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Sat Nav ? map book ? or just looking at the signs ? journies

(39 Posts)
bikergran Thu 05-Jul-18 13:43:36

hmm...didnt think of reading the phone maps! I do use reading glasses , so not sure if the phone would be large enough, but just having looking at the sat nav (by the way its £58) Binatone and good reviews. the screen is similar size to my phone so I will give it some serious thought. maybe I will try the phone out first on a proper journey..thanks for different ideas smile

Blinko Thu 05-Jul-18 13:41:50

I use a sat nav for unfamiliar places. It's the fine tuning when you get somewhere that I find it really helpful. Mind you, I haven't tried navigating by smart phone... maybe I need to give that a go.

Eglantine21 Thu 05-Jul-18 13:26:19

Sat nav,! I hate auto correct.

Eglantine21 Thu 05-Jul-18 13:25:51

I love my Satan’s. It takes so much stress out of driving in unfamiliar places. I’ve had it for a long time but if I was starting now I would get a new phone and use Google maps. I like the company too!

MawBroon Thu 05-Jul-18 12:58:35

I rarely do more than glance at the screen when I am stationary, but the voice is reassuring and helps keep me company!

tanith Thu 05-Jul-18 12:55:31

I have a satnav in my car but it needs updating and they want £150 to update it so I borrow OHs if I need to go somewhere I don't know. It has an integral camera also which is very handy just in case. My GD used Google maps on her phone and always moans she can't read the screen and I'd need to change my glasses to read the screen impossible when driving. I find I can glance at the screen on the satnav to check speeds, traffic, and plenty of lane changing warnings in good time. So I definately prefer it over my phone.

Oopsadaisy53 Thu 05-Jul-18 12:54:42

I would go change your phone and go with with Google maps, but I always have a road map as back up, you can always pull over and check you are on the right road and have a calming coffee!

Start of on small trips and get your confidence back.

Happy driving

MawBroon Thu 05-Jul-18 12:46:53

Yes

Tweedle24 Thu 05-Jul-18 12:42:51

I always use my satnav and find it useful. It updates regularly and if there is a problem such as an accident or roadworks, it gives the option of being guided off the original route and around the problem. Does the Google maps do that?

MawBroon Thu 05-Jul-18 12:41:35

Has to be cheaper and honestly ((apart from the tendency to take me the shortest route including tiny country lanes) ?it is perfectly adequate. I always check the route first on AA directions in the internet though as sometimes the obvious route is longer but easier. I too am happy with motorways - nice big signs to tell me where I am!

bikergran Thu 05-Jul-18 12:36:29

thanks for suggestion (maw) I did have a go with mobile phone few weeks ago...just going round local places, but I have very little date on my phone(250mb) I am looking to change it but cnt do that for a month or so.
But yes the mobile did come into my thoughts, I suppose I could buy extra data for temp journeys.smile

MawBroon Thu 05-Jul-18 12:28:37

Don’t waste your money on a SatNav. Buy a cradle to stick on the dashboard for your mobile and use Google maps.

I also have to cope with driving on my own now I am without Paw and have done here (N Bucks) to Cheshire, Somerset, Birmingham (regularly) and Walthamstow in East London also regularly, including a maze of back streets once I come off the M11 and North Circular.
It is too much to cope with traffic, signs, being in the right lane, speed limits as well as finding your way.
Good luck!

bikergran Thu 05-Jul-18 12:22:49

tut! bad spelling was rushing ,,, hmm

bikergran Thu 05-Jul-18 12:21:47

Hello all.

Im contemplating starting to do longer drives again (long story cut short)
Dh died 4 yrs ago, we always had a car, we both drove. Ive driven for 40 yrs (not long drives other than holidays)

But nothing would have phased me where ever we would go.
Dh was good driver used to drive buses/lorries etc for many yrs and he always seem to know where we were going, even dictate a time we would be there !

Anyway 4 yrs on....had to give up car when dh died as was a mobility car.so been without one for about 3 n half yrs.(did have use of my dd car and my dads but never really used it)

So here I am with my lovely little second hand car, had it about 7 months now and going to start venturing further afield now.
But!! I seem to have lost the confidence to drive further afield .Im quite shocked at this but I think it has to do with grief.

So.......... Im thinking of getting a sat nav (my friend said its like having a personal navigator) must admit me and dh used to sit and plan journeys with the map book (long before sat navs) sigh.....

Do you? use a sat nav map book? or just go off instinct.
I'm feeling pretty confident at going to Whitby in the coming weeks (a 3 hour drive) then to Llandudno around 2 hours later in the year then at some time across country to Hull about 2 hours but think thats all motorway which I dont mind.

Is it worth buying a sat nav? Ive reviews them and theres a reasonable priced one in argo lots of relaly good reviews.

Have recently given up my motorcycle riding so ist not like I havnet been driving for yrs n yrs.