Sat Nav Reviews - Does Your Spankin' New GPS Really Suck?

Copyright (c) 2008 Tony Elliot

You've done all the right things. But it's only after the money's been hoovered off your plastic that you discover you are the proud owner of a suckless wonder. Bet it didn't even get a mention in that car navigation review you read, did it?

I suspect it goes largely unnoticed because reviewers in the course of testing spend only a few hours with a unit unlike buyers who - once they've handed over their cash - are stuck with their purchase for a few years at least.

Let me set the scene.

You're driving along minding your own business when, for reasons best known to itself your navigator, without warning, suddenly parts company with your windscreen.

By the time you look down your costly gizmo is either nestling in the comfort of your lap from where it continues to issue its instructions or it's trying to do so from the dark depths of your foot-well.

If it wasn't the first time it probably came as no surprise. So more than likely you spent the preceding 20 minutes or so getting wound up and distracted waiting for the dreaded moment when you're going to have to pull over and sort the thing out yet again.

It's the budget navs we're pointing the finger at for the most part but even at the top end problems can surface.

It almost goes without saying that navs at the low end are built to a price and aimed specifically at punters with limited funds. That's fair enough. Not everybody can afford or even want a no expense spared top of the heap GPS after all.

The thing is, budget models are an exercise in cost cutting and compromise, meaning your unit will come with the basics but of course, don't expect to find too many of the more desirable features and options you'd get at the top end included.

But despite the need to keep costs down, you wouldn't think that manufacturers would compromise on an absolute bare-bones necessity like providing a suction cup that really sucks up, would you?

Well, it appears that some do just that. The result? While some cheap sat navs really sucks others don't suck hard enough.

If you've hit the car navigation GPS review search button on endless occasions, read your share of sat nav reviews and eventually picked out a GPS that was pretty good all round but refuses to suck up, what do you do?

First off get practical, make sure it's not your windscreen. Try again after giving the area you intend your nav to live in a good clean.

If that doesn't work use a little water to dampen the suction cup and give it another go.

If it sticks like super glue all well and good, if not my advice is to do your blood pressure a favour and apply the ultimate cure - shove the thing back in its box and return to sender forthwith.

Now save a few more pennies, hit the car navigation GPS review search button again and go for something that's a little further up the sat nav food chain and less of a compromise in build quality.