GPS recommendations.

Nakatomi2010

So, I got a new job and it turns out there's a minimal amoount of travelling which can be involved... Between the travelling my wife does, I'm going to be doing, and general trips we might have, I was wondering what recommendations you folks have on GPS units...

Features I should look out for, features I should avoid, or don't need... It's going to see mild use in Florida weather, thanks in advance...

RUNN1NGMAN

I have a Garmin Nuvi...no complaints. It's one of the models that says the name of the streets out loud, which is a feature I find very helpful. Also make sure you get something that has an updatable map library, so when you take that random trip to Europe you're not flying blind.

Bells and whistles I see no need for on GPS--MP3 support, Bluetooth, basically anything that isn't GPS or map-specific.

Chalkbot

I've used 3 different models of Garmins, the more expensive kind that say the streets, down to the cheap ones that just say "turn left". They were all great. The key here is the fact that they were all Garmin brand. You won't find so many people saying great things about some of the other brands.

Belruel

my dad has a tomtom i have borrowed many times, and it has always served me well

matt has a problem

I have a Garmin Nuvi 200. It cost me $100 at Best Buy (had a $50 off coupon). Tells me when to turn left or right (doesn't say street names), never has a problem finding a satellite within 60 seconds of being turned on, has never gotten me lost or told me to go some weird way.

Nakatomi2010

Seeing alot of Garmin recommendations... I've been told by some that Tom Toms are the preferred way to go (Kinda looking at the Tom Tom XLS), though Garmin has a Nuvi 360 that appears to have the same features, just not as good maps, but for a lower price...

Thoughts, or look at different models?

Iceman.USAF

<-- Also a Garmin user. 350 I think. It's wonderful. It got me from DC -> Montgomery Alabama -> Pensacola Florida -> DC -> Dayton Ohio -> DC with 0 f-ups that weren't my fault.

So yeah, totally recommended.

Hedgethorn

I got my wife a TomTom 125 for Christmas, and we've had no complaints. It's pretty basic (says "turn right" or "turn left", only has USA maps), but does everything we need it to do. You can find it just about anywhere for $99.

A Bear

I have a Garmin and have been very pleased with my unit. Outside of a few bad eggs I really don't think you can go wrong with either the Garmin or TomTom stuff. The real trick is finding out what features you really need and how much you are willing to pay. Mine does not vocalize street names and I've never missed it, but other people live by that feature. Screen size is also pretty important, as some of the cheapest models are dangerously small to be trying to squint at while driving around.

MichaelLC

Nakatomi2010 wrote: »

Seeing alot of Garmin recommendations... I've been told by some that Tom Toms are the preferred way to go (Kinda looking at the Tom Tom XLS), though Garmin has a Nuvi 360 that appears to have the same features, just not as good maps, but for a lower price...

Thoughts, or look at different models?

Either one has fans. I've got a Garmin 265TW, bought this XMas, and it's been great so far. I'd stay away from Magellien, as they just got bought out by another company.

With the Garmins, the models with a "5" at the end are the newer models; late last/early this year. So 260 is the old, 265 is the new. Thus, you can probably find some good deals on any of the "0" models right now.

The first consideration would be what maps you want, then what level of voice/audio prompts. I like the spoken streets, but wouldn't say it's a "must have." Go to Best Buy and play around with some of the display units.

DrunkMc

Something with the GPS's to be careful of is what year the maps are. I bought a Garmin C340 in 2008, and I went to Maine and it got totally lost and had zero idea of the street I was trying to go to. Someone else with a Garmin was able to find the street no problem. I go home, check the maps date, 2006. Which probably means end of 2005. Maps are 3 years out of date.

I just purchased the 2009 maps upgrade disc, I'll let you know how it goes after that.

Reckless

RUNN1NGMAN wrote: »

I have a Garmin Nuvi...no complaints. It's one of the models that says the name of the streets out loud, which is a feature I find very helpful. Also make sure you get something that has an updatable map library, so when you take that random trip to Europe you're not flying blind.

Bells and whistles I see no need for on GPS--MP3 support, Bluetooth, basically anything that isn't GPS or map-specific.

My buddy and I use the Nuvi on roadtrips all the time. Another vote in its favor.

Chalkbot

If you're looking for a good deal on one, they just happen to be selling them today at sellout.woot

Refurbished Garmin StreetPilot c510 GPS with 2009 map updates.

I'd give that a look.

mts

i have a garmin nuvi 260. its a nice unit, good screen and it has spoken street names( text to speech) i would say that its worth it for th at feature. it comes in handy if there are a bunch of turns ina small area.

it has taken us some weird ways in the city but it still got us there. it just wanted us to see some differnt neighborhoods

MichaelLC

mts wrote: »

i have a garmin nuvi 260.
...it has taken us some weird ways in the city but it still got us there. it just wanted us to see some differnt neighborhoods

See, that's all part of The Plan, man. All the GPS companies are really owned by the Government, man. How else do they get to use those satellites, huh? They want you to waste gas, so you have to keep buying oil from The Man, keep us enslaved to the mighty pump.

Nakatomi2010

MichaelLC wrote: »

mts wrote: »

i have a garmin nuvi 260.
...it has taken us some weird ways in the city but it still got us there. it just wanted us to see some differnt neighborhoods

See, that's all part of The Plan, man. All the GPS companies are really owned by the Government, man. How else do they get to use those satellites, huh? They want you to waste gas, so you have to keep buying oil from The Man, keep us enslaved to the mighty pump.

I wouldn't argue that... Wife and I just bought a GPS and decided to play the "Let it guide us game", and some of the course corrections it would recommend were just crazy bizarre.... There's one spot we could've turned right and be on the road we wanted in two seconds, instead it had us go left and all the way around some plaza and stuff, and another time it made us go through this quiant little neighbourhood... We're liking the random exploration trips it provides because it'll also always tell us how to get out of suburban hell...


In the end my wife and I got a TomTom XL330, doesn't do the street name thing, but I'm liking the fact that I can proactively make map corrections right on the device as I see fit. I was also interested in the traffic monitoring feature, as I have a medical problem involving using the bathroom frequently this is something I could actually use on long trips as it's supposed to say "Hey, traffic problem here, dodge by going that way instead", which is handy for someone who doesn't wanna be in copious amounts of pain while driving...

Problem though is that while it's possible to do that it wants a traffic receiver, after looking at the TomTom site I'm not seeing a traffic receiver, so I have no idea what this traffic receiver. The website says it can use CDMA enabled phone and such, but somehow that doesn't seem right....

Anyone know what traffic receiver this guy is referring to?

MichaelLC

For the traffic, it looks like it needs one of these, but the TomTom site doesn't seem to say yours is a supported model. The 330's site says it's RDS-ready, though.

This forum seems to say it's compatible.

Traffic and GPS info

ApexMirage

I've got a Magellan Maestro 3225 which only cost me about 100$ Canadian. It's got the audio street names and trip planning and whatnot, with an SD card slot and is upgradable. My only complaint is that depending on your location it can take a little too long to connect.

Nakatomi2010

Intresting, based on that last link it looks like it'd only be useful while I'm in Tampa....

Nakatomi2010

I'm going to point out real briefly, anyone who owns a tomtom and likes Portal go check out the tomtom HOME application, GLaDOS is a free downloadable voice...

ApexMirage

I googled it for fun, here's a link in case anyone is interested - comes with a youtube vid

http://glagps.vanmiddlesworth.org/