Amongst several other cool presents given and received, Mum bought me a Satnav for Christmas. It's almost exactly perfect for a present, as I'd just got to the point where one would obviously be nice, but not yet essential. The next Satnav I buy, if ever, may well be a utility item like a new computer or a new exhaust, but the first one is exciting to have, and relieves me of the chore of choosing one, rather than just trying it out.
Liv and I refer to her affectionately as "Kate" or "Bossy robot lady". Although I've seen Satnavs in other people's cars, it's interesting to experience driving with one for the first time. It planned both routes fine, which was roughly what I expected. It was not too intrusive: the voice is useful for a new journey, and would be too intrusive for a half-known journey, but if you turn it off, the screen would still be about perfect if you remember you have to turn left somewhere but not exactly where.
What was a very pleasant surprise was reports on heavy traffic. I knew in theory they did that, but hadn't realised until I tried it how much of a difference it would make to the journey. I assumed the reports would be like "heavy traffic on M6" and too vague to matter when you were already committed to the journey, but they made a big difference.
I only used the Satnav twice, from lancashire to Stoke and Stoke to Cambridge, but both times it gave an estimate of journey time plus N0 minutes traffic delay which was accurate to within ten minutes, and got more accurate as you went on, and on the first journey suggested a 20-minute-shorter diversion. Having an apparently reliable guide for that makes it so much easier to plan, and so much more relaxing, than not knowing how long the delays will be.
I can even imagine leaving the satnav on at home to see what times of day seem best for certain journeys. I assume it's only accurate for motorways, but it's still really nice.
Liv and I refer to her affectionately as "Kate" or "Bossy robot lady". Although I've seen Satnavs in other people's cars, it's interesting to experience driving with one for the first time. It planned both routes fine, which was roughly what I expected. It was not too intrusive: the voice is useful for a new journey, and would be too intrusive for a half-known journey, but if you turn it off, the screen would still be about perfect if you remember you have to turn left somewhere but not exactly where.
What was a very pleasant surprise was reports on heavy traffic. I knew in theory they did that, but hadn't realised until I tried it how much of a difference it would make to the journey. I assumed the reports would be like "heavy traffic on M6" and too vague to matter when you were already committed to the journey, but they made a big difference.
I only used the Satnav twice, from lancashire to Stoke and Stoke to Cambridge, but both times it gave an estimate of journey time plus N0 minutes traffic delay which was accurate to within ten minutes, and got more accurate as you went on, and on the first journey suggested a 20-minute-shorter diversion. Having an apparently reliable guide for that makes it so much easier to plan, and so much more relaxing, than not knowing how long the delays will be.
I can even imagine leaving the satnav on at home to see what times of day seem best for certain journeys. I assume it's only accurate for motorways, but it's still really nice.