Garmin GPS Update

[msminniemouse]

Do any Garmin GPS owners purchase the GPS updates? It is $70 for 1 time update and $120 for lifetime. It seems pricey and was wondering if it was worth doing.

 

[minnie1928]

Do any Garmin GPS owners purchase the GPS updates? It is $70 for 1 time update and $120 for lifetime. It seems pricey and was wondering if it was worth doing.

How old is your unit? If it's only a year or two old, then I'd probably hold off. We've done the update, but typically we'd do it before we'd start driving to FL that way any new roads/routes/attractions/restaurants are in there. If I was using it strictly for more "local" stuff, I'd probably hold off.

Question...is the lifetime on the unit or for you as a customer?

 

[msminniemouse]

The unit is only a year old. The lifetime is only for the unit and not for the owner. From what I've read, if I lose it or it breaks, then I am out of luck.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I am interested in this too because my mothers also needs to be updated. She bought it two years ago. Dang, 70.00 to upgrade it is a lot.

 

[Lisa_M]

My dad bought a refurb because he will buy anything a salesman sells and it wasn't updated. The thing is so useless. He bought it 2 years ago, but it's not even good for the local area with an updated road from 10 years ago, yet the GPS is not that old.

If I could get a new updated one for the same price, I would probably go that route.

 

[MinnieMe2]

My unit is a little over two years old and I plan to do an update. While it isn't cheap, roads do change -- and the price of the update is still less than a new GPS. I love Motor Mouth, and I trust her -- but only with new info!

 

[beccasmom]

We drive mostly local and our unit is just 6 months old, so we have not thought about updates yet, although I know they are not inexpensive. If we had plans for a trip in "unfamiliar territory", we would probably consider the update.

 

[rcraw45425]

Truthfully, think about it, $120 for the life of the unit is a deal. We bought new GPS' (yes two) in March, both were eligable for free update almost immediately. Having experience with Garmin GPS (that's all we use for the airplane) I know that they usually come out with map updates at least once a year. If you keep the unit 3 years, that $120 breaks down to $3 a month to get current information. My dilemma is I bought a new Mercedes ML May 1st, GPS is standard, so now we have one just sitting, not being used. It always happens that way!

 

[UCFALUM]

We only paid $119 on Black Friday so I would just wait until the next "deal" pass the old unit on. I bet the kiddies would love to play geocaching with it

 

[Kies99]

I have a Garmin and within a year of getting it I got a free upgrade from them. I've now had the Garmin for 2 years and at $70, I had planned on only doing the upgrades every 2 years or so. I didn't know about the $120 lifetime. I'm going to check that out.

 

[Mama to Three]

We've had ours almost two years and even locally it isn't up to date. I think we will get the $70 upgrade before we drive to WDW in August.

 

[swilshire]

My maps were outdated when I took it out of the box brand new. I tried emailing them and didn't have a lot of luck. Need to call them to see if I can get the first update free.

Sheila

 

[wall*e2008]

I paid the $120. After 1 year I updated and so many of the maps were different. DH and I love to drive so the Garmin with updated maps is a must. I also pay for the traffic too.

 

[Tissa]

I'll probably do it every two years. The main roads are not going to change that much plus I did the Mousesavers POI for WDW that covers that area.

 

[itutorfortravel]

hey, i don't mean to hijack this thread, but do any of you have the garmin nuvi 855? i just bought one from costco for dh for father's day for $249. just wondering if it's a good unit...

 

[ilovecraigandcooper]

i am thinking of surprising my husband with a gps for father's day. he loves gadgets and has been wanting one for awhile. so is garmin everyone's brand of choice?

 

[piglet33]

Thanks for posting this. I didn't know there was a lifetime update.

 

[wall*e2008]

i am thinking of surprising my husband with a gps for father's day. he loves gadgets and has been wanting one for awhile. so is garmin everyone's brand of choice?

From all the people that I know who have GPSs the least complaints are from the ones with a Garmin. Get a wide screen.