Best cheap (£50) sat nav

[Patrick Bateman]

Dad's fancying one for his birthday and I know it'll get minimum use so what are we talking about these days for £50 or less?

I had an old tomtom that I bought in 2008 for less than £100 at the time and it was still better than most in-car systems for a while so I suspect even the cheap ones are decent these days?

[Heartworm]

An old phone and google maps, download the maps for the U.K. and no data needed.


Other than that’s, Do they still sell sat nav other than for specialist use.

[VR99]

I havent used my Tom Tom in years, Google maps much better IMO. No faffing about with updates etc and much smaller than a conventional sat nav

[ninepoint2]

VR99 said:

I havent used my Tom Tom in years, Google maps much better IMO. No faffing about with updates etc and much smaller than a conventional sat nav

Yes this or Waze or TomTom AmiGO

[Patrick Bateman]

I don't doubt any of that but dad will be 70 and is stubborn as can be.

A purpose-built sat nav will be easier for him.

[Mr-B]

Heartworm said:

An old phone and google maps, download the maps for the U.K. and no data needed.


Other than that’s, Do they still sell sat nav other than for specialist use.

Old phone has to be the cheapest way. Cheapest stand alone will be £60-70, Tomtom start52 is around that.

[Miserablegit]

Cheapest garmin at Halfords is £80.

[Tony1963]

I’d say look on Amazon, filter to your requirements, take your pick. Obviously not many people here recommend them at all, so it’s all down to you.

[The Mad Monk]

Patrick Bateman said:

I don't doubt any of that but dad will be 70 and is stubborn as can be.

A purpose-built sat nav will be easier for him.

I am several years older than your father.

Just use a phone. Buy him one for New Year, or something.

It's free to use.

[ecsrobin]

I’d go the phone route also. However if it must be a standalone unit it needs to be simple to use so TomTom is likely the only device I’d recommend for ease of use.

[Miserablegit]

For some reason I heard the line "I am several years older than your father" in a Darth Vader voice.

"Use the force Luke, the Tom Tom sat nav needs updating and Garmin are no longer supporting map updates as the lifetime updates relates to the lifetime of the Garmin gerbil called Bob"

[Riley Blue]

I'm 70 too and haven't used my TomTom for several years after discovering Waze.

[CrossMember]

Have you got a A-Z atlas on the shelf somewhere? You could buy him a nice new fax machine and just send him the pages he needs.

You'd probably have enough money left from your budget for a nice pack of Stabilo highlighters.

[Patrick Bateman]

Believe me I'd use a phone too, however, I know what my dad is like and that's a non-starter.

[Derek Smith]

Riley Blue said:

I'm 70 too and haven't used my TomTom for several years after discovering Waze.

I'm in my 70s. I had TomTom for life map updates. Then discovered that for life meant less than four years.

I went Google maps until I could get a sat nav on offer. Now completely Googled. No way would I return to TT or Garmin.

[mph999]

Currently I use Waze on my phone.

Previously I have had TomTom, but the last one I had was problematic - not very fair to judge on one experience, but. ...

I’ve bought Garmin for my father in the past, and if I were to buy another I would go Garmin.

[GrizzlyBear]

I only use a satnav a few times a year, so bought a second hand Garmin, I think it was less than £25.

It does the job, although I will admit to also having google maps on my phone.

[Patrick Bateman]

To revive this for myself this time...can anyone suggest a good quality windscreen holder for an iphone 5se?

[Huff]

If it doesn't have to be on the screen / there's a convenient spot on the dash, I like the original Nitize Steelie - a low-profile ring magnet glues on the phone (via 3m adhesive pad) and a spherical ballmount about 3/4" dia on the dash. Very adjustable, very secure, doesn't drag in the pocket

(just don;t put it in the same pocket as your bank cards. You learn that quickly)

You can find the original Steelie car mount, and knock-offs, in the usual online places (the Niteize.co.uk website only lists more expensive /complex versions at the mo)

Edited by Huff on Wednesday 5th February 16:43

[The Mad Monk]

Had an email today from TomTom telling me that I can't update my satnav and suggesting I buy a new TomTom!

Are they mad? Or do they think I am?

My (and my wife's) phone does all the satnavving that I need. Apple maps,Google maps and that Siri bloke - all for nothing! (well, included in the cost of the phone) Why would I want to buy a new TomTom satnav? At xx hundred pounds?