Going to break down and buy GPS

[snowbunny]

I was against it - still am sort of - but thinking I will give in and buy a GPS. It makes my DD nervous when we are barreling along a highway in a rental car and I'm trying to read my google maps printout and drive at the same time.

Tom Tom One 3rd Edition or Garmin Nuvi 200 seem to be the lower cost choices. I want:
- small
- free map updates
- voices telling me where to turn

Anyone have one of these models?

 

[mickey2000]

Garmin the better choice.
Try Amazon.com forr free shipping and no sales tax in most states.

 

[ehrn]

I got a nuvi for Christmas and we brought it in January, just be aware that there is so much new construction that the gps wasn't totally up to date. Even the Target that we have gone to for a couple of years now wasn't in the database, nor was PopCentury. I didn't choose the nuvi, don't know much about gps features. I think some are more "current" or can be updated. I think some rental car places also rent them.

 

[mickey2000]

I got a nuvi for Christmas and we brought it in January, just be aware that there is so much new construction that the gps wasn't totally up to date. Even the Target that we have gone to for a couple of years now wasn't in the database, nor was PopCentury. I didn't choose the nuvi, don't know much about gps features. I think some are more "current" or can be updated. I think some rental car places also rent them.

Thats strange my 2 year old Garmin GPS had Pop Century on its software ?????
Went last September 2007 and it was fine .........

 

[tjmw2727]

DH and I both have a Garmin and I love mine. We relocated to a new area and its a lifesaver to me. Traveling is alot easier and less stressful, I like the advance notice for lane changes and lane drops etc in a new area.

Oh and on longer trips I no longer have to answer the age old question ...."are we there yet?" as the kids can just glance at the GPS and see the eta.

TJ

 

[snowbunny]

Thanks you guys. Both Tom Tom One 3e and Garmin Nuvi 200 are about the same price on Amazon right now.

Can you just download updated maps etc. for the Nuvi?

 

[charm73]

we have the TomTom and love it. My mom and dad took theirs to Arizona this year and won't leave home without it now. easy to use, good clear voice directions...

 

[PlutoPony]

Just bought the Garmin Nuvi 260W today and we're having fun playing with it right now. Did a lot of research and there are quite a few models that are very similar in features and price. Ended up with the 260 because I wanted one that not only gives me voice instructions - i.e. turn right in 200 feet - but gives me the street name that I'm turning on.... turn right in 200 feet on Maple St. The lower numbered models in this line (200, 250) don't give the street name in the instructions. Don't think any models in this price range give free updates, the update for the Nuvi's is ~ $80. I figure we can get away with this every couple years or so. We didn't want a lot of bells and whistles like Bluetooth, MPS, etcl - just basic navigation with directions and good resolution on the display. This thing is SO EASY TO USE! The instruction manual is just a couple pages long and you can just pop it out of the box and go! So far, so good....

HTH!

 

[snowbunny]

Don't think any models in this price range give free updates, the update for the Nuvi's is ~ $80.

$80 How often does it need updating?
I agree though, having it call out the street names is ideal.

I thought the Tom Tom updates are free (charm73 is that correct?), could be wrong about that though.

 

[1000th happy haunt]

I have a Nuvi 200W (got it from Costco). There are no new maps available for this unit (yet).

I recommend the Garmin. If you visit the Garmin website:
http://www.garmin.com/garmin/cms/site/us

And click on Extras, Services
Scroll down to Goodies and click on The Garmin Garage

You can download extra images for you on-screen vehicle. My on-screen vehicle is the Black Pearl.

 

[snowbunny]

You can download extra images for you on-screen vehicle. My on-screen vehicle is the Black Pearl.

Oh my gosh is that fun...

 

[rosiep]

My daughter bought a NUVI for her move to L.A..It's her best friend. I feel really comfortable knowing she has one.

 

[BigTigger]

My daughter got a Nuvi 200W in January at my suggestion based on lots of internet research including reading hundereds of user comments on various sites. The 2008 Garmin update is on sale for $40 almost every week somewhere, so don't worry about price in 2009 if you buy this year and want an update next year if won't require yo uto pay $80 - someone wil lhave it on sale. One of the posts above says the 200W doesn't give street names on the turns, but that's not the case on my daughter's unit - maybe it's a feature you can turn on or a running change since the 260W came out? It also can be updated for points of interest and lots of other content from online if you want to do some work before your trip to identify POI and load them to the unit. It's usually on sale for $225-$245 on one or another of the e-tailers like walmart.com, etc.

 

[PlutoPony]

One of the posts above says the 200W doesn't give street names on the turns, but that's not the case on my daughter's unit - maybe it's a feature you can turn on or a running change since the 260W came out?

According to the Garmin website and CNET reviews the 200 doesn't support the "Text to Speech" function - i.e. it only says turn left in 500 yards, but it does use voice direction to say what road you're actually on. On the Garmin website when you compare the 2 models it's the line "Speaks street names". This website is nice for comparing models and specifications if you want a concise list. From I've learned, the 260 is currently the lowest priced, current model to include Text to Speech. If you don't want the road names spoken at turns, the 200 looks like a really good model. Best Buy brought the price of the 260W down by $50 yesterday, so far that's not reflected on the website.

 

[Dan Murphy]

http://www.buydig.com/shop/product....dium=cpc&utm_campaign=GRNUVI360&sku=GRNUVI360

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=6291

Excellent unit.

Check what is 'in the box' also

 

[PlutoPony]

Dan that's a really good price on the 360, especially considering what comes with it. The 350's down to $299 at Costco which isn't bad but the 360 is a newer model...... I also hear good things about BuyDig.

 

[snowbunny]

THANKS for those links.
That BuyDig site has good prices, I have never shopped there -- cheaper than Amazon!
I now realize that I need the Canadian maps, which don't come on the 200. Yet I feel like I have to keep it to $200 rather than creep up closer to $300.

 

[mickey2000]

Look here :

http://www.dealigg.com/story-Garmin...S-Receiver-Clamshell-Packaging-20080317032620


The StreetPilot c340 comes preprogrammed with highly detailed City Navigator® NT street data of the entire United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. The database features nearly six million points of interest—including hotels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs, and attractions.

 

[Jeanne B]

I also hear good things about BuyDig.

That BuyDig site has good prices, I have never shopped there -- cheaper than Amazon!

buydig gets mentioned often on the Photography board, I've purchased cameras and accessories from both buydig and their sister site beachcamera several times. I always select the free shipping and my order always ships the same day and arrives on my doorstep within 1-2 business days.

 

[snowbunny]

Well folks I ended up ordering the Garmin Nuvi 250, which has both the U.S. and Canada maps. Thank you for all the help!