Where: Aeon Customs, 494 Changi Road and 5 Portsdown Road; tel 9655-8982; open 9.30am to 10pm, closed on Sundays and public holidays.
Features: Unlike the other systems that LifeStyle tested, which are plug and play, this is installed in your car and has a small computer console. There is an array of monitor options - from a 4-inch screen built into a rear-view mirror to a 7-inch monitor, 2D and 3D maps, a gyroscope so that guidance will not be lost when out of satellite contact, day and night screen displays, a remote control and options for reverse camera or MP3 functions or to link it to your car's audio system.
Test results: This helped me get to the destinations without any trouble. It even proved me wrong when I made a turn on the way to Bollywood Veggies thinking I must have passed the place. But no machine is perfect, not even with such a hefty price tag - it reacted a bit slowly at times.
The good: The clear screen and indications made finding my way a breeze. The day and night displays were of the right illumination and easy on the eye. The set came with a remote control - I could set a new destination easily while driving.
Recalculations when I made wrong turns were seamless and quick. Voice instructions were easy to understand.
I was also delighted with how the monitor sat nicely on the dashboard just behind the steering wheel, and there were no wires hanging around. The whole system was installed and connected neatly.
But, functionally, the best thing about this device is that guidance is not lost even when travelling in a tunnel or between tall buildings, thanks to the built-in gyroscope, which uses your speed and distance to calculate your location when out of satellite contact.
The bad: The high price is a definite deterrent. Also, the system sometimes marks me as about 100m behind and, thus, gives instructions a bit late. It also sometimes asked me to make turns when it was not possible. Map updates, which are done yearly, have to be bought from the supplier, instead of just downloading them, sometimes for free, online. It costs about $159 for an updated one.
Verdict: If money is no object, this would be the set to get. Despite the odd hiccup, it is a definite pleaser.
Rating: 4/5
This article was first published in The Straits Times on Sept 21, 2008.
