I'm really into my satnavs. I first had a car satnav in a Citroen C5 back in 2002, followed by a £2,500 (ouch!) fitted Panasonic system in a Volvo in 2003, followed by a series of 6 TomTom units since then; TomTom 700, 900, 910, 920, 940 and 1005. The system in the Land Rover is the first standard fit system that I've had since the C5.

Now that I've done 5,000 miles in the Freelander I thought I'd put down my thoughts on the standard fit satnav Vs a £299 TomTom 1005. Perhaps anyone considering spending £1,500 on the upgrade might be interested in these thoughts:

Advantages of standard fit unit:

1. It's always there.
2. 7" screen.
3. Can't be stolen.
4. Voice instructions nice and clear through car load speakers.
5. Keeps the windscreen clear and there are no trailing cables.

Overall satnav rating: 4/10


Advantages of TomTom:

1. Unit can be programmed to auto zoom at junctions (will automatically zoom in to show all the details of junctions where you need to make a turn.)
2. Can be moved between cars.
3. Can take it with me to find places on foot and find my way back to the car if I'm in a strange town.
4. Don't have to take eyes off road to see it.
5. Can access Google. This is unbelievably useful. Even live weather forecasts are there.
6. More sophisticated and reliable traffic information. TomTom ditched the crude FM traffic information system that Land Rover use years ago!
7. May update software (FOC) instantly online.
8. More frequent and much less expensive map updates. I can have at least 6 new maps over 18 months, instantly downloaded online, for £19.50 at today's price. Just one new map CD for the Land Rover is £149
9. If it breaks (and none of mine ever have), I can throw it away and buy another one online, rather than be at the mercy of the Land Rover dealer's service department.
10. Country lane maps are much more detailed. About 20% of my local lanes simply don't even appear on the Land Rover satnav!! Even some green lanes are marked at dotted lines on the TomTom.
11. Speed camera warnings are available.
12. Unit is much more customisable and it is much more intuitive to use. GUI on the Land Rover unit still looks like it's in Beta Testing. In 1995.
13. Can understand voice instructions when setting destinations.
14. Can be used to plan journeys from my office desk / home / hotel room, without having to go and sit in the car.
15. Despite the screen being 5", rather than 7", the map is still clearer and has more detail.
16. Offers accurate GPS speedo - very useful when setting the cruise control to a genuine 70mph (not 67mph!) on motorways.
17. Would free up a nice cubby hole in the middle of the fascia if it didn't have a useless standard fot satnav there already!
18. Much clearer motorway lane change instructions.
19. Don't have to keep agreeing to legal information each time it's switched on! Grrr...
20. Latest TomTom 1005 comes with a proper "glass" screen.

Overall satnav rating: 8/10


In conclusion, if it were practical to remove the standard unit, put the cubby hole from the S or GS back, then return the satnav when the car is sold - I would do it today!

PS: None of this affects how much I like the basic car. It's still the best thing since sliced bread!!

Last edited by Tigger on 14th Aug 2011 7:05 am. Edited 6 times in total

The OEM sat nav in my MY11 SD4 takes full UK postcodes - but i agree Tom Tom is better.

Enter the first 4 digits eg AB12 - then touch the virtual SPACE BAR and the next 3 digits become available to enter

No no no, I hate Tom toms. The freelander built in sat nav is great! Sat navs stuck on windscreens look ! They could improve the land rover sat a little, like in the disco 4. But mine does everything I need and never failed in 50,000 of driving in 18 months!

Last tom Tom I used went out the window, as it would not get a signal in London!

I'm working with an iPhone application and the tom-tom car kit fitted to the roof of the cubby so it covers half the front. Then have the wiring routed down the dash to the rear power outlet.

Works great and I don't miss the expensive manufacturer systems at all.

Will try to post some piccys later...

 2012 DISCOVERY 4 GS AUTO ORKNEY GREY
2012 FREELANDER 2 SD4 GS AUTO BALTIC BLUE - GONE
2011 FREELANDER 2 TD4 GS MANUAL BALI BLUE - GONE

Quote:

Advantages of TomTom:
1. It works on full post codes (standard fit unit can't cope with more than the first half of the post code!)

Mines ok with full postcode and long lats!

I fully agree with Tigger but for the post codes - use space bar as others described above. I have a TT Go 740 Live which is far superior in nearly every way. I very much doubt I will be spending £149 on the 2011/12 disc update! 10MY (Sept 09) TD4 HSE Auto in Stornoway Grey (Now Gone)

08 FL2 TD4 SE Manual in Rimini Red (Now Gone)

Swingwing wrote:

The OEM sat nav in my MY11 SD4 takes full UK postcodes - but i agree Tom Tom is better.

Enter the first 4 digits eg AB12 - then touch the virtual SPACE BAR and the next 3 digits become available to enter

It looks like I may stand corrected on the issue of post codes. I'll give the standard system an extra point on that basis

However, driving to Dawlish last night, I noticed something else - the TomTom can be set to auto zoom at junctions. I'll replace the point about post codes with one about the auto zoom!

dunkley201 wrote:

I fully agree with Tigger but for the post codes - use space bar as others described above. I have a TT Go 740 Live which is far superior in nearly every way. I very much doubt I will be spending £149 on the 2011/12 disc update!

Ouch! £149!! That's 7 times the cost of at least 6 map upgrades over 18 months on the TomTom

Tigger wrote:

However, driving to Dawlish last night, I noticed something else - the TomTom can be set to auto zoom at junctions. I'll replace the point about post codes with one about the auto zoom!

I think you underestimate the advantage of the fact that the LR unit is built in.

About 18 months ago, some socially disadvantaged people decided to break into every car in the street that had a sucker mark on the winscreen - irrespective of whether the satnav was actually in the car.
Got the wifes satnav but the son keeps his in the house.
I spent a day replacing two passenger side windows, rather than let the insurance know what sort of low lifes live nearby.
Lets say £150 for a new satnav, £50 for glass and half a day of my labour (£90) replacing the glass, then £149 every couple of years replacing the discs in my satnav seems cheap.

Never did replace Gills satnav - she doesn't want to be broken into again Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner

I have to agree, for a £2k option I wouldn't buy the built in unit. In-fact the only benefit of having the system is that it looks more aesthetically pleasing then the empty cuppyhole! Fair enough if it comes standard on the higher end models but you obviously pay to have it on that spec model.

For the amount of time I actually use my Tom-Tom it certainly wouldn't be worth paying £2k I'm happy sticking with my TomTom520Music and if it fits into the cuppyhole even better. Plus updates are much cheaper on the TomTom's now anyway. Freelander 2 TD4 GS Manual MY11 - 61REG Stratstone Mayfair
Sumatra black, cloth, DAB Radio, Park Distance Control Front, Privacy Glass, 17" Full Size Spare Wheel.
Aftermarket: Mudflaps

Andy131 wrote:

sucker mark on the winscreen

dunkley201 wrote:

Andy131 wrote:

sucker mark on the winscreen

I use a bean bag type mat for my TomTom that sits on the dash - no sucker marks!

landy19840 wrote:

dunkley201 wrote:

Andy131 wrote:

sucker mark on the winscreen

I use a bean bag type mat for my TomTom that sits on the dash - no sucker marks!

Don't you have an in built one in the SE???