Let's Discuss the TomTom 5 Bluetooth GPS Car Kit

[rkalich]

I must say the TomTom proved to be useful on my 16 hr evacuation from Houston. (normally a 4 hr trip to Dallas). Now that I'm back home, I can say that I dont plan on any road trips for a while.
The GPS was especially useful in finding alternate routes to avoid the 2.5 million Houstonians evacuating at the same time. Although I should have used it sooner.
Even though the hurricane ended up not hitting us directly, I still think that evacuating was the wise thing to do. We really dodged a big one.

Glad to hear that!

I wonder if anyone who was in the same traffic situation upped for Tom Tom Traffic? Not sure if the re-route would have helped, but it's an interesting idea...

[Kwan]

Unfortunately I had just gotten the TomTom and did not have time to sign up for the free month trial of Traffic. :mad:
I dont know if that would have helped. I think it doesnt relay info on slow traffic due to massive numbers of cars, just accidents and constructions.

[kisstherain]

I must say the TomTom proved to be useful on my 16 hr evacuation from Houston. (normally a 4 hr trip to Dallas)...We really dodged a big one.

Good to hear that everything was ok.

I'm thinking of getting TomTom. I've read that the software itself is great, esp. its rerouting engine, but that the Teleatlas maps are not very up-to-date for some areas like Ft. Worth and Houston.

What do you think of the map accuracy of the Houston and Dallas area?

For example, according to the following review, TomTom Go (I believe it's last year's version) doesn't even have SH 249 in Houston: http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/tomtom-go-usa.php

Does TT5 even have this highway?

It's a shame TomTom doesn't partner with Navteq for Navigator.

[Kwan]

I havent experienced anything to make me think that the roads were not up to date. Tomball Pkwy Hwy 249 is in there.
When I was driving around Fort Worth, everything was up to date also.
FYI, there was a section on their website on updating maps that was "coming soon". Who knows if there will be a charge, but looks like they're looking into keeping current customers updated.

[chris]

I had one instance where TomTom was incorrect. It asked me to exit at Exit 30 on the Long Island Expressway. Well, after construction, there was on Exit 30. I suspect that's more the work of the geniouses here in NYC, then TomTom.:rolleyes: The 3D nav was dead on and I suspected where the correct exit was as well.

-Chris

[kisstherain]

Thanks guys for the reassurance.

Kwan - as you know, Houston is growing rapidly with new houses springing up everywhere. Chris - the northeast coast, esp. in the NJ/NY area and the west coast, esp the SF and LA areas, are the 2 areas that TomTom users seem to have the least complaints about, probably because they're not building out new areas as much.

I try comparing addresses in Google Earth which uses 2005 Teleatlas data and Yahoo Maps which uses the 2005 Navteq map data. There was 1 address in the Houston surrounding area that was about 2-3 years old which Google did not find but Yahoo did. The weird thing is that Google Maps, which I believe uses 2005 Navteq instead of Teleatlas data, couldn't find it either and I tried different abbreviations and non-abbreviations.

Do you know the year of Teleatlas data that is included with TomTom? 2004 or 2005?

Thanks again.

[chris]

Chris - the northeast coast, esp. in the NJ/NY area and the west coast, esp the SF and LA areas, are the 2 areas that TomTom users seem to have the least complaints about, probably because they're not building out new areas as much.

Yeah...they just build UP now.:rolleyes:

Do you know the year of Teleatlas data that is included with TomTom? 2004 or 2005?

Not sure, I'd suggest send a quick email to TomTom. I'm sure they could help out.

[kisstherain]

Yeah...they just build UP now.:rolleyes:

Makes for a great view though.

Not sure, I'd suggest send a quick email to TomTom. I'm sure they could help out.

Will do. I didn't even think about that because I've read that TomTom support is generally not very helpful, at least compared to Mapopolis' support.

[chris]

Will do. I didn't even think about that because I've read that TomTom support is generally not very helpful, at least compared to Mapopolis' support.

They should be able to help, since this is a "generic" question about the product. Let us know how you make out.

-Chris

[Kwan]

So nobody else's TomTom yard stick is off?