Prices seem to be pretty low atm.

Which system would people recommend?

Key considerations are that it's simple to use, effective, no annoying traits (like volume you can't adjust etc) and resistant to the touch of someone who seems particularly adept at pressing a combination of buttons that lock any piece of technology.

 

I would not recommend a Garmin....I bought one a year back and its not as easy to use or as intuitive as a Tom Tom.

 

i recently changed from tomtom to igo.

igo is certainly better on the PDA platform that tomtom.
feature-wise they are fairly similar. usability is also on par imo.

i've not used either proprietary hardware units so i cant comment on the stuff you'd buy from halfords. software side they both seem very good though.

 

All much of a muchness really, certainly amogst the bigger brands.

Some useful questions to ask are:
UK only maps, or Europe too?
Speed camera warnings
Traffic
Does it speak street/road names?
Do you want itinerary planning with multiple stop off points, or is it for simple "get me there" use?
Widescreen size is probably easier to use from a buttons perspective.
Lane guidance is also worth going for.

Halfords have good comparison charts instore, and you can have a test - then buy from Amazon as it's usually cheaper.

 

Gad,

I hope you don't mean a tacky lick n' stick model!

Seriously, check out Snooper's range; mine auto-updates scameras by USB, it's compact & tidy, great screen, doesn't get drug-unduced paranoia like a dutch model I could mention.

Mine's a black S2000, which is sometimes appropriate.

Excuse typing, rickety garden furniture.

Webpage

 

 

I have the cheapest navman there was at the time - S30 3D, paid about £70

At doing what you want it to it is very good. Very quick re-routing. Nice clear graphics.
Only criticisms are that it has no external volume control (have to go into the menus), the time to destination estimate is wildly innacurate, battery lasts 1 hour if not plugged in.

Otherwise its great value.

 

UK only maps, or Europe too? UK only
Speed camera warnings - useful but not worth a hefty premium
Traffic - useless ime
Does it speak street/road names? - is this a useful feature - I can't see the benefit
Do you want itinerary planning with multiple stop off points, or is it for simple "get me there" use? - get me there (and back)
Widescreen size is probably easier to use from a buttons perspective. - noted
Lane guidance is also worth going for. - have they got this right yet?

 

sadly yes

I have more and more cars but as they get older and older then none of them has built in nav

of course everyone alos tells you built in nav is crap too....

I will look at said snooper

 

So, you want:

UK Only
No itinerary
Widescreen
Cheap

Everything else is surplus to requirements.

Halfords product selector comes up with the following under £130:



Garmin 205W £90
Garmin 1300 £110
Garmin 1310 £113
TomTom XL Classic V2 - UK & ROI £111
TomTom XL IQ Sat Nav - UK & ROI £130

The 1300 series Garmins are newer than the 205, which is a bit long in the tooth now.

The Garmins have the street names read out and better claimed battery life, the 1310 has bluetooth for handsfree phone use.

All bar the TTXL Classic have speed cameras - you can choose whether to subscribe or not.

Either the Garmin 1300 or TTXL Classic are probably what you're after.

Edit to above comment re Amazon. Halfords prices seem very competitive.