Portable GPS: Tom Tom or Magellan?

[kbm6893]

Want to pick one up this holiday season. Both are about the same price ($100). Anyone have experience with either one?

 

[ladder13]

I have a Garmin, but suppose they're pretty much alike. Never leave home without it, even if I think I know the way.
Used it extensively in Maine, Florida and western NC recently. Helps find points of interest, restaurants, sporting goods stores ,fillin' stations and just about anything you may need.
Where they "get you" is the "yearly updates", when they offer to upgrade the software for a "fee". I don't do that every year as I figure not much could change, but do it like every 3 years.
Before making a trip we load up the GPS with evry place we may visit. Better to do it beforehand, imho, than when you get on the road. You can always delete whatever you don't need.
Hope this helps somewhat.

 

[Babalooie]

I bought a Tom Tom for my car. Didn't like it. Was told TOM TOM is an English company and their North American software has issues. Ended up with a Garmin and am pleased.

 

[windjammer]

I have a Garmin, which I like.......have no experence with others. They can be had in the same price range.

 

[smitholdtimer]

Magellan

The nice lady in my Magellan really enjoys arguing and uses the term "Make a legal U Turn" quite often.

 

[IcarryS&W]

Another vote for Garmin. Mine gets used extensively making customer service calls for a Propane Company in rural East Texas. Even most small dirt private roads are in the system.

 

[Duster42]

I like my Garmin the best.

 

[kalei]

I personally like Garmin, tried the others and they don't work as well.

Log into garmin.com and you can check out all the models and comapre features

 

[tomf52]

Garmin! Love mine.

 

[ChadW]

My wife loves her Garmin. It's very good from what I've seen.

 

[cobra44]

Magellan - We have 3 of them. Works great. I depend on them all the time.
I got the 4.3 inch screens, Roadmate.

 

[Jerry N.]

I have a lower end Garmin. I like it except for one thing. It doesn't seem to have an option to stay on a main highway. We were driving from St. Louis to Detroit and it kept wanting to take state roads versus staying on the expressway. Generally though, I'd rather have any cheap one with all its flaws than none at all.

 

[ladder13]

Jerry, do you have it set for fastest time or shortest distance? Using shortest distance could be why it's taking you off the Interstate.

 

[Noah Zark]

We have two Garmins, both are 4.3" screens for ease of visibility at a quick glance. They have been trouble free for a few years now. Some friends bought Toms and Magellans and have had issues, and their experiences drove me to buy Garmins.

Both have the street name feature. This is VERY useful, because the device says, "In 500 yards turn left onto 1st Avenue," instead of "Turn left in 500 yds." That's fine, but how many people can judge distances away from the target range? Not many.

The larger-screen device with the street name annunciator feature is well worth the extra $$$, IMO. With these things, like many electronics gadgets, you definitely get what you pay for. Spend the extra $$$ for the user-friendly features.

JMO,

Noah

 

[Milanfire2]

Garmin,the best.

 

[Blkcat]

I have a Magellan - works great. My only complaint is that firmware updates from Magellan's web site require a Windows PC. I am a Mac user, so always have to scrounge to borrow a friends PC when I need to update the firmware.

 

[pete-driver]

I use the Magellan. I like it. I drive a semi so it really allows me to focus on traffic rather than small road signs and building numbers. I use it every day and would not want to go back to maps.

 

[leswad]

Gary and Min's product is the only way to go.

 

[sigp220.45]

I own 4 Tom Toms and they've all been great. They're easy to update, and they're the only GPS I've found that has reservation roads loaded in. Also, I've got Homer Simpson's voice in mine telling me where to go. D'oh!!

 

[Hofstet]

Have a Tom Tom and a Garmin. Both great units.

 

[smitty_bs]

Garmin. The 205W is a pretty good model and they're on sale all over for just under a C note. Two family members have them and they work great.

 

[gunsmith11]

i just download yahoo maps ...works for me

 

[Springfield Bob]

Garmin for us. The wife & I drove a rented car from Los Angeles to W-Springfield Mass. It provided us with more information then I expected. Places to see,places to lodge at places to eat etc.

 

[Brian41]

I'm a sailor and have had GPSs since they came out. My first was a Magellan and a tricky program maybe now corrected.
It died and went with Garmin since. I even have one for my bird dog that gives his position, direction, distance and whether he's running or pointing. It's called Astro if interested in checking them out.
I think Garmin a good company and has it figured out on a user friendly basis.

 

[jbcap]

I have a Garmin, wouldn't buy any of the others. Most of the guys I work with have Garmins. A few previously had Tom-Toms but they were not as good, they have since gotten Garmins.

 

[SWAT Lt.]

I don't have any experience with Magellan or Tom Tom but I have a Garmin and am very satisfied with it.

 

[ohiobuckeye]

I have a Garmin.........Where they "get you" is the "yearly updates", when they offer to upgrade the software for a "fee". I don't do that every year as I figure not much could change, but do it like every 3 years.

I don't recall the exact amount but I think Garmin charges around 70 bucks if you just purchase a single update. For a few dollars more you can purchase a lifetime access that will let you do up to four updates per year. At least that applies to my Streetpilot C340, so I assume Garmin offers the same update options for all models.
I've encountered very few places where the Garmin was out of date. The glitches I've found are usually around some cities where orange barrels are a year round decoration and bypasses have been added or rerouted and/or exits have been changed. Cross country routes don't seem to change that much and the GPS is usually correct. That said, mine has given me some strange routing on a couple of occasions. It's always correct and gets me to the right place, but not always by the best route.

 

[Class III]

I have a Garmin GPSMAP76CSx. I never have to transfer maps from the PC to the GPS as I bought the Mapsource road maps memory card. The memory card runs about $80.00 and contains maps of all the US & territories and most of Canada. I've used it driving from west Tennessee to Alaska and back, it never missed a beat. It has LOTS of useful software features, an altimeter, compass, is waterproof and it floats. I did have an issue with my first GPSMAP76CSx after it was out of warranty, USB power port died. Called Garmin and explained the problem to them. One year warranty was expired by six days. They replaced it at no cost, just had to pay shipping to and from. It's been going strong now for three years on the replacement unit. Garmin gets my vote.

Class III

 

[magnumforce629]

I've had a Magellan 1400 for about 3 years and it is flawless. Never failed me once and I like the female voice alot since it's not as annoying as some of the other brands I have tried. IMHO that is the one to get so good luck to you!

 

[Wayne02]

Both have the street name feature. This is VERY useful, because the device says, "In 500 yards turn left onto 1st Avenue," instead of "Turn left in 500 yds." That's fine, but how many people can judge distances away from the target range? Not many.
JMO,
Noah

The lack of street names really drives me nuts when using our Tom Tom. Not calling out the actual street you are supposed to turn on in addition to the '500 yards' is very counter intuitive and requires far more effort on the part of the driver then it should for simple navigation tasks.