for setting the destination and it glows red in the speed window if you go over the limit and there 12 map updates included and all for $98