Pre-purchase analysis of various aftermarket in-car-GPS products
What I want:
- GPS navigation with up to date European map coverage (UK, Germany, France, Denmark and Poland)
- MP3 Player (picture viewer a plus) that can integrate with car stereo (tape adapter or FM) to displace an existing CD player.
- Bluetooth phone integration (for voice but SMS display or to speech a plus) to displace a hands free kit.
- SD card reader and/or hard drive space (1GB SD cards currently retailing for €20) for maps and music.
- Easy to carry with a minimum setup (i.e. cables, handset pairing and route programming) as devices can’t be left in the car overnight due to possible theft and damage to unit from moisture and cold temperatures.
A summary 3 of the best looking devices based around what differentiates them:
Garmin Nüvi 660 (€510-€580 online) US Spec, Review
+ Lightest and flattest device (useful when carrying outside of car)
- FM transmitter sold as deactivated in Europe (can I buy from abroad?)
- NAVTEQ Maps don’t have Poland coverage (extra €150 euros? Hey, Poland’s in the EU now or didn’t anyone tell the Americans?)
Garmin StreetPilot C550 (€370-€400 online) US Spec, DE Spec, Review
- No Picture viewer (an odd shortcoming?)
- NAVTEQ Maps don’t have Poland coverage (Again, Poland’s in the EU now or didn’t anyone tell the Americans?)
TomTom Go 910 (€510-€520 online) UK Spec, DE Spec, Review
+ Best text to speech
- No integral RDS-TMC. This feature requires an external RDS-TMC Traffic Receiver (€ 99.95 for an FM antenna??) which is listed as out of stock. Unlike that integral power/antenna used by Garmin (is this patented?) this amounts to more cable clutter. Also, cannot be used in conjunction with an iPod?
- No SD card reader in high end model (odd shortcoming as this model has a good picture viewer?) so I need a computer to get pictures off a camera onto the device.
EDIT 26/11/2006: Apparently FM Transmitters are in the process of being legalised across Europe. “iPod FM transmitters will be legal in UK from 8 December” click, the only reason its taking so long it to ratify and implement the required standards in all the member states. Maybe I could import the Nüvi from the UK?
EDIT 28/11/2006:
Me to Garmin…
The Nüvi 660 FM Transmitter feature is listed as only being available in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand. However, as the ban on FM transmitters has been lifted in Germany and will be shortly in the UK (source):
Will the Nüvi 660 including FM transmitter be sold in UK/Europe?
Will it be CE marked?
Will it be available in time for Christmas?
Garmin reply…
Dear Mark
Thank you for contacting Garmin Europe
As the FM transmitter is illegal to use in some countries in Europe, the nuvi 660s that are sold in Europe do not have the FM transmitter hardware installed inside, because of this there is nothing that can be activated by a software update (as there is no FM transmitter inside the unit).
We are aware that the law has recently changed in the UK, however it is still illegal to use FM transmitters in some countries in Europe. We will not be including the FM transmitter in future Nüvi 610 or 660’s as these units (European models) were designed to not have them. We may however include them in future released products.
Regards,
**** ********
Product Support Garmin (Europe) Ltd
You know it’s illegal to drive over 25mph in Liechtenstein (something to do with horse and cart), so maybe BMW shouldn’t sell cars in Europe capable of driving over this limit just to comply with this rule?
Conclusion
At the moment the Garmin StreetPilot C550 because its the only one that does what is says on the tin. The others require extras to reach their full functionality. However, I will probably wait to see if any new models are comming out in the new year which solves these issues.
EDIT 03/02/2007:
Keeping an eye on the Nuvi 670
http://www.garmin.com/products/nuvi670/
EDIT 17/07/2007:
Finally, Go 520 & 720 - With FM transmitter 
http://www.yournav.com/content/n/341/GO_520_+_720_loaded_with_new_options.html
