Are There Any Inexpensive Car GPS Units with Really Good Voice Navigation?

Russ on 02/01/2018 - 12:25
Last edited 02/01/2018 - 13:40

I'm after a car GPS, and I've never had one before. I've use mobile phone apps before, but I don't want to leave a mobile phone permanently in the car, they aren't designed for the heat inside a parked car in summer.

My first question is: are there any inexpensive car GPS units that have really good voice navigation, so good that you don't need to look at the display while driving?

Second question: what other features are worth having? My car already has bluetooth hands-free, so no need to tell me about bluetooth, but I want to know what other features are worth having.

I'm assuming that "free lifetime map updates" is a must-have, let me know if that is wrong.

Please don't try to convince me to use a mobile phone instead. There are several reasons why that isn't appropriate for my situation, I'm after a dedicated car GPS.

Automotive

Comments

  • tabz on 02/01/2018 - 12:55
    +7

    You could always use Google Maps on your phone and then take your phone with you when you leave your car. No need for a dedicated GPS.

    If it's good enough for Uber drivers, then it can't be that bad.

    • Russ on 02/01/2018 - 13:09
      -2

      I'm a forgetful person, and leaving a black phone on the dash on a sunny Summer day results in a fried phone. That's why I'm after a dedicated GPS.

      I also haven't been impressed by the free navigation apps I have used. I keep the phone in my breast pocket when I do this, so I don't forget and leave it behind. The free apps I have used either stopped working after a few years (they stopped making maps available), or used OSM (OpenStreetMaps). Those that use OSM keep directing me onto toll roads, even though I have "avoid toll roads" ticked. I don't know if this is a fault of the app, or of OSM.

      • ItsMeAgro on 02/01/2018 - 13:16
        +4

        Google Maps app is better than any of those by miles.

        It also has excellent voice directions.

        It's not difficult to remember your phone when you leave the car.

        • Russ on 02/01/2018 - 13:18
          -2

          I disagree, having already fried things. Forgetting even once is a very expensive problem.

          It also doesn't help when I've forgotten to bring my phone with me, and I want to navigate from point B to point C, neither of which are my home where I've left the phone.

        • ItsMeAgro on 02/01/2018 - 13:25
          +4

          @Russ:

          How often do you leave your car keys in the car? How about your wallet? Is this really an issue? As someone who suffers from extreme forgetfulness and absent-mindedness, I've never done this.

          What makes you think a dedicated GPS will be more sun-resistant than a phone? They were never designed to be left on the dashboard, since that often led to broken windows and theft (way back when GPSs were a thing, before Google Maps). You were supposed to stick them in the glovebox or something.

          Besides, a $5 sunshade for your windscreen solves this completely and also keeps your car interior cool (or at least, not melting-hot).

        • Russ on 02/01/2018 - 13:38
          +2

          @ItsMeAgro:

          How often do you leave your car keys in the car?

          Never, as I can't lock the car without them. Get out of the car, close the door, press the button to lock.

          How about your wallet?

          I don't take my wallet out of my pocket when I'm in the car, so there's no easy way for me to leave it behind.

          What makes you think a dedicated GPS will be more sun-resistant than a phone?

          Because I design electronics for a living, and I know that electronic components come in three temperature grades: commercial (0 to 70 degrees), industrial (-40 to +85 degrees) and automotive (-40 to +125). I have designed equipment for cars. I have had prototype plastic cases warp and deform while sitting on the dash, even when they weren't powered on.

          I've modified the post to indicate that I'm not after a mobile phone.

      • kolorijo on 02/01/2018 - 13:25
        +2

        I am using Waze and happy with it. I am also very conscious of my phone thus using it for GPS make sense in my case.

        • Stevek1960 on 03/01/2018 - 09:55

          good app but it smokes ya battery very quickly if you dont have it plugged into charge

        • kolorijo on 03/01/2018 - 10:20
          +1

          @Stevek1960: True, I always connect it to the car charger once it hits 50% battery level, depending on how long my drive is going to be. By the time I got off, I normally has more juice in my phone.

  • Euphemistic on 02/01/2018 - 13:02
    +1

    In my experience with voice nav they are ok, but I usually turn off the voice part. Typically I know roughly where I’m going and only need it for the last few turns. It becomes annoying to be advised 3 times about the next turn. Once after you made the last turn (in 2km turn right), again a few hundred metres out (depends on speed) and again right on top of your turn. All I want is “take the third right into Smith St” and I’ll take it from there. I’d like a ‘minimal voice prompts’ mode.

    Voice navigation is ok, but it can be annoying.

    • ItsMeAgro on 02/01/2018 - 13:17

      Google maps now has a sort of minimal voice prompts mode where it only pipes up if you make a wrong turn. Try that.

    • dogboy on 02/01/2018 - 14:13

      I concur. Have had voice disabled on mine since I got it. To be honest the best thing it is for is telling me the speed limit as I find the signage varied and inconsistent. Not that it is always right on that though.

  • hitubaba on 02/01/2018 - 14:45
    +3

    I have had Garmin 55LMT, with free lifetime updates, live traffic update (via supplied cable) and software update is constant. Never had issues. When i did my research 3 years ago, Garmin was the best brand. I find Garmin have responsive screens compared to other screens that are not intuitive. All GPS have entry, mid and top levels. Go for the mid levels if you need bang for the buck. I may be biased towards Garmin. I say check user reviews on amazon (max users on there).

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s?k=gps

    • Russ on 02/01/2018 - 17:05

      The live traffic update cable - what does that connect to?

      • Presence on 02/01/2018 - 17:30
        +3

        It uses a FM radio signal to direct you around traffic jams and accidents. It's a bit of a joke as its only updated every 15m and only in urban areas. Google maps will respond to slowdowns immediately.

        Also don't buy an international model - getting Australian maps will be a pain and even if you did you won't get updates.

        Personally i find Garmin's business model very dishonest. Their cheapest GPS is about $150 with lifetime maps. If you own an older device the maps alone are $99. If you go overseas they will charge you a fortune for maps. Europe/North America are about $99 each. You can use OSM maps but thats beside the point isn't it?

        They're also absolutely useless offroad - if 4wding was a consideration. They'll charge you $199 for the topographic maps but they are awful.

        I just can't see any advantage over an Android device, especially now Google Maps works offline. Theres heaps of other free navigation apps too. I've used OSMAnd a lot and quite like it.

        • Russ on 02/01/2018 - 18:24
          +1

          Thanks. I've just found that I have on-line access to Choice magazine through my local library, and I've also been doing some more research now that I know such features exist. The current edition of Choice (Dec/Jan 2018 issue) reviews car GPS units.

          From what I've found, it looks like there are three ways a GPS can receive "live" traffic information: by being connected to your smartphone via bluetooth and using your phone's data connection, by having an in-built phone, or by receiving the data from FM radio stations via RDS.

          Of the Garmin units that have live tracking, denoted by having a "T" in the model number, all the available ones also have "S" in the model number, indicating smartphone connection. This makes me wonder if any of the currently-available Garmin units are capable of using the FM radio RDS signal. It's hard to get clarity on this, do you know if they can?

    • iseenya on 02/01/2018 - 19:18
      +2

      Garmin voice navigation is rubbish (and their maps aren't much better!):

      1. Navigation instructions rely on street names, so if signs are lacking (not an uncommon occurrence in my experience), or can't be read after dark, you have little or no idea where/when to turn. My old TomTom would say, "Turn right at the traffic lights", which was simple to follow and enabled me to get into the correct lane, whereas the Garmin will say, "Turn right at Cowley St", which in many cases leaves me not knowing anything at all that's helpful.

      2. Street name pronunciations are so bad that they're often incomprehensible, especially with any 'foreign' street names. Just yesterday I had to turn into Houghton St pronounced as "Horten" - maybe the Queen speaks that way, but I don't think the rest of us do. Astonishingly, abbreviations such as "Crt" (for 'Court') are voiced as though they are an actual word!

      3. The order in which navigation instructions are given is often dangerously lacking, so that as you approach a T-junction intersection, you may get no guidance as to the correct direction to turn, but will be told how to proceed through a roundabout as much 5 kilometres ahead!

      4. My old TomTom used to say, "Go straight ahead at the roundabout", which was easy to follow, whereas the Garmin will tell me to, "Take the second exit at the roundabout", which requires more thought, especially since sometimes an extra exit exists (or has been blocked off), which hasn't been included in the software!

      I could go on all day about the confusions and hazards of driving with a Garmin - suffice to say I would never buy a Garmin again after my experience with this wretched device.

      • Russ on 03/01/2018 - 01:05

        Thanks, that's exactly the type of information I was hoping for.

  • JenPat on 02/01/2018 - 16:25
    +1

    I have used a few brands, but a Garmin is the best. We bought one on sale for a trip as it included NZ maps and have found it excellent.

  • voiletmay on 03/01/2018 - 07:23
    +1

    I've also used a few brands and definitely found garmin to be the best.

  • Ozpit on 03/01/2018 - 09:20
    +2

    I just mark up the route in my Melways with a red texta, rip out the page and sticky-tape it to my steering wheel. Never failed me yet. The old Melways is getting a bit thin, but.

  • ibuy on 03/01/2018 - 10:17
    +2

    With the heat, if you leave a garmin or any other GPS unit attached to the window on a hot day it will destroy the LCD and unit electronics pretty quickly as the inside of the car can heat up over 50 degrees. . When running the unit it is a good idea to have the aircon on and airflow around the unit (you can set the air towards the window). When not in use store in the console in the middle of the front seats or glovebox.

    You're probably best to look on eBay to find a cheap second hand one so if it is destroyed no love lost as far as parting with too much of your hard earned.

    • Russ on 03/01/2018 - 11:00
      +1

      I think they are built for the heat, or there would be lots of returns. For example, Navman units have 2-year warranty, so that includes two summers.

      The Australian standard for car alarms says that they must operate correctly in 70 degrees ambient temperature, and I'm pretty sure that cars do get to that air temperature in some locations. I used to live in Alice Springs, many days at or over 40 degrees in the shade.

      When I buy one, I'll be tying a white handkerchief around it, like a scarf so I can still see the display and enter addresses.

  • StuffnStuff on 03/01/2018 - 12:26
    +3

    I've used many different systems and always come back to TomTom. You no longer have to pay a premium for one, they have been shipping with free map updates for life. The new models come with free live traffic info. I've also tried the TomTom phone app which is also excellent (but is a cheap subscription either for 1 week, month, year or 3 years). I've traveled through some of the busiest cities in Europe like Rome and Paris using TomTom so know first hand that the voice guidance is excellent as the last thing you want to be doing is looking at a screen when in a busy city driving on the wrong side of the road….it just takes the stress out of driving.

    • Russ on 04/01/2018 - 01:23

      the last thing you want to be doing is looking at a screen when in a busy city driving

      Exactly. I'd rather keep my eyes on the road while driving.

      The cheapest TomTom I can find with live traffic is $197:
      https://www.thegoodguys.com.au/tom-tom-via-52-5-inches-gps-3…

      And that one uses your smartphone's data connection for the traffic updates, so it's not that useful to me. "Your TomTom VIA uses your smartphone's data connection to provide you with real-time traffic, speed camera updates and MyDrive content". Everyone who drives the car will need to install the app, that is inconvenient. Do you know of any inexpensive models that don't need a smartphone for traffic info?

      Otherwise I'm looking at the Navman MY570LMT or the Navman EZY350LMT, both currently $149:
      https://www.jbhifi.com.au/gps-car-audio/navman/navman-my570l…
      https://www.thegoodguys.com.au/navman-ezy-350lmt-5-inches-gp…

      Both of these have built-in radio receivers, that receive traffic information through the RDS data that FM radio stations transmit. No smartphone needed.

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