Full size SUV question

[scoobydooby]

We have booked a full size SUV (7 seater) for our summer trip. My friend is off to Orlando next week and I was going to ask her to buy me a cheap sat nav from Walmart with US maps. However I've looked on another site at some photos of this class of vehicle and many seem to have a sat nav built in. Is this a standard feature for this class of car or should I buy one? We've beenucky enough to borrow one for previous trips and have only ever had a 7 seater mini van or smaller cars before. Any experience appreciated.

 

[Tony Bush]

We had a Dodge Journey SUV - 7 seater. It had no sat nav. We've never used a satnav in Orlando. If you're not straying far from the bid attractions I don't think they're needed IMHO

Tony

 

[scoobydooby]

Okay thanks. I like to have one. I have one built into my car here and have gone from good to terrible navigator in the last three years. I also can't reverse well without an in car colour reversing camera anymore. Technogy has de skilled me!!

 

[wayneg]

Had 4 or 5 Full size SUV's, never had a sat nav included.
I know most roads around the theme parks well & I am a good navigator but still like to have a sat nav plugged in(although we do tend to venture further away from the theme parks now) Its just something I like to have.
I have also never had a reversing cam on Full size SUV, had one on a 7 seater minivan and on the Std SUV I returned on Sunday but never on a full size SUV. I am sure more and more will get them though, they are a massive help.

 

[pickers1982]

You can get cheap cards on ebay if you can borrow a satnav. Then sell it on when your done

 

[scoobydooby]

Thanks but I don't buy from e bay. We go most years so don't mind buying one really.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

You can usually request that a GPS be included with your car rental; in fact, when I reserve a car online, they always ask if I want one. No need to buy one, just contact your rental car company.

If you already own a portable GPS, you can buy US maps and load them.

 

[wayneg]

You can usually request that a GPS be included with your car rental; in fact, when I reserve a car online, they always ask if I want one. No need to buy one, just contact your rental car company.

If you already own a portable GPS, you can buy US maps and load them.

You can but the cost is crazy. Just checked Alamo's latest price:
Navigation Device ( $69.65 /Week(s) , $179.99 Max monthly ) so for a standard 2 week holiday it will cost $139.30 or £95
US TomTom maps cost around £40
I paid £35 to buy a TomTom in Walmart a couple of years ago so for me buying a new unit was the cheapest option.

Also consider the memory space on a Satnav, maps are getting larger and more memory space, last year I could easily fit both UK & USA maps on mine, with the latest US map increasing in memory size I now have to use one or the other.

 

[canadiankim]

Really the only SUV where you might get a built in Satnav will be on a premium model and then it won't be guaranteed. I would suggest if your friend will get you one go with that. I live in Canada and the TomTom I have here is very similar to the ones in the UK and WalMart or Radio Shack or BestBuy will all have them at a good price that you can then use over and over.

 

[bazzanoid]

We had it on a midsize SUV with hertz a couple of years ago, but then the year before on a premium 7 seat SUV with dollar we didn't.

Its pot luck if your car has one or not - even on small fiesta-sized cars we sometimes see them and that goes right up thru the range until the prestige stuff which always has it built in. In the US satnav in cars seems to be a little behind us in the UK in terms of being 'standard' equipment, but then it depends on what deals the car manufacturers do the rental co.... Speaking from personal experience we just tell the manufacturer "we want x number of y car at z price" and then don't care what colour, trim or accessories are on it...

 

[scoobydooby]

Thank you everyone. I've found a Tom Tom at the Walmart local to my friends villa for $69.99 plus tax so will go with that. It will pay for itself over the next couple of trips and the maps can be updated too.