Considering a GPS system for the car. Opinions?

[Tina]

I've also posted this on the Transportation board in the 2k driver thread, but thought I'd ask here too.

I'm looking for some feedback on GPS systems. We always drive to Florida for Disney. We also drive to Michigan a few times a years, so we're on the road fairly often. I'm thinking of getting a dash-mounted GPS system.

What do you have? What do you like/dislike about it?

Amazon has the Magellan RoadMate 1424-LM 4.3-Inch GPS Navigator with Lifetime Map Updates on the Deal of the Day today for $119. Anyone have this model or another Magellan with comments? I thought the lifetime map updates sounded great (heard they can be expensive).

 

[Mimi1965]

We have the Garmin

Use it on all trips-but we put in on "mute" because "that lady" the voice in it drives us nuts if we make a detour

 

[golfgal]

Lifetime map updates are a must. My system is old enough that lifetime updates were not available. To update my maps now is $99.

Get one that is easy to use-I know it sounds obvious but I would not buy one without trying it out. Also, since you do a lot of trips across state lines, make sure you get one that has the option to route around traffic jams, will give you LOGICAL routes places-has several options for inputting routes, etc. Often I will use my GPS to time how long it takes to get places, places I know how to get to, and it will give me some really GOOFY routes. If you can get one that recognizes county roads and smaller roads as acceptable routes that is a plus.

Oh, and Tom Tom now has Star Wars voices you can use-Darth Vader, Yoda, etc. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdcJVuylmsM HYSTERICAL

 

[MarkBarbieri]

We have a Garmin. It's worked fairly well for us. Just don't bet your life on it. All GPS systems are based on maps that are less than perfect.

I had to switch the voice on ours to a male voice. As a guy, I had a hard time trusting directions from something with a female voice.

My favorite GPS experience was coming to a dead end road that ended in a driveway. There was a gate on the driveway and a large sign that said "Your GPS lied." The map mistakenly though that this road and a road on the other side of a river were connected. I'm sure the homeowner living in between was sick of people asking for directions.

 

[golfgal]

We have a Garmin. It's worked fairly well for us. Just don't bet your life on it. All GPS systems are based on maps that are less than perfect.

I had to switch the voice on ours to a male voice. As a guy, I had a hard time trusting directions from something with a female voice.

My favorite GPS experience was coming to a dead end road that ended in a driveway. There was a gate on the driveway and a large sign that said "Your GPS lied." The map mistakenly though that this road and a road on the other side of a river were connected. I'm sure the homeowner living in between was sick of people asking for directions.

Hey now----

My maps are from when the I-35 Bridge was down in Minneapolis. Every time I take that route now there is a big red circle with a line through it at where the road meets the bridge and as you approach the bridge it yells at you "road is out, TURN BACK" . It also won't take you through a logical route because it still thinks this road is out. It isn't worth updating the map when I can buy a new unit with better features for what the maps cost.

 

[ahutton]

Lifetime map updates are a must. My system is old enough that lifetime updates were not available. To update my maps now is $99.

Get one that is easy to use-I know it sounds obvious but I would not buy one without trying it out. Also, since you do a lot of trips across state lines, make sure you get one that has the option to route around traffic jams, will give you LOGICAL routes places-has several options for inputting routes, etc. Often I will use my GPS to time how long it takes to get places, places I know how to get to, and it will give me some really GOOFY routes. If you can get one that recognizes county roads and smaller roads as acceptable routes that is a plus.

Oh, and Tom Tom now has Star Wars voices you can use-Darth Vader, Yoda, etc. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdcJVuylmsM HYSTERICAL

I want Darth Vader directions, and am ready to buy one just to hear what he says!!

 

[golfgal]

I want Darth Vader directions, and am ready to buy one just to hear what he says!!

My BIL has Darth Vader and apparently gets scolded quite sternly when he misses turns, etc.

 

[Dan Murphy]

http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-765T-4...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1280594830&sr=8-1

http://gpsmagazine.com/2008/11/garmin_nuvi_765t_review.php


EXCELLENT!!!

 

[golfgal]

http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-765T-4...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1280594830&sr=8-1

http://gpsmagazine.com/2008/11/garmin_nuvi_765t_review.php


EXCELLENT!!!

WOW!! The road signage would be REALLY nice to have-especially since there seems to be a lot of roads around here that have more than one name. Bluetooth would be another great feature for those of us that are hard of hearing. Another thing mine doesn't do that would be nice to have is when you reach your destination if it would say or display the address again. I am guessing this one must do that since it showed things like "The Metropolitan Museum of Art".

 

[bookgirl]

I really like my Garmin. My dad has a Magellen and it's a PITA to use but it is old.

I like my stepdads new garmin which is made for commercial drivers it has lane assist and everything, very cool.

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

I received a low-end Garmin last Christmas and it was awful. Constant wrong directions and it could never acquire a satellite and keep it.
So for my birthday two weeks ago, DH bought me a (supposedly) better Garmin, the Nuvi 765T. Really, I just might take it back. First I couldn't register it online because I had already registered the old one and apparently NO ONE else in the world owns two Garmin products because it kept saying I had already registered. It took two calls (35-minute wait time for each one) to get that straightened out and the 765 registered. DH decided last night to purchase the lifetime maps. After going through the cc payment info, he kept getting a popup that the website couldn't see the device. He fiddled around with the connector for 45 minutes then emailed Garmin to cancel the transaction. We're NOT paying $120 for maps we can't download.
It's just not worth the stress for me to deal with Garmin!

 

[Dan Murphy]

....We're NOT paying $120 for maps we can't download.
It's just not worth the stress for me to deal with Garmin!

How about $83?? I just did (updated) my older Garmin, a 360, and am now doing my 765T. I update every quarter. I find the 765 to be a stunning GPS, have had it about 8 months now.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001PKTFM8/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=4577825937&ref=pd_sl_9ebcp8t7c_b

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

How about $83?? I just did (updated) my older Garmin, a 360, and am now doing my 765T. I update every quarter. I find the 765 to be a stunning GPS, have had it about 8 months now.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001PKTFM8/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=4577825937&ref=pd_sl_9ebcp8t7c_b

The $120 seemed like the better deal because it pays for upgrades every three months for as long as you have the unit.
Am I the only one who has so much trouble with their customer service? Garmin sells so many products in so many countries and their customer service is only available 5 days a weeks, eight hours per day with a minimum 30 minute telephone hold.....

 

[arminnie]

I DESPISE Magellan. I paid a fortune for one about five years ago. Really hundreds and hundreds of dollars. Worthless piece of junk.

I bought a cheap no-name from Woot a couple of years ago, but finally bought a decent Garmin last year - only about $100. I still don't trust any of them. I get totally stupid directions in New Orleans (which is a confusing layout) and in San Francisco. If I followed directions I'd end up underwater.

 

[treehugnmama]

i have a cheaper garmin nuvi 255 i think and it is great. I go to 3 adresses a day that I have never been to before so i use it ALOT!! never had any problem with it not keeping sattilite or taking me to the wrong place. I do agree with the annoying voice though....Sometimes I argue with "her"

 

[Dan Murphy]

The $120 seemed like the better deal because it pays for upgrades every three months for as long as you have the unit.
Am I the only one who has so much trouble with their customer service? Garmin sells so many products in so many countries and their customer service is only available 5 days a weeks, eight hours per day with a minimum 30 minute telephone hold.....

The $83 is lifetime also, every quarter, for as long as unit is functional, just from Amazon rather than direct from Garmin. It is only the account purchase from Amazon, actual updates are from my MyGarmin/MyMaps on the Garmin site.

I have called Garmin over the years, currently on my 3rd Garmin. First one was probably 6 or more years ago. Never a service problem when I called, other than sometimes a long wait. But, that is service departments today. I just put phone on the desk or car seat, on speakerphone and do something else, drive or whatever.

In all the years I have used GPS, and I do drive a lot, I have never had them mislead me, in any town, traveling or not.

 

[Dancind]

I go to a lot of estate sales, yard sales, so I use GPS a lot. DH bought me a Garmin Nuvi 855 last Christmas and I loved it. So much. i could talk to it, tell it the address, and it would take me where I wanted to go. Easy Peasy.

Then, in April, I took Toyota up on their amazing offer to lease a Prius. I decided that I had to have the solar sunroof that cools the vehicle off (hello, I'm in NM), so wound up with a GPS unit too. I don't like it as much as my Garmin, too many menus. And they are all bad with Hispanic street names. I'm getting used to it though.

Really need to sell that Garmin before it is obsolete. I still love it though! I've considered using it in the Prius.

 

[golfgal]

I go to a lot of estate sales, yard sales, so I use GPS a lot. DH bought me a Garmin Nuvi 855 last Christmas and I loved it. So much. i could talk to it, tell it the address, and it would take me where I wanted to go. Easy Peasy.

Then, in April, I took Toyota up on their amazing offer to lease a Prius. I decided that I had to have the solar sunroof that cools the vehicle off (hello, I'm in NM), so wound up with a GPS unit too. I don't like it as much as my Garmin, too many menus. And they are all bad with Hispanic street names. I'm getting used to it though.

Really need to sell that Garmin before it is obsolete. I still love it though! I've considered using it in the Prius.

We have a lot of streets with American Indian names and the pronunciations from the GPS are pretty hysterical.