GPS: Top timesaver

TomTom's ONE140 is useful at home and overseas. Photo / Jacqui Madelin

Back in August I promised the final lowdown on TomTom's ONE140 portable satnav unit at home and overseas. That I've so far "forgotten" to return it tells you it works.

Initially sceptical about its usefulness here, I increasingly relied on its "shortest route" option to bypass Auckland's rush-hour motorway gridlock. Best of all, I switched it on at Heathrow, London, and within two minutes it had registered my new global location and was reading English roads. That British map and the celebrity voices were accessed through TomTom's internet interface, which gives it the edge over in-car units.

I tried it alongside Peugeot and Volkswagen factory-fit set-ups and liked the TomTom's approach, with a clear screen matched to minimal voice instruction. I also liked its options list that even lets you choose walking routes.

In an ancient, one-way-riddled town the TomTom found the carpark, then took me to the tourist information on foot. Eventually. For my father had refused to trust it over his year-old walking map. Shame tourist information had moved, and the TomTom was more up to date.

Rubbing salt into the wound, my voice choice of Kim Cattrell doesn't take wrong turns lightly. "Are you sure you know where you're going? Because I'm not used to being treated this way."

Well, I am now used to the $399 TomTom ONE140's advice, particularly as a temper (and relationship) saver when travelling overseas - the $146 British map was cheap at the price. Reckon it's too early to drop Santa some hints?