
My husband is one of those guys who resists asking directions. We carry maps, to which he refers, but in general, he ultimately shouts about the street we can't locate on a two-year old map. And when we're out of town with no map...hoo hah!
When this basic TomTom was a Friday deal for $108, it was certainly worth trying. This has been a tremendously good investment for the $108 price. On our 'maiden voyage', we headed for a location about 50 miles north, in what turned out to be a subdevelopment. It took us right to the front door. Boy, were we impressed!
We use American English, which is quite clear and doesn't sound computerized. The maps are clear and all the numbers easy to read. Despite being refurbished, the unit arrived in an original box and looked new--no scratches, marks or any sign of use.
There are limitations. We set directions for two stops from our home. After the second stop, upon touching 'Home', TomTom wanted to take us back to the first destination and then home. The confusion landed us in a very sketchy, completely unfamiliar location. When we finally got to the highway entrance ramp, it was permanently closed, which was not indicated on TomTom.
On another day, TomTom completely blew an address. We were nowhere near where we needed to be, because there are no points of interest as destinations. It is address specific, regardless of the type of destinaton.
This version has no information on traffic patterns or construction. Additionally, when we've encountered tie-ups and exit off the pre-determined path, TomTom reconfigures back to the road just exited, instead of setting an alternate.
We still love our TomTom, and its use has eased a lot of driving stress by alerting us to upcoming turns with specific, advance instruction and repitition. Thinking and attentiveness are still required, since TomTom doesn't drive.
If you're a casual driver, this TomTom is all you need. However, if your life is on the road to unfamiliar places, you may want to upgrade. Actually, the current price of $399 is a little steep for its refurbished state and lack of features. Map upgrades must be purchased. The newest model is $349 with a case on the TomTom site.Get more detail about
TomTom ONE XL 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Maps of the U.S. and Canada (Factory Refurbished).