TomTom Launches In-Dash GPS Comments

Author Gordon Kelly
Published 21st Oct 2009
TomTom Launches In-Dash GPS

Comments for TomTom Launches In-Dash GPS

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comment Ben said on 21st October 2009

Of course if you don't want the rubber marks you could always get something like this instead http://www.proclipusa.com. Seems a bit cheaper!

comment Gordon said on 21st October 2009

@Ben - yep, but you do realise I was being sarcastic? ;)

comment Kaurisol said on 21st October 2009

@Gordon - I realise you were being sarcastic, but try one of these instead....

http://www.lakeland.co.uk/F/keyword/car%20mat

There are other suppliers as well, but they all seem to be about the same price. We use one of these with our satnav - no rings on the windscreen, and still portable between cars.

comment Wedge said on 21st October 2009

That looks very tidy! I have a TomTom One and a Sony Bluetooth head unit already, but I don't have a double-DIN space in my dash. I'll definitely be looking out for suitable cars when I fancy a change. I wouldn't miss the CD slot as I already have my music on a tiny USB pendrive but would welcome a better way to browse the folders than I have to put up with at present.

I hope the silver button releases the main TomTom unit to prevent theft. I also think it's a small shame they haven't added a DAB tuner. I had the Sony in car DAB in my last car and really miss it now.

comment Prem said on 21st October 2009

Too little, too late.

Most cars nowadays have a bespoke stereo fitted making this impossible to fit - this means that this Tomtom is confined to older cars only. However, most older cars only have a single din slot, making this useless.

Had Tomotm release this and a single DIN version 3-4 years ago, they'd have cornered the after-market stereo market.

comment Chris said on 21st October 2009

Yeah, I'm struggling to think of any new cars with a standard double-DIN arrangement... You can of course use fascia adapters to convert from a non-standard dash hole, but I've found these to be flimsy, prone to scratches and sometimes they don't fit flush with the dash or their colour doesn't quite match that of the interior.
Plus, if its going to replace the car's stereo then the audio functions and iPod integration better be up to scratch. Tom Tom don't exactly have pedigree in this area...

comment StephenW said on 21st October 2009

At the risk of derisive comments, my Smart ForTwo (451 Pulse) has a double din setting and I think that this would fit very nicely indeed. In fact, next years updates will include a double din pioneer navigation/radio/bluetooth unit in some models. That, however, does include a CD slot. Call me old fashioned, but I'd quite like that backwards compatibility.

What I *do* like, however, is the design of the TomTom unit...it's certainly understated in comparison to its competition.

comment Prem said on 24th October 2009

I understand where StepehenW and Chris are coming from, hence I was saying too little, too late.

Some cars will have a double-din available, but would you fit this? Other manufacturers (Alpine, Pioneer to name a few) have units that do far more and are in the same price league.

I have a 3 series BMW where I have used a facia adapter and changed the factory headunit to an Alpine one - does ipod, dvd, rear camera, satnav, bluetooth.

In my other car, a Renault Espace (where the stereo is in the boot), I've the an Alpine unit professionally cut into the centre glovebox. This does TV, DVD, ipod, rear camera, bluetooth, HDD player, satnav, 3 additional screens, etc.

If I was going through all that trouble, the Tomtom does not appeal because of its spec.

I really do like the Tomtom interface and its ease of use, but this is not enough.

comment MrGodfrey said on 24th October 2009

I realise I'm going to sound incredibly boring for talking about road safety, but it occurs to me that such a system would be more likely to distract from the road than a GPS mounted on the window or on top of the dash. In plenty of cars, the slot in question is situated fairly low and will cause you to continually look down, whereas with the more common GPS setup your eyes do not stray too far from the windscreen.

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