garmin NUVI experts

[disneyred]

hi there..
I was trying to keep up with all the models... and got lost just trying to compare each model..
so I am asking .. which is the best model now and why ?? and of course price...

thanks everyone !

 

[just4today]

The best place to check is Consumers Reports. You can also google gps comparison. I remember looking at a few websites comparing different models when I was shopping. It really depends on what features you want.

 

[wdwmom2]

Don't know which is the best, but we have a 260W and it works great. Walmart.com had it for a great price. Printed it out and took it to Best Buy and they matched it plus 10% of the difference!!!!

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

We have a Garmin Nuvi 780 - because I wanted the traffic option which is very helpful if you live in a metro area or are visiting a metro area because it tells you when trouble is ahead and allows you to choose an alternate route. I chose not to listen to the warning and choose an alternate route and should have listened. I thought at 8 p.m. there couldn't possibly be traffic in a certain area and there was. So, it is worth it. The maps are up to date and I just love it.

I am a Consumer Reports junkie - I research everything through them in addition to looking at all the reviews on Amazon. I bought mine through Amazon and it is a lot cheaper now. Only $200 right now. Bummer - when I bought mine it was well over that.

 

[AshleyW]

It really depends what functions you're looking for & what price range.

We have the 265WT. We spent around $200 for it, if I remember correctly. So far we love it - it does everything we need. The icons are really simple, it has a 4.3" widescreen, touch screen, does basic things like avoid tolls or highways, store points of interest, traffic reports. It comes with a suction cup for your windshield, dash pad and vehicle charging cable.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Not an expert, but do study a lot before making decisions.

For the money, and the features.....765T

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001ELJER4/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=3029553291&ref=pd_sl_32a3mapdne_e

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

http://www.gpsmagazine.com/reviews.php

Big item is no cost real time traffic, includes Toronto if that is where you are.

That feature is a life saver here in Chicago.

http://www8.garmin.com/traffic/fm/navteq.html

http://www.navteq.com/rdstraffic/

If that feature means little to you, maybe the 255W.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015EWMX8/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=3064044085&ref=pd_sl_52y1plz7ur_e

But with all the standard features on the 765T, hard to beat.

Run some compares.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=134

 

[AshleyW]

Also, just wanted to add:

The difference between the 255, 255W, 255WT, etc. are just the "extra features".

Models ending in W will have a widescreen.
Models ending in T will have FM lifetime traffic alerts.
Models ending in WT will have a widescreen + lifetime traffic alerts.

I spent a lot of time comparing similar models (265W, 265WT, etc) trying to figure out the differences. Then.. It makes it a lot easier to compare models if you know what the letters mean.

 

[disneyred]

thanks for all the valuable info here ..

no I feel better and am off to go compare with the sites you guys have provided..
I am leaning towards the 765 /780 models...

 

[librarygal]

I find the reviews on Amazon more helpful than Consumers Report. We bought our Garmin Nuvi on Amazon because we had a $100 gift card. I am happy we got wide screen because the smaller ones would make it hard to type on the keyboard. When you register your Nuvi you will be entitled to one free map update. Downloading the maps takes hours so don't do it when you have computer work to do.