GPS - Garmin nuvi 55

[Tigger7570]

Hi:
We are driving down and have never owned and/or used a GPS. I was wondering if anyone owns this GPS and what they think of it. Also, is it easy to use?
Thank you.

 

[jdb in AZ]

We've had a Garmin for several years now. When she's good, she's very very good. Other times, she's an exercise in frustration and patience. We call her Garmeana for a reason. She (the voice) sounds so put out when you turn off the recommended path to get gas or a meal, and she says, "Recalculating." When you finally reach your destination it would be nice if she said, "Congratulations, you made it!"

One caution -- updates aren't automatic, so if you're traveling through recently completed road construction, you may be on your own. Just keep going, and she'll catch up sooner rather than later. Usually. DH does have GPS on his cell phone, so that helps. One night we were looking for a particular store and followed Garmeana's instructions to the letter, only to find out the store was no longer in business so it didn't do any good to follow directions.

Garmeana usually wants to guide you the shortest distance, even if that means skipping the more convenient freeway. That said, she's really helpful in rural areas, much easier than trying to follow a map after dark.

 

[Alesia]

I would recommend using the navigation on a cell phone if at all possible. Since it doesn't give you map or traffic updates, you're much more likely to get bad directions or get stuck in traffic. We had one. We used it once and ended up turning it off after a few hours into the trip when it tried to take us several hours out of our way. It was a complete waste of money.

 

[rwdavis2]

I would recommend a phone every time. As was mentioned, the realtime traffic feature can be a lifesaver.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

We have several Garmins and never use them anymore; we just use the Google maps or Apple Maps on our iPhones. Free updates and up to date traffic conditions. Just make sure you plug your phone into a power source as this really eats up the phone battery.

 

[Tigger7570]

Thank you for the info.

 

[chartle]

For us we prefer a dedicated GPS, we have the nuvi 45 which I think is the smaller version of the 55. We like it because its always on the dash. No one is pulling it off so they can send a text or check out where to eat.

Also until a recent map update on our phones the Garmin gave you info like what lane to be in ect. So we keep the GPS on the dash and use smart phones to find out where to eat and other things like when is the next rest stop and leave the driving to the GPS.

As for apps I've been using waze a lot.

OP if ours is the same as yours its a great basic GPS, just keep it updated by using the Garmin Software on your PC.

 

[Alesia]

For us we prefer a dedicated GPS, we have the nuvi 45 which I think is the smaller version of the 55. We like it because its always on the dash. No one is pulling it off so they can send a text or check out where to eat.

Also until a recent map update on our phones the Garmin gave you info like what lane to be in ect. So we keep the GPS on the dash and use smart phones to find out where to eat and other things like when is the next rest stop and leave the driving to the GPS.

As for apps I've been using waze a lot.

OP if ours is the same as yours its a great basic GPS, just keep it updated by using the Garmin Software on your PC.

The model that the OP asked about does not allow map updates. At all.

 

[sam_gordon]

She (the voice) sounds so put out when you turn off the recommended path to get gas or a meal, and she says, "Recalculating."

I don't use the voice on my GPS. It's more annoying then helpful.

I am getting more and more to using my phone as the GPS. My stand alone GPS is 5 years old and I refuse to pay $100 for a map update.

 

[joelkfla]

The model that the OP asked about does not allow map updates. At all.

It does. When purchasing, one just needs to ensure the model number ends in "LM", which stands for Lifetime Maps, or LMT for Lifetime Maps & Traffic.

The list price on the Garmin site is only $10 more for the LM model. I don't know why anyone would buy the base model anymore; it costs 9x as much to buy the update separately.

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

That model may be a problem as it doesn't show Life Traffic that will alert to long delays. It will show fuel, food and hotels. The drive is pretty straight forward to Disney to use the Garmin, about two main highways until you get on property, then use an Ap on the phone. I use the phone Ap but it uses my data plan. If your kids are using data as you travel and using the Disney ap for times and changing FP+ it may add up.

 

[Tigger7570]

This info is great! Thank you. My concern with using my phone is if I get a phone call, etc. I miss a turn. Also, I have never used the GPS on my phone.

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

This info is great! Thank you. My concern with using my phone is if I get a phone call, etc. I miss a turn. Also, I have never used the GPS on my phone.

I hate when that happens...getting a phone call. Going down that along with data use is why I use the Garmin. But on property it isn't a big deal if you miss an exit. I hate using any device and it taking me to a service road instead of a route. I always keep an eye out for signage to get me around. Gosh, one night I wanted to get from POR to DTD Hess, and went to CM entrances, delivery roads, it was a mess. Took me an hour for about a 15 minute trip.

 

[chartle]

This info is great! Thank you. My concern with using my phone is if I get a phone call, etc. I miss a turn. Also, I have never used the GPS on my phone.

We were driving back from Penn State using my phone for the GPS. In all the years, starting around 81, of driving from Pittsburgh to Penn State the roads have changed quite a bit as they added more and more expressway. Well coming home my son wanted to check his grades and we missed our turn. Knew something was up when we hit the turnpike. My sister had sent us gift cards to Best Buy, we don't buy a lot of electronics so I used them for our nuvi 45.

Problem we had with our nuvi is the windshield mount won't work in our newer Jeep. If we put it low on the windshield its about 5 feet away. I found a vent mount online.

 

[chartle]

I hate when that happens...getting a phone call. Going down that along with data use is why I use the Garmin. But on property it isn't a big deal if you miss an exit. I hate using any device and it taking me to a service road instead of a route. I always keep an eye out for signage to get me around. Gosh, one night I wanted to get from POR to DTD Hess, and went to CM entrances, delivery roads, it was a mess. Took me an hour for about a 15 minute trip.

Now using it on property is another issue. We used signs to get to what ever park we wanted to go to but used the GPS to get back to our offsite hotel.

 

[joelkfla]

Problem we had with our nuvi is the windshield mount won't work in our newer Jeep. If we put it low on the windshield its about 5 feet away. I found a vent mount online.

I like the Garmin friction mount. Make sure it's the weighted "bean-bag" version, not the thin light one, and not a Chinese knock-off. If you have a reasonably flat top on your dashboard, it will stay put for years. But it's not for you if you make crazy fast turns, and after a few years the tacky bottom loses its tackiness. Supposedly there's a way to wash it to restore it, but I just bought a new one -- they're cheap enough on Amazon.

Bonus is that when you park the car, you can just lift it up and slide the whole thing under the back seat.

 

[Yellowjj]

A GPS is only as good as the information in it. You can't purchase one and expect not to update it to keep current with new roads/closed roads/avoiding toll roads, etc. I've owned a Garmin nuvi 55 LMT for several years now and never had a problem with it. I've also used it simultaneously with my cell running google maps and for whatever reason google maps was actually the slower of the two to alert me to upcoming exits, lane guidance and the like. A smartphone is a good thing, but its not the replacement for everything.

 

[BillyBuff]

I have the Garmin nuvi 3597LMTHD and love it! I have been using it since 2013 because Google Maps on my
iPhone seems to be lagging.
Perhaps it's my carrier and the locations of the cellular towers? It sucked for me as
I'm passing my turn and Google Maps starts telling me to turn there! I travel between New York and Florida often so a dedicated does help.

There live traffic updates and lifetime maps. There's plenty of options that you can choose like shortest routes or fastest time to destination.

It's definitely worth the investment.

 

[Tigger7570]

I don't know if this is a dumb question, but if we are taking a route other than the shortest route if we program that route will it try to redirect to a shorter route. We are actually doing a trial run by car in October to WDW because we are going to be going down the end of December and taking our dog and renting in Clermont for four months. We want to take a route where we can make rest stops for the dog and also we don't want straight highway and we need to check out pet friendly places to stay.

 

[chartle]

I don't know if this is a dumb question, but if we are taking a route other than the shortest route if we program that route will it try to redirect to a shorter route. We are actually doing a trial run by car in October to WDW because we are going to be going down the end of December and taking our dog and renting in Clermont for four months. We want to take a route where we can make rest stops for the dog and also we don't want straight highway and we need to check out pet friendly places to stay.

You should be able to add waypoints, but if not just make where ever you want to go your destination. It may have an avoid highways but not sure.

One thin .and I don't think you mean. this but the GPS is not going to help you find pet friendly hotels. You need to do that on a real computer, tablet, phone etc. But once you do put that in as your destination.

I use Google Maps and add stops along the way were we want to sleep that night. I use that as my destination.