£450.00 Of Junk

[JohnGray]

There are at least half a dozen online UK "route planners" on the internet, and it is interesting to try them all on a particular route you know, to see what transpires.

Occasionally I drive by myself from Gloucester to Sherborne, Dorset, and the most direct route is M5, M4, M32 into the middle of Bristol, then more or less due south on the agonising slow A37 and A371, which have a multitude of speed restrictions, traffic lights, bends, small villages, and so forth. Total distance, about 75-80 miles.

However, I tried a new planner and it suggested going all the way down the M5 to J23, then south-east on dual carriageway (mostly) to Sherborne. Total distance, about 100 miles -- BUT QUICKER, as I found by driving it!

I preferred the route which was faster but 25% longer, because there was fewer hazards, less hassle, and fewer "decision points". OK, so it cost me another two or three quid in petrol, but justified, IMHO.

If I had had TomTom GO, I would have been quite happy to let it decide its own way, confident in the knowledge that I'd get there, fairly stress-free. And after all, it is only a tool to assist you to get from A to B -- and the older you get, the more you need crutches...

John

[Patrick_uk]

Just tried a few routes with www.viamichelin.com and got mixed results.
First route from in-laws to mine directed me the same as TTG, via Colchester town centre. This is not the route we drive ourselves.
Second route, Braintree to Chelmsford directed me AROUND Braintree whereas TTG directed me THROUGH Braintree. Viamichelin took me the opposite way around a block near my destination.

Never used any other GPS device.


Just swings and roundabouts I guess...................

[boris]

All this talk of Garmin......I was looking at the Garmin StreetPilot3. Funny thing is, shop wouldn't let me have it for £400.

My real point is that I drive all over the middle section of the UK, and as of yet, the TTG has always picked as good a route, usually better than the routes I was using, (mostly long trips). They say you get what you pay for, but for my money, with TTG you get much more...

One REALLY useful feature would be that having used the @alternative route' an dthen maybe the 'avoid part of route' feature it would be nice to be able to save the route for next time! Still, great VFM.

[JohnBoy59]

I drive from Pulborough in Sussex to Cheam Surrey most days and have always used the M23. Then I bought my TTG and was amazed to see that it took me on a wild goose chase through the Country so I ignored it. Last week I thought I'd give TTG's route a go. It knocked 7 miles off the time and saved nearly 10 mins. I was gobsmacked.

[Oldboy]

Having used TTG for several months now I find that it gets it right most of the time. To give it credit it has to allow for the 'average'!!

The Avoid Roadblock can be a godsend.

I give it a B+
_________________
Richard

TT 910 V7.903: Europe Map v1045
TT Via 135 App 12.075: Europe Map v1120

[Boxbrownie]

Hi Ferret,

I just got TT go at the weekend from the Channel Tunnel terminus (Dixons) as a point of interest for £365....but I have been using TT3 for a long time now and find TTG better in many respects, I tried your route and found the third alternative to be the shortest (9.9 miles @ 36minutes) and taking only 7 mins longer than the first route selected by TTG which was 14.5 miles. I don't quite see the problem, it calculates different routes very fast and easily and you can pick one that looks like your preferred on the pre display map shown. Granted if you wanted to go via specific locations you would be lucky if TTG picked the exactl route, if it did maybe we could get it to pick next weeks lottery numbers too?

Best regards David

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