Tomtom Or Command

[s5aif]

Hi,
I am considering getting a navigation system for my 2005 mercedes c class and have the option of getting a command system for £450 or a tomtom 910 for £350. So i would like your opinions as to which system you would go for. I have no experience with either of these systems so am not sure which one to go for.

 

[ba9rn]

I have used TomTom for over a year, and I think they are excellent. Advantages over Comand:
1) FULL postcode search (this is a must in this day and age)
2) Transportable to other cars
3) Easy free software updates
4) Easy (not free, but cheaper than Comand) map updates

One thing, unless you want to attract the light fingered, don't use the supplied windshield mount, which leaves a tell-tale ring when removed. In some parts, this is an invitation to have your windows smashed, in the off-chance that you've left the TomTom in your car. Instead, go for a Brodit semi-permanent mount. Search this forum for Brodit to see what I'm talking about!

On the whole, I would most definitely go for TomTom over Comand.

 

[Andy Wr]

Does command NOT have post code search then?

 

[jon_harley]

You can put in the first half of the postcode, after that you have to search by street name.

 

[jberks]

Command normally runs at a lot more than £450 so at that price I'd be tempted, if only because it looks so good. It is also slightly more accurate than tomtom due to it being connected to the speed pulse and having an internal sensor, so it will continue to work even without sattelites (for a bit anyway).
However, Tomtom is also excellent and has the advantages above, plus additionally it can load extra POIs and you can program it in your armchair before trecking outside.
Horses for courses really.
I do have to add, the Tomtom 910 is fine but has a lot of extras that most of us don't need or use. The £199 Tomtom one does all the same routing in exactly the same way and is smaller into the bargain. Personally, I'd save the £150 and spend it on a decent integrated phone kit.

 

[ba9rn]

It is also slightly more accurate than tomtom due to it being connected to the speed pulse and having an internal sensor, so it will continue to work even without sattelites (for a bit anyway).

That is true. I had the built-in Accord before swapping to a Merc (plus TomTom) and the ability to continue navigating through tunnels is a great thing. But the Accord did not have full postcode searching either, which was a real pain. It's all very well using partial postcodes if the road name is in the system (and spelt correctly!), something I definitely found lacking in the Accord system; and I bet the same thing happens with Comand. TomTom will allow you to input the entire postcode, even when the road comes up with 'unknown road' and will still navigate you there.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Integrated satnav = massive ripoff

Cheapo 3rd party units = bargain

 

[Andy Wr]

I wonder why no one has made an aftermarket unit to fit the mercs the same size as the command unit so that it fits exactli in the double space that command occupies consisting of just a radio, cd and sat nav, surely that would not be megga expensive when you look at the price of the aftermarket individual components.

 

[daveenty]

Integrated satnav = massive ripoff

Cheapo 3rd party units = bargain

Very sad but true

 

[Rory]

Hi,
I am considering getting a navigation system for my 2005 mercedes c class and have the option of getting a command system for £450 or a tomtom 910 for £350. So i would like your opinions as to which system you would go for. I have no experience with either of these systems so am not sure which one to go for.

I think if you were buying a new car and considering options, with COMAND costing £1800, then TomTom looks a good choice.

However at £450 then that's an altogether different ball game and I'd have no hesitation on going for COMAND. Apart from anything else, it must be a right pain to have to remove TomTom (and everything that might indicate you've got one) from the car everytime you park it.

Are you sure the £450 includes everything you need to fit COMAND and get up & running?

 

[s5aif]

yeah, its £450 for the comand, anntena, cd. The price does not include fitting.

 

[television]

Before I had the Command I had the Navman 525, larger screen than Tom Tom its thinner by half with better maps and way points. The Tom Tom is so fat and hard to lose.
As for using both I find the Command much faster than the Tom Tom or Navman in spite of the full and half post code to set up sinse the Command only gives the first letter of all roads within that post code, yes I can set up the command in½ the time of the others.

When it comes to multi rounderbouts and multi junctions the Command is streets ahead of the other two, the other will say "turn left in 150 meters", its not always easy to do that when there are two or three roads all together and you are going with heavy trafic,stop start in the rain, 150 meters, not always easy as I have been there and done it, and have ended up 25 miles longer as I was on the wrong road.

Now with command it will say "prepare to turn left", and at the exact point will say " turn left" the screen is larger, its inbuilt,rather than stuck on.

OK I do not have the camara data base, but for £80 I can have a warning device, it need not be on show as it gives the bleeps.

Give me the Command any day, its spot on and easy to use.

Malcolm

 

[Alfie]

Integrated satnav = massive ripoff

Cheapo 3rd party units = bargain

Integrated satnav = quality unit with better navigation (You get what you pay for)

Cheapo 3rd party units = Cheapo 3rd party navigation (You get what you pay for)

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

I have a 3rd party unit, a Garmin Nuvi 310 and it is definately very good. I would not go for Tom Tom as the units are VERY bulky and Tom Tom have a bit of a reputation for unreliablilty and poor technical support.

For £450 I'd go for the command unit. As with other comments it looks a lot better and is coniderably less likely to attract the light fingered. If you drive lots of cars, or get lost whilst on foot then I'd go with the 3rd party option (but not Tom Tom)

 

[Alfie]

Hi,
I am considering getting a navigation system for my 2005 mercedes c class and have the option of getting a command system for £450 or a tomtom 910 for £350. So i would like your opinions as to which system you would go for. I have no experience with either of these systems so am not sure which one to go for.

I would question the source of a W203 DVD comand (which 2005 cars require) for such a low price!

Fitting it is physically quite straight forward however, you will need to get it coded at your local dealer so that the MOST bus recognises the other devices on the bus and the instrument cluster shows the navigation otherwise the unit will most likely just switch itself off after a few seconds. This is why those who advertise these on fleaby only ever show you the Mercedes Logo on the screen. The units go off pretty quickly. This will tell the dealer the serial number and he can then track the source of the unit (eastern Europe perhaps?)The DVD based comand units are absolutely supurb and beat all other forms of satellite navigation into a cocked hat. Especailly Tom Tom's and the like.

Tom Toms and the like do not add circa £1,000 value to your car, unlike comand!

 

[124coupe]

Got to diagree:

Comand terrible interface to memorise customer locations. Memory lost on software upgrade (at least mine was - "had to do a reset sir").

Tomtom address entry is far faster (postcode for a business or postcode and house number - GO).

Tomtom actually gets your to the door (not in the general area) - Comand for business addresses is just too poor for words.

Comand has only the POIs that Merc want you to want (useless except hotels and railway stations) and painful to navigate to a POI in another town.

Re the map, Tomtom looks like the road in front rather than a bland flat map. Comand fails the wife test but she loves Tomtom as it just works...


I have Tomtom (One) and Comand was fitted in my car by the first owner. I use Tomtom to get there and leave Comand on as entertainment and to compare the TMC info. Oh, and the Tomtom, plus all my POIs and customers, comes with me in the relief car and/or friends cars....

 

[ba9rn]

I have yet to be convinced of the overpriced (you get what you pay for) built-in sat nav. So here's a test for you - TomTom will find it no problem (I picked the address at random, and it happens to be on the Isle of Wight.

Try finding PO34 5AF. The road name is POND LANE. No cheating now! If Comand manages to find it (I had to recourse to using the Royal Mail address finder to find the name - TomTom shows it as unknown), you win and I'll diss Comand no further.

 

[ba9rn]

Tom Toms and the like do not add circa £1,000 value to your car, unlike comand!

Well that's the first unbiased, true statement you have made. But on the other hand, you can take TomTom (or whatever) unit with you to your new car, saving the £1000+ markup.

Clearly, there are people with both points of view. I loved the DVD based system based into my last car (Accord). That was until I discovered TomTom's ability to save me future mark-ups. If, as has been said previously, they would add satnav at a more reasonable cost, of course built-in would be preferable (IF it could do full post code searching). But, unfortunately, ALL manufacturers choose to hike the price.

 

[robtt]

I have a Garmin350 Nuvi purchased in Late September with the upgraded satellite finder thingy and it was brill in Italy (on my hols ) and is equally good in UK (thankfully!) the instructions given by these latest units are as good as Command

 

[Bobthebuilder58]

I have the Tom Tom 700 all european major roads plus hands free bluetooth
phone capability,i wouldn't be without mine it is superb,all for under 500 sqiuds:razz: If I ever travel anywhere without it i feel like I haven't got any underpants on
Bob.