Tom Tom Go route planning problems

[Steve W]

I bought my Tom Tom Go [version 4.42] a few weeks ago and I was very pleased with it - until I discovered that it does not seem to live up to its promise of finding the fastest route! I wondered if anyone had had similar experiences...

On several occasions Tom Tom Go has planned a route which is neither the fastest, nor shortest - and then gone on to prove it. For instance, if you ask it to navigate from my home in Leeds (UK) to Shoreditch, London, Tom Tom Go will select a route via the A1 taking 3.44 hours and 204 miles. However if you then ask it to "calculate alternative" it will select a route using the M1 motorway, taking 3.27 hours and 197 miles. Another example: ask Tom Tom to go from my home in Leeds to Bosham Lane, Chichester, and it will come up with a bizarre route (via M42 and A34) taking 4.37 hours and 275 miles. However if you ask it to "avoid part of route" (the M42 and then avoid A34) it will reduce the time to 4.25 hours and the distance to 269 miles.

These are just two of several examples where Tom Tom Go has produced slower, longer routes until asked to "calculate alternative" or "avoid part of route", which then produces quicker, shorter, more sensible routes.

I have to conclude that I cannot trust Tom Tom Go to plan long-distance routes, and it has even left my feeling sceptical about its city routes.

I sent this question to Tom Tom customer support, who have replied saying:
"It could be that this issue is related to incorrect mapping data, and this could explain the conflicting routes your TomTom GO has produced.

However our development team are working on many aspects of the TomTom Go, the calculation of routes being one of them, so new features could be implemented in the near future.

Please keep an eye on our website for further updates and developments."


I wonder if anyone else has had similar experiences - and perhaps come across solutions. Is the Tom Tom Go's claim to plan the "fastest" route simply not true?
Yours,

Steve Walsh

[Bill]

My Tom Tom program does the same thing here in Southern California. Sometimes it just takes me down the off ramp and back up the on ramp of the freeway. I use it to find the final area, or when I'm lost.

[Delboy]

I would be interested to hear the technicle teams reply to this, as my inlaws have just bought a TT Go on my recomendation and have found the same problems, I now look a bit stupid for recommending it.
Anybody.

[Charlie]

I can only recommend you visit http://support.tomtom.com/register/r...NjYWxpLmNvLnVr to report errors in the map data and to call 0845 161 0009 to speak to TomTom about the problem. Sorry guys.

[Delboy]

To be honest Charlie, I've lost count of the amount of unanswered emails I have outstanding from Tomtom customer support, you Guys might find them better to deal with as your a major customer for there products.I personal think there support is very poor.so much so I'm thinking of seaking legal advise as I have purchase a fair amount of there products and find for most of the time there "not fit for the purpose intended"
But thanks for taking the time to reply.

[Charlie]

I'm sorry you feel that way Delboy. I can't comment as I never email them, I only ever phone and I can appreciate that even then it's sometimes hard to get through but their phone service has gotten a lot better in recent months.

[Mikeact]

Hi Steve...I actually live in Bosham, Chichester and have both business and relatives in Leeds, (Adel and Scarcroft.) I can tell you that the way you have described is the 'best way' North....M27, A34, M40 and then take your pick as to the best way to cut accross to the M1.

[stevenator65]

I live in chicago and have contacted tomtom by email and phone. Their email said to call, and when I called I left a message. They returned my call in a couple hours and were very courteous. The second time I called they answered right away and were nice to deal w/again.
Steve

[ashleyequinox]

Dear All,i have been genarlly pleased with my tom tom go,i have to say trying to get through on there customer service number is a joke,i left my phone on redial the whole day from 9am to 4 pm when they close and never managed to get anything but an automated reply from a machine and redirection to a website,which surpise surprise i have had no reply from.My unit has unfortunately failed completely,and total pda seem useless in resolving that issue 5 days have now passed and no communication from them at all.!!!!!!

I would suggest when route planning to view the initial map and see if you like the route,i do that and then can decide if i need to get another route! After my experiences of navman 630 of which i had 5 differnt units which all broke down and a Garmin un it which was totally useless,i would stick to tom tom,as it so much better and half the price too!
Ashley Duncan

[vipar]

Originally Posted by Bill

My Tom Tom program does the same thing here in Southern California. Sometimes it just takes me down the off ramp and back up the on ramp of the freeway. I use it to find the final area, or when I'm lost.

What I do when planning a route is to put in the fastest route for all motorway work and then when I turn off the motor way change to the shortest route. This will take you around the back streets which often avoids the High st jams. The reason it takes you up the ramp and off the m/way is that as the TT is so accurate. Therefore it must be marginally shorter up the ramp than to stay on the M/way. I found this when travelling up the M1 to Santa Pod. Hence the reason for the change.