SAT NAVS

[mr magoo]

Okay guys and gals.

I've had a GTi fitted with a RNS510 sat nav for 18 months now. As you may have seen, my car's gone in to hospital for 6 weeks, I've been given a courtesy car with no built in nav. I'd had to blow the dust off my old TomTom One, have to say it's been a pleasurable experience. Unlike the 510, it's responsive, doesn't take 5 mins (exaggeration) to boot up, and accepts full postcodes.

What I want to know is why did the RNS510 cost about 10 times more? I know it can do more than just nav but that's surely the main thing it'll be used for.

Saw an article in today's Sunday Times which was less than complimentary about an Audi system, which is probably the same functionality.

The price and useability discrepancies are the main things that pee me off. Vote for a bit of fun 

[stealthwolf]

Things I like about the RNS510 over the Tomtom ONE:

• larger touch screen
• features like autozoom, split screen, etc
• matches the rest of the dash
• permanent fixture (so no worrying about thieves)
• plays mp3s, ipod and dvds
• no faffing around with windscreen mounts and chargers (tomtom had a crap battery life)

Things I dislike about it compared to the TomTom:

• touch screen not as sensitive
• limited customisability
• permanent fixture (so visible!)
• crap address entry, so not very accurate
• position means more time spent not looking at the road

As for boot-up times, I personally found that the time taken to set up the satnav is much shorter than me having to get the tomtom out, attach the windscreen mount, plug in the charger (it almost never had any charge in it), apply it to the windscreen, turn it on and wait for it to load....

[Hurdy]

I have the Garmin software built into my Kenwood head unit. It works very well and hasn't let me down yet. I was so impressed I bought the wifee a Garmin Nuvi  widescreen unit for her little runabout.....and that is just as good too

[jaydubveedub]

Tom Tom is fantastic for the money.

Never had any problems.

[2007GTI]

second all this.  the reason its 10 times more, is the VW premium, just cos they can charge what they want.

Things I like about the RNS510 over the Tomtom ONE:

• larger touch screen
• features like autozoom, split screen, etc
• matches the rest of the dash
• permanent fixture (so no worrying about thieves)
• plays mp3s, ipod and dvds
• no faffing around with windscreen mounts and chargers (tomtom had a crap battery life)

Things I dislike about it compared to the TomTom:

• touch screen not as sensitive
• limited customisability
• permanent fixture (so visible!)
• crap address entry, so not very accurate
• position means more time spent not looking at the road

As for boot-up times, I personally found that the time taken to set up the satnav is much shorter than me having to get the tomtom out, attach the windscreen mount, plug in the charger (it almost never had any charge in it), apply it to the windscreen, turn it on and wait for it to load....

[bobotheclown]

I also like how the direction is displayed int eh highline display. Also I use the zoom knob alot to zoom in and out. Also the RNS510 has the 30gb hard drive to store all your music and also it plays DVDs. So it is more than just a San Nav system.

The price is very high.

[AlanD]

Iv got a Tom Tom in mine, never let me down and works a treat.

[FamilyDub]

I have a £1.99 map and roadsigns. They've never let me down 

[smartypants]

I have the old MFD2

Its sh1t

So I use maps and signs - which work brilliantly I find

[DanoGTI]

Had TomTom on my PDA, but I've now got CoPilot 8 Live on my iPhone.

Only had it a few days, but so far, it's fantastic. MUCH better definition than TomTom.

Will be doing some long trips over the next couple of weeks, so will be able to test it in a bit more depth. But for £25 (compared to £60 for TomTom)

AND £150-odd for a hardware satnav.....

Haven't changed the HU from the RCD300 YET, but I'll probably get either a compatable iphone stereo, or something with a Hard Drive (not RNS510 though - waste of money imho)

Dan