Satnav - Recommendations Please

[joko]

I am looking for one that i can customise the route options - the one i have takes me through the town centres every single time, and there is no way to stop it - drives me crazy getting stuck in rush hour and one way systems when i want to bypass the the whole town!
I have tried clever routes, short, fast etc and its the same.
i have a medion gopal at the moment - and other than this this a pretty good satnav.

I don't want to spend a lot though.

can anyone recommend anything?

thanks

[Buenchico]

Have you tried a map?

No, I'm not being facetious but many people seem to find that it's best to use a conventional road atlas (£1.99 from many supermarkets or 'The Works') to plan the main part of the journey and then to use a satnav to negotiate local roads at either end of it.

My work takes me all over the country but I don't own a satnav. (I use a £1.99 road atlas for the main part of the journey and a print-out from the AA routefinder for the 'fiddly' bits).

[gingejbee]

I really do agree with Chris...my car has a built-in sat-nav which is rarely used. I much prefer to route-plan myself with a road atlas.. in that way, you have a "feel" for where you are and which direction you're going!

[joko]

yes of course i have used maps.

i want a good satnav though

i do plan the route with a map before i go but i cant read it when i am driving, can i?

a satnav interface IS a map - its just like someone sitting beside you with a roadmap telling you which way to go and turning the pages for you

[237SJ]

I`ve got a TomTom Start 25 (I think Start 20 is UK and Start 25 includes Europe). I can ask it for alternative routes. If I was buying one now though, I would get a 'live' one as it is useful to know about any problems on the roads. I`m quite happy with the Start 25 though.

[Hopkirk]

I use a satnav, but like the others I recommend planning or at least checking the route with an atlas.

Satnavs are very clever, but at the same time very stupid.

[Hopkirk]

OK I admit I didn't read your second post before I answered.

I suspect if you bought one of the two market leaders (Tomtom and Garmin) you would get better results, but not the perfection you seek.

I don't get the option to customise my route on my Garmin, but I just wouldn't follow the route if it took me through a town centre unnecessarily.