fatcat Posted May 29, 2004 Report Share Posted May 29, 2004 I'm in a quandry. I want to get a Sat Nav system but need a balanced argument on the pro's & cons of both types. Budget upto £1000. DVD. Fixed and mounted in the car with the monitor on the dash which will be removable. Looks neat and fits in with a 'factory fitted' look. Visually better with more gizmos. PDA. Looks a bit 'add on', cheaper (comparing with the TOM TOM III with bluetooth, about £200-300 cheaper). Following our recent trip to the Bedford Autodrome I now feel a need to get one, I've had zip experience with any Sat Nav system and want not necessary the best 'allsinging all dancing', but one that is best to use. Why does everyone seem to favour the PDA route and not the DVD route - is it down purely to cost ? help the aged Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted May 29, 2004 Report Share Posted May 29, 2004 Pete i have the OEM sat nav, and i would go installed everytime over a pda. if you have pda, then sometimes you decide not to bother taking it with you, and thats when your end up needing it. also it looks awful stuck to the dash with trailing wires etc, and when you get to your destination your have to pack it up and stow it away. If you dont, it wont be there when you come back. now, in this senario, do you take it with you, or stow it in the glovebox etc, did anyone see you packing it away? when you come back, your have to set it up again. hence my suggestion to go fixed. Becker do some lovely VW Blue illumination single dash matched units without Flippy screen, very mininalistic, but classy. or alpine/kenwood flip out screen stylee which id probably have a chat with Phil T or Bushy, as they have experience with them. Have a poke around Car Audio Direct - Navigation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatcat Posted May 29, 2004 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2004 Paul, The one that catches my eye is the Pioneer AVH-P6500DVD with the flippy out screen, a great piece of kit but at a price, my local radio man is charging to supply & fit a whopping £2700 - now I know this is the top of the range, but Pioneer do loads of others, but I'm not sure of the prices, being realistic I'm not sure what I will get for £1000, if I'm gonna spend more I need a bloody good reason. Any Sat Nav exhibitions coming up anywhere ? So far Panasonic & Pioneer are making me smile as they do models that fit in with the colour of my dash & match the blue illumination. I just need to match that with performance and to my budget - what about buying used ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted May 29, 2004 Report Share Posted May 29, 2004 I have OEM in the TT and I now have the PDA sat nav. The OEM was really well integrated in the car. It was so neat with just the pictograms in the DIS and voice control. I only paid half the normal price as my car was imported. I personally thought it was over priced (at full price). The PDA solution I have is because I wanted a relatively cheap solution and one I can take to any future car. If I was looking at your sort of budget then I'd probably look at an after market fold up screen. If someone made one of these that also kept the DIS link then I'd maybe consider it in future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KEVINP Posted May 29, 2004 Report Share Posted May 29, 2004 I have the factory fitted one in my R32. I already had one for my PDA ( Compaq Navigation System ( NAVMAN)) but was fed up of it falling off its mount. If you think you will use the Sat Nav often them go and have one specificaly installed . If it will just be ocasional use then the PDA will do. If you already have a PDA then this may very will be the cheapest option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattcony Posted May 29, 2004 Report Share Posted May 29, 2004 Just so you know the AVH-P6500DVD is not there latest model, Pioneer's latest unit is the AVIC-X1. I almost got one for my R32 a few weeks back but I have stopped short after finding a forum for it and reading all the faults. Unit Forum - www.avicx1forums.com Main unit site is - www.avic-n1.com One of the biggest problems seems to be Pioneers DVD navigation mapping software and who they use for it. The maps seem to be about 5 years old and all to pot for the UK users. I have always been an Alpine fan and already have 1 system in my other car which is in use all day long 6 days a week its 1st class but when I saw Pioneers new unit with all its "extra toys" I was sold and wanted one for my new R32. Alpine have a new 2004 range out with another new monitor offering touch screen DVD satnav, its more money BUT I am coming round to the idea of you get what you pay for. The PDA setup is a nice idea if your on a shoe string budget but fully fitted with a nice screen is the way to go. I'm still making my mind up yet as to what unit i'm having also cheers matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loddrik Posted May 29, 2004 Report Share Posted May 29, 2004 How loud is the audio navigation on the PDA units, I wouldn't have thought it was that loud due to the size of the unit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatcat Posted May 29, 2004 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2004 Looking through PDA monthly (or whatever its called) alot of critisism has been aimed at the poor audio output of your typical PDA...... I really need to see a PDA & a fixed 'after market' system working back to back. I'm swaying towards the fixed DVD system, but I would imagine a budget one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted May 30, 2004 Report Share Posted May 30, 2004 [ QUOTE ] How loud is the audio navigation on the PDA units, I wouldn't have thought it was that loud due to the size of the unit? [/ QUOTE ] My T3 is quite quiet and if you have the volume up full it sounds crap. I'm fitting a small box later today where the head phone socket takes a feed and passes it to the SatNav input on the Audi head unit. The guy who makes these is on the tt-forum. He's also making them for speaker level input for those without SatNav inputs. The instructions then quieten the music and play them instruction through the speakers in exactly the same way as factory fitted SatNav. They cost about £45. Full details are HERE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GCab Posted June 2, 2004 Report Share Posted June 2, 2004 [ QUOTE ] Looking through PDA monthly (or whatever its called) alot of critisism has been aimed at the poor audio output of your typical PDA...... I really need to see a PDA & a fixed 'after market' system working back to back. I'm swaying towards the fixed DVD system, but I would imagine a budget one [/ QUOTE ] I have an Ipaq/bluetooth TomTom system (no wires apart from PDA power lead if you want to use it - GPS unit has 5-hr battery) Must admit I don't use it all the time, but it's nifty when I do Audio is fine - audible with top down (cabrio) and music on One potential advantage of PDA solution is upgradeability - and mix of software. If I want, I can keep the GPS unit, and load up something else, including Ordnance Survey for hiking in the Lakes etc. Or upgrade the TomTom to version 3, or download and add a speed camera database, or ... etc. etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loddrik Posted June 2, 2004 Report Share Posted June 2, 2004 Just got an Ipaq with Tomtom, excellent, better than the in-car systems I have encountered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatcat Posted June 2, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2004 [ QUOTE ] Just got an Ipaq with Tomtom, excellent, better than the in-car systems I have encountered. [/ QUOTE ] Thats put the spanner in the works Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foggy Posted June 2, 2004 Report Share Posted June 2, 2004 Pete, There is a VW OEM Sat Nav on Ebay at the mo and simple instructions on how to fit it here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomk Posted June 3, 2004 Report Share Posted June 3, 2004 Ive just ordered the tomtom kit , cant wait to get home and i will give it all a try! you can download all the petron stations, mcds' pizza huts, various shops, pc workds, argos's more importantly it links to the speed camera database like road angel ( 300 quid cheaper ) does all sorts ! ill post a full review and picts soon, whole lot cost 150 quid from ebyyer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted June 3, 2004 Report Share Posted June 3, 2004 [ QUOTE ] you can download all the petron stations, mcds' pizza huts, various shops, pc workds, argos's [/ QUOTE ] Not if you have a Palm that's only for PPCs. I do have widescreen though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomk Posted June 4, 2004 Report Share Posted June 4, 2004 ok just got it and it all works well! well impressed can always find KFC now were ever i am ! makes a nice siren noise when i get to a speed camera to Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobK Posted June 4, 2004 Report Share Posted June 4, 2004 [ QUOTE ] ok just got it and it all works well! well impressed can always find KFC now were ever i am ! makes a nice siren noise when i get to a speed camera to [/ QUOTE ] What do you use for the speed camera bit? I keep meaning to install something but haven't got around to it yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomk Posted June 4, 2004 Report Share Posted June 4, 2004 here you go and its free ! just record or download some warning noises for speed cameras ! http://www.pocketgps.co.uk/checkpoint.php it worked fine for my trip to work today were i go past 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilyas Posted June 6, 2004 Report Share Posted June 6, 2004 I really want this Tom Tom Navigation system. Does anyone know where I can get Tom Tom Bluetooth Navigation 3 for Pocket PCs at a fairly cheap price...if it includes a car kit..all the better. I have a budget of £140. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomk Posted June 7, 2004 Report Share Posted June 7, 2004 yup i paid £120 for it from www.ebuyer.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loddrik Posted June 7, 2004 Report Share Posted June 7, 2004 Try ebay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobK Posted June 8, 2004 Report Share Posted June 8, 2004 [ QUOTE ] here you go and its free ! just record or download some warning noises for speed cameras ! http://www.pocketgps.co.uk/checkpoint.php it worked fine for my trip to work today were i go past 2 [/ QUOTE ] Thanks mate! Got it installed now. Do you know if it's meant to tell you what the speed limit is when you pass a camera? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loafer27 Posted June 16, 2004 Report Share Posted June 16, 2004 i just got the bluetooth tom tom 3 gps thing gotta say im very impressed much better than i had hoped it was gonna be i paid £200 but have seen it cheaper online got mine from one of those gadget places on tottenham court rd highly recommended will bring it to windsor next time i can make it if anyone wants a look before buying one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foggy Posted June 20, 2004 Report Share Posted June 20, 2004 It would be good if you can bring it along to Windsor as I looking at what GPS to get. I've got the Ipaq and Tom Tom but just need to decide whether to go bluetooth or wired for the receiver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilyas Posted June 20, 2004 Report Share Posted June 20, 2004 its all about the bluetooth man!then when ure out n about, even when ure not in ure car u dont have that hassle of wires everywhere! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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