CAR WITH NAVIGATION SYSTEM

[bond]

Hi,
Has anyone rented a car with a navigation system? If so, is it worth the extra money? Some friends of mine rented a car with a portable navigation system and said the difference was unbelievable. The driver said it was the most stress free driving vacation he ever had and was able to enjoy the driving and sights without having to watch for road signs. His wife said it was the only vacation that they never got lost and or argued over watching for signs. They said anything they read or heard about that they wanted to see they just put the address in and the nav system took them directly to it. It had a memory so when you wanted to return to where you were staying you just selected 'Home' and it brought you directly there. It shows a moving map of where you are and a voice gives you clear directions. They said it cost $10 a day and it was the best $10 they ever spent. Thats $70 a week and to me that a bargain when I consider the hassle and stress I have had at times. I'm fine when I travel the same path but to go somewhere new usually ends with getting lost, being stressed with my wife and blaming her for not paying attention and usually wasting hours of good vacation time. I remember the first time in 1998 when we arrived in Orlando. We spent five hours looking for our villa before finally falling asleep in the car. When we stayed at a villa at Lake Berkley I hired a cab to drive in front of me to get me there. I was glad I did because realistically you would not find Lake Berkley with an Indian tracker.
Anyway I have just got to rent this Nav system. If you already have I would be glad to hear your opinion.

[Angua]

We have used a navigation system in our hire cars for the last few trips to the US and it has been very useful. You are exactly right in your details of how it works and it can be a godsend if you're going off the beaten track. Occasionally, it does get it wrong so it doesn't mean that the Navigator doesn't get shouted at but at least it doesn't take offence and will talk to you for the rest of the day. It soon gets you back on the right track anyway.

I would say that the roads and roadsigns in the States are great and we've only gone for the Navigation option because we've mostly been visiting friends in non-tourist areas of the States. Although, we did have the system when we drove from San Diego to Las Vegas as we didn't want to get lost in the desert!!![msnwink] How that was going to happen, I don't know, as it's one very long straight road. However, it did have it's advantages. Our Grand Marquis had a fault with the passenger side electric window so we went to the Vegas branch of the Hire Company to get it fixed. They couldn't fix it and only had one vehicle to replace it with, having the necessary California plates and Sat/Nav. It was a Lincoln Navigator What a shame!![msnsmile2][msnsmile2] That is one huge SUV, six leather seats, air-conditioned front seats, multi-changer CD Player. I was in heaven!!!!!

The only problem with Navigation is that you are limited as to which hire companies you use because not all companies provide this as an option. We're off to the US soon and this time we're going with Dollar even though they don't have Sat Nav as an option, simply because of the HUGE (and I mean Huge) savings we're going to make in the general hire of the vehicle.

I'll let you know whether it was worth it, when we get back![msneek] As I'm usually the Navigator, I'll be taking a rather large bottle of Kalms with me[msnscared].

[chrisj]

Sounds a great idea, but the wife would lose her job if I got one

[chrizzy100]

quote:Originally posted by chrisj

Sounds a great idea, but the wife would lose her job if I got one

I think you should start paying her the $10 a day......hehehehehe

[chrisj]

sshhhhhh dont say that too loud

[ahagan]

We have always used Hertz because of their Navigation system. It is so much easier to drive around relying on the moving map and clear voice giving directions. Even when you take a wrong turn it recalculates and takes you back on the correct route. But as has been pointed out, the difference in cost compared to other car hire firms is big. For our next trip we have decided to go without as Alamo don't have one. I hope I don't regret it.

Adeline

[bond]

Hi Ahagan,

I thought the cost was something like $10 a day? That does not seem expensive for carefree driving. Or is it that Hertz are more expensive. I rented from Hertz once amd if my memory serves me right I think they were a lot more expensive.

[Bigblue33]

Does Dollar do the navigation system? As it's my first time Driving and actually being in Florida that sounds quite appealing to me.

Don.

[bond]

Dollar does not do the navigation system. I almost always use Dollar. I wonder why only Hertz offers the navigation system. Maybe there is not enough demand. Am I the only one that panics when I miss the off ramp for Clearwater. I seem to have this knack of being in the left far lane when I see the exit to where I want to go when I should be in the far right lane. Americans seem to have the ability to switch lanes effortlessly while I play Mr Safe and always miss my exit. I keep thinking if I cut in front of someone I will cause offence, where I come from when you do this they try and cut you off and stop you getting in front of them. I think the Americans are much much more mannerly and tolerant. Anyway I am about to try driving in the US with a portable navigation system and it will be real interesting to see if it is like I have been told.

[blott]

$140 to rent a navigational system? [msnoo]I find getting about in Florida is really easy. The majority of visitors never drive 'off' the map the car rental companies provide.

If you are likely to go further afield and know which area you're staying in, use Mapquest (it's free!) before you go to get the directions in minute detail for all the places you want to visit. Print them out and take them with you - all your passengers have to do is read them out to you and you know in advance which exit numbers you need so, when the one before yours comes up, just move over to the correct lane in advance.

Alternatively, if your rental home has a PC with internet access, you can use this, although you may not be able to print it out.