Comparison Between Ford Mfd And Tomtom

[buford_t_justice]

Would somebody who has had or currently has experience of both the Ford MFD Sat Nav and 3rd party items such as TomTom be kind enough to post their comments about each one?

 

I currently use the likes of TomTom and would be interested to know what you think of the Ford system, which you prefer, graphics, POI's, user-friendly, etc.....

 

Thanks.

[Guest gooner52]

hi

 

i also have been running tomtom since version 1

now use the 910 which is great..

as u know very easy and simple 2 use

 

also run a go500 in wifes focus,again easy to use

 

never used the ford sat nav system

 

my main sat nav unit is a pioneer avic800,which is a hideaway unit and a pioneer av head unit 5700dvd

 

the whole system has a lot of add ons,which is great(dvd/reverse camera/ps2/freeview/6 disc changer also plays wma files)

 

the unit is dvd based covers all countries.has tmc.and all the things that come with a good sat nav system

 

so would not change it

 

what tomtom version are you running

[Guest HairyPlateEater]

I'm running tomtom 5 on a pda and love it. I keep trying the other varieties of satnav (garmin etc) whenever a new version of tomtom comes out to see if i'll be swayed away from it, but I personally prefer tomtom. I've been running it on pdas since V3 and it keeps getting better.

 

Not used the ford system either ... Bleeno has it fitted, hopefully he'll be along and give his experiences to enlighten us all. :)

[Guest VR6!]

tt500 :) and unfortunately a tt910 :) there are other systems available, try them before you splash out! tt have let them selves down with the 10+ series! a poorly designed improvement on what was a market leading range let down by software glitches, that result in constant software updates in an attempt to cure faults that were not on the earlier models and with each update you lose a feature in return for a so called improvement!

[gregers]

well im now running a garmin streetpilot,seems to be a lot better then the pda system i had running(well in my area anyway)kept on losing the satilites,which was more to do with the reciver no doubt,but it took an age to sort it out with the garmin its up and running within 30 seconds.

[Guest HairyPlateEater]

I've had a few combinations of pda and gps receiver and it seems to me that the better the gps receiver, the better the satnav. I'm running a Toshiba E400 pda which is comparitively old and slow to current pda standards, but with a Globalsat BR-355 gps receiver cold start is lightning quick and virtually no lag on the move. I started off with a more expensive quicker pda and cheaper gps receiver, but found that this was almost unusable as the receiver couldn't keep up with the pda!

[Guest BagPuss]

TomTom have only recently released the Navigator 6 one up from the TomTom Mobile 5.

Linky ----> TomTom Navigator 6

 

Although its only compatible on the faster PDA's etc.

 

So I'm stuck with TT5 on my Nokia 9500, although using it we've never had any problems so far, spot on in fact even TomTom Traffic is spot on, well worth the yearly fee.

 

Another place to try for reviews and info is----> Pocket GPS World

Excellent source of info.

[Guest gooner52]

bp thats a good websitem8 by the way

 

i seen a lot of peeps using loads of different units

 

ie(tomtom,garmin etc)

we did use the pda with tt5 which was great

 

but went 4 the ttgo500 in july 2005,and it was great also.

 

so when the 10 series came out ie 910 710 etc..had to get one

and its a lot better

 

tomtom buddies is great,voice speech is spot on,reads out street names etc,

 

also texts,and the mp3 jukebox is ace have over 2000 tracks on mine loads of elvis hpe :) ,when the whole unit is riged up to my av headunit its ace

 

tomtom main fault is.loads of updates..and no sooner have you got use to one unit

 

every aprill out comes a ruddy new one,i think tomtom should spend a bit more time on units that are out,

 

as for the gps signal,i have always bought the external ariel.so never had no probs

 

on the 910 u have a auto gps fix,so that area is covered

just wating to get the external tmc box at the moment

 

i think the 910 is one of the best units on the market at the mo :)

[Guest VR6!]

the TCM unit for the 10+ series is a joke! it takes too long to latch onto a signal, drops it then takes for ever to find it again! it's over priced and overated for what it is! stick with the downloadable traffic via the traffic button!

[buford_t_justice]

hi

 

i also have been running tomtom since version 1

now use the 910 which is great..

as u know very easy and simple 2 use

 

also run a go500 in wifes focus,again easy to use

 

never used the ford sat nav system

 

my main sat nav unit is a pioneer avic800,which is a hideaway unit and a pioneer av head unit 5700dvd

 

the whole system has a lot of add ons,which is great(dvd/reverse camera/ps2/freeview/6 disc changer also plays wma files)

 

the unit is dvd based covers all countries.has tmc.and all the things that come with a good sat nav system

 

so would not change it

 

what tomtom version are you running

 

 

I currently using Mio Map v3.2 (similar to iGO 2006). Over the past few years it's always been TomTom through my IPAQ including the latest V6. I've tried Co-Pilot, Navigon, Destinator, Route66 to name but a few and always came back to TomTom but I must say MioMap seems to have the edge for me just now.

 

The reason for asking about the Ford/VW MFD unit is that just recently I had the loan of Vauxhall Vectra with SatNav built-in. The bigger screen was great compared to the IPAQ and although it didn't appear to offer 3D viewing whilst driving it made me wonder how good or bad the Ford version was given that in technology terms it's quite old now and the Vauxhall unit was brand new.

 

Keep the comments coming!

[Guest BagPuss]

The only other one I've tried is Wayfinder, but that updates via GPRS (yep no GPS device :lol: ) so it was very slow to update and because they had problems with the software working on the Nokia 9500/9300 it kept crashing. :rolleyes:

 

Tried using it when we went to Belgium, but obviously the GPRS Data costs abroad were a little higher than UK.

 

Can't remember how much it is per MB Data.

 

Anyway I got a refund and bought TT5M. B)

 

I know they brought out a new version of Wayfinder but since changing to TT5M I've never looked back.

[Smilge]

B) Hi Hijacker ...... I am running both the Ford Radio Nav system and an Acer n35 running TomTom 6. To be really honest with you I can list the advantages and disadvantages of both but it will take time

 

TomTom 6 OK for POI''s and 7 figure postal code destination entries but I would agree with VR6:

 

poorly designed improvement on what was a market leading range let down by software glitches, that result in constant software updates in an attempt to cure faults that were not on the earlier models and with each update you lose a feature in return for a so called improvement!

I found if you enable and display many POI's such as speed cameras ..the display loses its smoothness and quite a few times has locked up completely. I'm not keen on the off roading occasionally either.

 

The Ford system is very basic but very accurate. This was already fitted to the car when I bought it and for navigation reliability is fantastic. Although the TeleatlasDx 2006 upgrade disc was expensive at

[Guest gooner52]

ive been using the 910 for around 4 months now

 

and would say,its the best unit ihave used to date

 

cant wait till aprill to see what they come up with next :rolleyes:

[buford_t_justice]

:) Hi Hijacker ...... I am running both the Ford Radio Nav system and an Acer n35 running TomTom 6. To be really honest with you I can list the advantages and disadvantages of both but it will take time

 

TomTom 6 OK for POI''s and 7 figure postal code destination entries but I would agree with VR6:

 

poorly designed improvement on what was a market leading range let down by software glitches, that result in constant software updates in an attempt to cure faults that were not on the earlier models and with each update you lose a feature in return for a so called improvement!

I found if you enable and display many POI's such as speed cameras ..the display loses its smoothness and quite a few times has locked up completely. I'm not keen on the off roading occasionally either.

 

The Ford system is very basic but very accurate. This was already fitted to the car when I bought it and for navigation reliability is fantastic. Although the TeleatlasDx 2006 upgrade disc was expensive at

[Smilge]

However, it looks like when you specify a Gal with Sat-Nav from the factory they fit a slightly different instrument cluster. I assume these instructions are displayed in the section above where the MPG display is, in which case looks like it is blanked off on mine. I wouldn't be too keen on looking down to the radio area to view an instruction whilst driving!!

 

Looks like I'll be sticking with the IPAQ for a while longer.

 

Yea thats correct mate ...you do get verbal instructions from Gladys as well though :blink: For the amount you would have to pay for it there are far better Sat Nav Kits

 

Glad I could be of some help

[Guest VR6!]

and on the 910 mount front! I finally have a decent mount for my 910 :blink: while I await the delivery of replacment mount number five, I got bore and built myself a decent one from the faulty mounts stuck to the cupbard :huh: combining one of the original mounting shafts/ball and the very latest double click base unit I now have a mount that doesnt droop! doesnt rattle! has a better set of locating tabs and working phone mic input socket :o

[Smilge]

That sounds good mate ..... thats one problem I had with the acer ...crap mounting bracket

[ndcd]

Is yours th same as the dvd system on the new galaxy? I have been debating whether to splash out on this, but have found little info about it - even though presumably it is common to Ford vehicles.

 

You say that cameras arent included - can they be added?

 

Do you know who actually makes teh system so I can try to get a manual to see online before making my decision?

 

Thanks

 

:lol: Hi Hijacker ...... I am running both the Ford Radio Nav system and an Acer n35 running TomTom 6. To be really honest with you I can list the advantages and disadvantages of both but it will take time

 

TomTom 6 OK for POI''s and 7 figure postal code destination entries but I would agree with VR6:

 

poorly designed improvement on what was a market leading range let down by software glitches, that result in constant software updates in an attempt to cure faults that were not on the earlier models and with each update you lose a feature in return for a so called improvement!

I found if you enable and display many POI's such as speed cameras ..the display loses its smoothness and quite a few times has locked up completely. I'm not keen on the off roading occasionally either.

 

The Ford system is very basic but very accurate. This was already fitted to the car when I bought it and for navigation reliability is fantastic. Although the TeleatlasDx 2006 upgrade disc was expensive at

[Smilge]

Is yours th same as the dvd system on the new galaxy? I have been debating whether to splash out on this, but have found little info about it - even though presumably it is common to Ford vehicles.

 

You say that cameras arent included - can they be added?

 

Do you know who actually makes teh system so I can try to get a manual to see online before making my decision?

 

Thanks

 

Sorry I haven't replied earlier ...

 

The system fitted to the Mk 2's is based on the VW Navi systems but rebadged to the Ford Radio Navigation System and uses a TeleAtlas CD. The New Galaxy is a totally different system IIRC and has a touch screen system. The maps are again on CD or DVD produced by Teleatlas. To be honest, if I was buying a new Galaxy I would shell out on a decent OEM Nav system......they're better than the portable systems from my own experience.

 

Blaupunkt manufactured the old systems ...... not sure about the new.

 

Its Denso ..... and no you can't add speed cameras to it unless your a whizz at programming and overcoming copyright protection.

Edited September 10, 2007 by Bleeno

[ndcd]

Thanks. I think I will splash out on the built-in, this is something I have always wanted. Presumably new map disks are available from time to time and one might include camera sites. It is just a bit odd that neither the Ford dealers nor website can give any info about the system, and none of their demo vehicles has it built in!

 

Thanks again