TomTom One XL

First of all, let’s talk pricing, the retail price for the TomTom One Xl is listed at $299.00, but you won’t pay that amount unless you really don’t know how to shop online.  Every major online retailer (Amazon, Buy.com, Walmart, etc.) will discount that retail price, many times quite significantly.  It’s a little game that retailers and manufacturers play to make us feel like we’re getting a deal when we buy.  So why not get the best deal?

At the time of this writing, a discount price of around $170 for a brand new One XL model seems to be close to the average.  And people like getting brand new things, that way no else has messed with the machinery, so to speak.  However, if you don’t have the budget, you can always opt for a refurbished TomTom One XL, which in our opinion is just as good, for around $60 bucks.

Now again, a lot of people won’t buy used equipment, we understand that.  But, you do have that option, and some people are more than happy to take advantage of the discount and take a chance on a refurbished model.

During peak seasons (for example, Christmas) online prices for the TomTom One are going to usually fluctuate upwards.  If you think about it, this pricing structure makes perfect sense.  When demand spikes, so does the price – not to our benefit, but that’s the way it works.

So, in order to get in cheap, it’s best to shop at off peak times, if you can.  If not, some online retailers (like Amazon) have a 30 day price drop guarantee, so if the prices drops, you can get a refund of the difference if you contact them.  It’s a pretty handy little feature, if you ask us.

But, back to the review.  The TomTom One XL offers an awesome 4.3 x 3.5 inch LCD screen that’s truly above industry standards.  It’s 480 x 272 pixels are extremely clear, which is obviously important for a GPS system, if the screen is hazy and distorted it’s a lot easier to get lost, defeating the purpose of A GPS system all together.  We like that the screen has an anti-glare coating and a built in compass feature, so you can get your bearings even more easily.

The TomTom GPS device comes with full maps of all 50 states in the U.S. and all of Canada if you’re traveling up north.  Voice directions are standard, so you don’t have to take your eyes off the road.

So, what all comes with the TomTom One?  Well, you get a good amount of toys for your money, in our opinion.  When you buy the package you get the TomTom One XL device (obviously), a sturdy windshield mount, a USB cable, a cigarette lighter adapter for charging the system’s battery, and an adhesive mounting disk, which completes the package and gets you ready to hit the road.

This device is meant for automobile navigation exclusively, as you can plainly tell, TomTom does however offer other devices and packages which are perfect for hand held devices that you can take with you anywhere.  If you feel that’s a better fit for your personal needs, then check out the TomTom Navigator Series (Navigator 8 is the latest model).

Also, the top of the line auto GPS system is the TomTom Go series (Go 920) or XXL Series (540S), which are quite a bit more expensive than the One XL.  These models have a lot more bells and whistles, which you will pay for (of course), but if it’s in your budget and you find value in it then go for it!

Finding the cheapest TomTom and getting the best discount is important all of us, but also think about buying from a well-known retailer, so that you get get the best “iron clad”guarantees.  If, for some reason, your TomTom One becomes defective, you will be protected.  Fast (and often times free) shipping and great customer service also factor into the buying equation.