Global Positioning System (GPS)

[JanetRose]

i'm looking to buy one - any recommendations? thanks.

 

[ndelaware]

Garmin

 

[Shutterbug]

just google gps forums

They have tons of info and reviews

 

[KT27]

We have a Tom Tom 910 it switches between US & Europe maps easily which is what we needed. Very user friendly. We bought it refurbished off Amazon.

 

[Disney Doll]

We have the Garmin Nuvi and have had good luck with it.

 

[Pin Wizard]

I have a Nuvi 360. The sound on it has gotten rather strange. Sometimes I can't make out the name of the street they're saying. Thank goodness the rest of it is accurate. And this comment is coming from a Garmin lover. I use a Garmin 60 CSx for Geocaching.

 

[ma2jr]

I agree Garmin

 

[geffric]

i have a navigon - we use it all the time.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I haven't tried a bunch of different kinds, but have a Garmin and like it.

 

[GeorgeG]

I recently bought a TomTom and like it. My grandson and some other friends have Garmin and like those, too. I think we're at a point where they have to be pretty equal to be competitive.

 

[Meriweather]

I also have a Garmin Nuvi.....it is the only one I have used however
I do like it, but it is outdated already....my new house address is not on it
But it has worked for most everywhere else.

 

[golfgal]

I have a Sony Nav-u. It works fine. The maps are pretty much up to date but that is something you have to update occasionally anyway. It can be a little quirky at times, sending you right at an intersection then having you do a U-Turn and head the other way when you could have just turned left to begin with (but this might be some of the map issues vs the unit??). They sure are handy in bad traffic-just get off at the exit and start driving-it will direct you around the side roads to avoid back ups.

I have a bean bag mount vs mounting it on the dash or windshield. There was a rash of GPS thefts in our area a while back, people breaking into cars with dash and windshield mounts looking for the units in the car.

 

[GeorgeG]

I'm pretty sure you can download map updates to just about any GPS.

 

[minnie56]

Garmin Nuvi too..love it. We took it to Italy last year and it was great!! Last month it took us all over Arizona ...really pleased with it. Of course my daughters keep changing the voice-accents...sometimes she is Polish, sometimes she is Italian and on it goes!

 

[Ephany]

DH has a Garmin nuvi 650 and I'm looking at a Garmin nuvi 275T. Very happy so far with ours.

 

[LisaNJ25]

I have the garmin Nuvi 255w... I love it.

 

[Geoff_M]

Garmin.... We own a Nuvi 200 and and 205W.

Before we bought I talked to a sales rep at both Radio Shack and our Best Buy. I asked them for their impressions of the top sellers. They both replied that the top two selling brand were the TomTom and Garmins, but that they thought the interface on the Garmin was a bit better and easier to use. Overall they've had more people return the TomTom units versus the Garmins.

The sound on it has gotten rather strange. Sometimes I can't make out the name of the street they're saying.

Unless you find a good sale on one, I'd save the extra money you'll spend on a "text to speech" unit. Neither of ours has it and we don't miss it. It calls out the turn direction and counts down the distance as well as displays the street name of the turn in large letters so I can read it at a glance.

Navigation is also just as easy with the wide screen as the narrow, but the wide screen allows for a QWERTY keyboard that's easier to use.

While it's true that most GPS units allow updates to maps, there still are ones that don't.

Lastly, make sure of the coverage of the map. Some only offer US only navigation. If you live near, or plan to visit Canada, your GPS may stop at the border.