TomTom GO 300 3.5-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I had been using an older Garmin GPS in my car for some time. It wasn't a street pilot, it was a Garmin III. I bought the TomTom Go 300 and can't believe how good it is.
The TTG 300 includes everything you need: Detailed maps of the USA on the 1 GB SD card with those maps and additional maps on CDs. It has mounting hardware, power cords, etc. but you probably know all that.
I am impressed with how well it picks up the satellite signals. My Garmin would never pick up a signal inside the house, and it would often not find one on a cloudy day. The TTG works fine in both cases.
The voice is clear and loud (adjustable) and you can have it give you a new instruction at any time. It will navigate to an address, a nearby "point of interest" (bank, airport, park, hotel...). And it will find alternate routes if you hit a roadblock or just don't like the suggested route. You can tell it to build routes that are fastest, shortest, for biking or walking. You can avoid tolls or not. I really like the choices.
I think the screen is easy to see and the screen updates are plenty fast.
So far the map data has been fairly accurate. Around my home town I notice that some roads that are 3 years old are missing, but I would expect that. The TTG will show you on the road even if the map data is a little off. In other words, it will snap your position to the map road even if you drive off it a little. But if you go far enough off a road, it will show you exactly where you are (in the middle of field or whatever).
The menus are very easy to use. Much easier than I expected. You use the touchscreen to pick a city, street, address, and you're off. It does have the 3-D view of the map which is similar to the view out your window, but I still prefer the typical 2-D map view. You can see more streets that way.
The point of interest database has lots of places. I don't know the exact number of categories but I would estimate there are at least 25 categories (banks, airports, rental cars, amusement parks, gas, theaters, courthouses, police, hospitals, doctors, dentists, border crossings, zoos, etc.) And you can create your own categories and add places. I did not find a list of ATM's, however, and this would have been useful.
You can also view the satellite signal strength, battery life, and actual Lat/Long. I wish you could enter a Lat/Long as a destination, but alas, you cannot.
As other people have said, it is very difficult to see in bright sun. At times, I have to reposition it to reduce glare, but this inconvenience would not stop me from buying it again.
I have not used the bluetooth feature and can't really see myself paying for the subscription feature.
Overall, it is a Very Powerful navigator. It comes on when I start the car and goes off when the car stops (because the cigarette lighter goes off). It is very easy to use and very easy to follow. I actually want to take more trips now just to let the TTG figure out the best way to get there. And now my friends all want one. I see Garmin now has a similar model, which I haven't tried. But I would still buy the TTG again if I was shopping for one.
Update 4 months later...
I still like the unit and its functions, but as others have said, the map data and routing is disappointing at times. It always got me where I wanted, but half the time it seemed to take me the longer way. It seems to be reluctant to put me on a freeway for short trips, even when it is faster. And I haven't really compared this to another brand, except for the system in the the Audi A4, which does seem to do a better job: Even knowing what side of the street your destination is on. But that is not an after-market system. So if I was shopping for an after-market system today, I would most likely still buy the Tom Tom for the features, but I would take a close look at the routes is suggests while driving.


Click Here to see more reviews about: TomTom GO 300 3.5-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator

The TomTom Go 300 Portable GPS Car Navigation System is the smart, easy, and connected portable car navigation system. Featuring all the great navigation functionality of the original award-winning TomTom Go, the TomTom Go 300 is easier and more convenient to use than ever. You won't find a smarter portable GPS Navigation system anywhere, as the TomTom Go 300 not only speaks more than 30 languages in over 50 voices, but its user interface also includes 18 languages. With the improved functionality, you can quickly access millions of points of interest and plot your quickest and shortest choice of roads in no time at all. A compass mode displays a compass on screen, giving you even more orientation while driving. Plus, the volume of the device is linked to your car speed, meaning the volume of the unit's voice instructions will increase or decrease depending on the speed of your vehicle. The Go 300's unique touchscreen activation eliminates the hassle of dealing with extra buttons or unnecessary hardware when calculating your route. Navigators will also appreciate the 3.5-inch TFT antiglare screen, which offers an optimal view at all times, even in direct sunlight. And thanks to the improved on/off button, it's more difficult to accidentally turn off the device. Just plug in your TomTom Go 300, switch it on, and go. There's no need for any special installation or activation. A set of clear, accurate, turn-by-turn voice instructions and crystal-clear 3-D graphics will help you get where you need to go. The unit's simple design allows you to take the TomTom Go 300 with you from car to car quickly and easily. A full-coverage map of the United States is preloaded on the SD card, and maps of Canada are provided on the included CD. A remote control for the TomTom Go 300 can be purchased separately. The unit is USB-2.0-compatible for faster data transfers to and from your PC. Meanwhile, the Go 300's Bluetooth receiver allows you to download real-time TomTom Plus services through an Internet connection on your Bluetooth phone anytime and anywhere. TomTom PLUS gives you the real-time information you want on traffic congestion and weather conditions, as well as extra downloads such as detailed city maps, additional voices, points of interest, and more. Note that some TomTom Plus services require a subscription fee. Also, TomTom Plus services require a GPRS-ready device equipped with Bluetooth and a GPRS subscription with your mobile operator. the TomTom300 in action
What's in the Box TomTom Go 300 portable car navigator, SD card, carry case, screen cloth, installation CD, AC adapter, cigarette lighter cable, USB 2.0 data cable, installation poster, quick start guide, product code card, TomTom GO accessory leaflet, and component parts of a suction-mount cradle.

Click here for more information about TomTom GO 300 3.5-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator