GPS - Recommendations Please

T

TOM BECKWITH

US Veteran
Bronze Supporter
Joined
Oct 27, 2001
Messages
1,733
Reaction score
594
Location
BELTON, SC, USA
Interesting threads on GPS units - am thinking about buying one (have used one on trips and they are great) What are your thoughts on needed features and things to consider as well as best sources to buy.

I am leaning toward GARMIN nuvi 760 or 265T (or possibly a 255)

What are your thoughts folks????
 
Register to hide this ad
My girlfriend had a Garmin Nuvi (sorry I don't know the model) and loves it. It is very accurate and has good maps. My future BIL has one too.

There was a post just recently about a member's wife using a Garmin and having it crap out on her, but I think it was an issue with proper charging going by the thread.

All in all I recommend the Garmin Nuvis.
 
I have an older Garmin (looks like a fat TV set), but its mostly retired in favor of two new TomToms. The Tomtoms were under $200 each, bought at Wally World, and they have been completely trouble free. They are easy to update with the home computer, and I like the street level view rather than the top down view on my old Garmin. I'm sure the new Garmins are just as good, though.
 
I've got a Garmin Nuvi 660, no longer made. I think the 760 is the successor. Works well; I enjoy tapping in favorite locations such as restaurants so that no matter where I am, the GPS figures out the fastest way to get there. Garmin does free upgrades via the USP port from your computer, so it can be pretty much up to date as far as data is concerned. The verbal direction feature is a must. This one warns you when you are approaching a turn, then tells you to turn when appropriate. If you get off course either intentionally or unintentionally, it recalculates and re-instructs you. Great for detours. And the female "voice" is pleasant!
 
I have had 4 Garmins, all super units, I am still running my 276C(4 years old) and feel no need to upgrade, just added a Garmin external antenna($15) and it makes a HUGE difference in my rig, works much better in the heave woods. Years ago, the darn external antenna were $100...I had one mounted on the snorkle on my Land Cruiser.

I use the same unit on land or sea

I really dont think there is any better GPS than Garmin, their CS is great as well
 
I don't use my simple unit for driving, but after my experience on a road trip with a friend's unit, would advise getting a Garmin with the "T" suffix, which provides continuously updated traffic condition reports and advisories, which were remarkably up-to-date and helpful on our trip.
 
I use a Garmin GPS60CSX on the trail and a Garmin Streetpilot 550. Love 'em both.

I think I bought both of them from GPS now. Read some reviews (try zdnet.com or cnet.com) Pull up specific models at amazon.com and read reviews there, too.

I'm sure there are GPS forums but I'm always on S&W!

Good luck!
 
In my experience, three of the things to think about (I'm sure there are more) are:

- Screen size
- Spoken street names
- Update ability (Garmin yes, TomTom no)
 
I have used Garmins exclusively for years. I carried the Garmin Etrex Vista when I deployed to Iraq. Both my wife and I have the Garmin Nuvi models in our car. You can get them for a decent price at Wal-Mart, along with any accessories you could want. I don't think you would be disappointed with the Garmin.
 
These are progressing as fast as computers. I have a tom-tom. I will be buying one hopefully soon for my airplane and starting to check those out. I have a garmin for rideing trails on our ATV. However, I am not satisfied with it. I need a bigger screen and I still havent "learned" it as well as I enticipated!
The ones like tom-tom etc are fine in the car, but I hope they come out with ones for the trails. Someone is missing a big financial bet on that! I have been tempted to take my lap top with me on the quad. I have "map source" on it for use with my garmin. Only thing is, I am afraid the dust and bouncing would ruin the lap top. All my life I have been a map freak, and spend hours on map source always looking for new trails to explore on our quad, as that is the biggest thing I and my wife do together. I also spend hours scopeing out our rides with "virtual earth". If someone some day comes out with a GPS in conjunction with a lap top that you can mount on a ATV or whatever and show all trails anywhere pre programed and right where you are, that would be the ultimate! Of course that will happen when I am too old to swing a leg over the Quad!
 
I have a Garmin and it works OK but I do have some observations.

I like the speed, distance, moving, stopped, estimated time of arrival, distance to next turn features and the "3D" Map display.

First, a lot of them use the same mapping/voice/direction software, so there are probably equivalent models all over the place.

Garmin wants $60 or $70 to "update" your maps after about a year. I'd rather buy a new one every three to five years and switch manufacturers.

Additional maps, like Topo Map/off-road, is available on some models but hard to come by in reasonably priced car mounted screen sizes, I haven't seen any but they must be out there.

Favorite route planning by destination is not supported on my Garmin.

Speed is not displayed when a destination is specified. You can switch bacj & forth to see it, but current route and speed not at the same time.
 
I run Topo on my 276c.....ran it on my old III as well. On my 276, I just have to hit a button and it will switch from roads to topo, or to marine maps.

I have mine set to the british chick.....she sounds kinda sexy :D

unless you got alot of new roads in your area, updates are not really needed all that often

also darn handy to find vacant land, I can get GPS # for most props, just type em in the garmin and off i go

5Wire said:
I have a Garmin and it works OK but I do have some observations.

I like the speed, distance, moving, stopped, estimated time of arrival, distance to next turn features and the "3D" Map display.

First, a lot of them use the same mapping/voice/direction software, so there are probably equivalent models all over the place.

Garmin wants $60 or $70 to "update" your maps after about a year. I'd rather buy a new one every three to five years and switch manufacturers.

Additional maps, like Topo Map/off-road, is available on some models but hard to come by in reasonably priced car mounted screen sizes, I haven't seen any but they must be out there.

Favorite route planning by destination is not supported on my Garmin.

Speed is not displayed when a destination is specified. You can switch bacj & forth to see it, but current route and speed not at the same time.
Click to expand...
 
Landpimp said:
I run Topo on my 276c.....ran it on my old III as well. On my 276, I just have to hit a button and it will switch from roads to topo, or to marine maps.

I have mine set to the british chick.....she sounds kinda sexy :D

unless you got alot of new roads in your area, updates are not really needed all that often

also darn handy to find vacant land, I can get GPS # for most props, just type em in the garmin and off i go
Click to expand...
I agree about the updates. Envious of the map switching. How big is your screen?
 
Tom -

My daughter loves her Tom Tom. I would suggest getting the largest screen that you want to afford. There are many trick things on most of the big name GPS' anyway. You probably wouldn't go too wrong with any of them.
I know that with the Tom Tom, there are free downloads via computer for any updates and if you travel out of the country, you can also download for the country that you plan to go to. Even Europe.
Stick with the known brands and maybe even check out Consumer Reports.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

fordson
Reload Testing Apps Recommendations
Replies
0
Views
372
fordson
fordson
Onomea
Help Me Choose a Suppressed .22 Handgun
4 5 6
Replies
100
Views
8K
ladder13
L
lihpster
Morning surprise
2 3
Replies
45
Views
2K
lihpster
lihpster
H
Thoughts on the Taurus 692 Executive 3" convertible
2
Replies
32
Views
5K
serger
serger
D
Looking to get educated on non-appendix IWB holsters
Replies
11
Views
174
gila_dog
G

Latest posts

Back
Top