TomTom Start 25 Europe

Have an older Honda with a built in Sat Nav that is starting to fail, and Honda also want £200 for DVD with updated maps! So I bought the Tom Tom Via 135 special edition from Halfords with lifetime maps (take note Honda.) The device works well, the display is good, entering locations is easy - I like the fact destination can be entered with a Lat and Long which I can obtain from Googe Earth which is spot on better than post codes.

The screen attachment device was a bit problematical but have mastered it now. I bought a Tom Tom mounting kit with the device that fits in the air grill but is totally useless so don't spend money on that.

All in all however a really good buy.

I already owned a Tomtom one 2nd edition Europe with an old map. Instead of buying a new map I bought this from Halfords a week ago. I chose the start 25 with free lifetime maps which I decided was a no brainer being very much better that laying out the high price for a single, time limited, map for my old device. I cannot sing the praises of the new unit high enough. I first downloaded "my Tomtom" (not Tomtom home). Then, registering the device to secure the lifetime maps was simplicity itself. I can now get 4 new map updates each year. The large screen is excellent but found you do need to set the brightness to maximum on sunny days. Day and night displays are available as well as a choice of map colours. My hearing is not as good as it used to be but, with the volume also set at maximum, I can hear the very clear spoken instructions fine, having chosen the option to link the sound output to the speed/volume of the car. I also chose, from the options, the female voice that gives spoken street names. I was very puzzled at first when I tried to type in a large town in Spain that was not recognised. The reason is that it is necessary to first touch the small country flag icon at the top right of the screen, there being a different flag for each of the countries on the device. I quite liked the built-in suction pad at the back and the ability to either mount it on the windscreen or, as I prefer, on a dashboard pad. I did not need it, but Halfords will give you all the basic operating instructions following purchase. If you need to you can download the user manual to your computer (free). Operating the device is anyway really quite simple. It secured a GPS fix quickly. It is only then necessary to choose "navigate to" type in the town, then the street, then the house number and it will take you to the door - as long as you are in the car of course! You can also choose to navigate to a postcode or alternatively to a point on the map - by touching the place on the map you want to go to. You can enter a list of favourites - the addresses of friends, relatives, locations etc for the quick choosing of destinations. When on motorways, the lane assist is good as you are approaching junctions and all spoken instructions are given with plenty of time to spare - not at the last second. Automatic zooming at junctions is also available with the route at the junction or roundabout clearly shown. The remaining distance of your trip is available and, after setting the clock, the arrival time at your destination is usually pretty accurate. My opinion is that this is a brilliant device and I do not want or need anything more. It does also have what is called a "one time" download of speed cameras and does give a sound warning when approaching a camera. I am left to assume that one does not get camera updates. That said, I already have a GPS speed camera device with lifetime updates. I have no complaints at all with the start 25 Europe. At just under £130 the price is good, particularly bearing in mind the "lifetime maps promotion" that runs now only to 31st July 2013.