Gps

[T. Lynn]

I purchased this mount for mine instead:

http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Portab...7?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1193958563&sr=1-1

I got a newer vehicle so I didn't want to mess up my windshield or dash. This has 4 beanbags that act as weights. I finally got to use it today and it works like a charm...best purchase I made. It was also rated 5 stars on Amazon. I stuck it on my left side of my stearing wheel and it fits perfectly (almost like it was made to be there).

DH calls me GG now for "gadget girl". I do tons of research to find the best things (gadgets) as he calls them. Yep, you bet I do and it's paid off. Love my nuvi and love my mount!...plus my other gadgets (cell phone, camera, etc...)

This is the other he raves about: http://www.boxwave.com/products/versachargerpro/index.htm
It's my car charger but can also be plugged into the home outlet. Now I only need to pack one charger for vacations. You also have to buy the cord (mini sync), which is retractable. Actually mine came with 2 cords. One that is strictly for charging (to use in car) and one for computer because it charges unit & syncs as well...like for garmin updates.

Found out that it fits into my GPS. Now I don't have to use the long bulky charger they sent. I just extend my cord to the desired length when I need to charge it and retract it when it's not in use. Yep, love my gadgets and my friends always ask where I get my stuff.

 

[Bren's Mom]

I've been researching these too for DH for his b-day. (BTW, for you single gals...pick a guy whose birthday ISN'T in December! LOL)

Anyway, after going to a few of the big box stores to ask lots of questions and looking at info online I have decided that my DH definitely will want one that announces the street names. He's working in a new city and primarily wants the GPS for when he's working...I think the street name announcements rather than just 'turn here' will help him. The best one I can find that is in my price range is the Garmin Street Pilot C340. I played with it at one of the stores, it's idiot proof simple even for technology-challenged me and it DOES announce the streets. The best deal I can find on it so far is at Amazon, $231.48 with free shipping. The 2nd best is Walmart for $234.54 with free site to store shipping.

The Tom Tom One is tempting with the deal at Pep Boys but I think I'll regret not having gotten him a street announcing one and overall the reviews for this Garmin are better.

 

[D&D's Mom]

We looked at the Street Pilot line of the Garmins as well. When I asked my DH about them compared to the Nuvi, he was much more interested in the Nuvi due to the size. The Nuvi is about the size of a deck of cards & can easily be pulled from the vehicle & dropped in his brief case to be taken with him. The Street Pilot ones are more bulky & don't lend themselves to being carried around very easily. My DH has a new job with a new territory so that is his primary need for one as well. He doesn't want to leave it sitting in the vehicle attracting attention. We have 3 scout friends with the Street Pilot ones who love them, but all 3 said they would go with the Nuvi if they were buying them now. Just something to consider - as far as function, I think either is fine.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

I have the Street Pilot c340 and I had no problem with removing it. DH is using it now since the Escalade ESV has it built in. I actually prefer the Street Pilot to the built in Nav.

 

[grlpwrd]

I bought a Magellan Maestro from Costco, but my dh adopted it as his own. lol (He works in Baltimore while the kids and I are 4 hours away in Virginia.)

Now I just use my cell phone GPS which cost about $10 per month. It has been very reliable for me.

 

[Bren's Mom]

Thanks for the info about the size of the Street Pilot! I did look at both the SPs and the Nuvis. It's a tough decision, I think he'd like the fact that the Nuvi is more portable...but the least expensive Nuvi with the text to speech is about $120 more. (The Nuvi 350 is about $350 at Walmart and Amazon.) And that's out of my budget.

Soooo...for now I'll watch the Black Friday ads. By some stroke of luck I may be able to find a deal on the Nuvi and get it for under my $250 budget. If not, I'll have to decide whether to buy the SP or just wait for next year.

And I'll keep watching this thread for more info!

 

[Sethsmama]

my friend just got one of the Garmin ones off Buy.com and it was on sale for about $230 and it's really nice and got good ratings!

 

[Juniortrooper]

Hi,
Based on recommendations here and my husband's quick research we just purchased a Garmin 350. We haven't received it yet but I'm fully relying on it to get us to and from each park! Does the Garmin have a "points of interest" feature where they don't need an actual WDW MK address, for example? We also need to get to WL and Contemporary resorts. Since we don't have it in hand yet, I can't find out. Thanks for your help!

Amy

11 days until WDW!

 

[DisneyWorld Delight]

OK, in my searching...I keep reading reviews that maps get out of date (of course!!) But that Garmin's charge $70-$80 to downnload updated maps. True? Is this common to all GPS companies?

I'm interesed in the answer to this too. Anyone know?

 

[T. Lynn]

Basically all with all companies you have to update maps every so often...normally around 18 months. You don't have to update if you don't want to but would be in the best interest incase new roads have been built.

We have a new road in our area (major road), which isn't on my Garmin. I'll probably have to wait till the next update for it to show.

 

[T. Lynn]

Hi,
Based on recommendations here and my husband's quick research we just purchased a Garmin 350. We haven't received it yet but I'm fully relying on it to get us to and from each park! Does the Garmin have a "points of interest" feature where they don't need an actual WDW MK address, for example? We also need to get to WL and Contemporary resorts. Since we don't have it in hand yet, I can't find out. Thanks for your help!

Amy

11 days until WDW!

I was able to go into Lodging and change the city to Orlando (default is your current location) and it pulled up the disney resorts for me. I saved Coronado Springs Resort as a favorite for our next visit.

 

[DisneyWorld Delight]

Basically all with all companies you have to update maps every so often...normally around 18 months. You don't have to update if you don't want to but would be in the best interest incase new roads have been built.

We have a new road in our area (major road), which isn't on my Garmin. I'll probably have to wait till the next update for it to show.

What is the update cost? TIA

 

[T. Lynn]

I can't give you a good answer on that. I just received my Garmin last week and it came with the latest Mapping that is out. Hopefully someone else will be able to answer regarding the cost.

 

[D&D's Mom]

Is anyone else having trouble getting the Nuvi 350 mounting attachment to stick to their windshield? We have tired everything we can think of - warming the windshield & the attachment, cleaning both with Windex, wetting the attachment thingy, but it just won't attach AT ALL.....I am ordering the bean bag mounting kit, but was hoping to save that for a Christmas present. Any ideas on how to make this work in the meantime? I mean, I'll admit I can be technologically challenged, but really, this should not be that hard !!

 

[T. Lynn]

I haven't tried because of all the bad comments regarding the windshield mount. I heard people mention that it falls off and I don't want to break my Nuvi by it falling.

 

[spottie]

Is anyone else having trouble getting the Nuvi 350 mounting attachment to stick to their windshield? We have tired everything we can think of - warming the windshield & the attachment, cleaning both with Windex, wetting the attachment thingy, but it just won't attach AT ALL.....I am ordering the bean bag mounting kit, but was hoping to save that for a Christmas present. Any ideas on how to make this work in the meantime? I mean, I'll admit I can be technologically challenged, but really, this should not be that hard !!

Did you push the lever down on the mounting attachment? That's what creats the suction for the windshield mount. Sorry if I am asking the obvious, because the first time I use it, I did not push it down and just somehow stick it to my windshield and in the middle of driving, the whole unit felt off, I later realized that I did not push that little thing . I did buy a bean bag mount later since we plan to use it in CA at the end of December when we go to Disneyland. It worked great!

 

[D&D's Mom]

Yes, we tried the lever in both positions since we weren't sure which way it went, but neither worked. Eventually, I looked at the instructions to see if we were doing it correctly, and it seemed we were, but the thing will just NOT stick. We didn't even have the GPS in the bracket (not wanting to take a chance of dropping it). Thanks for the suggestions! Guess I'll just give the bean bag mount to DH early.

 

[swilshire]

What is the update cost? TIA

I saw this in Sunday's ads. Can't recall if it was $49 or $69.

I haven't read the whole thread, so forgive me if this has been answered. I want to get a GPS on Black Friday, but was riding with a friend with one the other day and it really bugged me being on the windshield. I've seen these stuck on dashes, but can you put them down on the front of the console somewhere so they aren't in the direct line of vision?

I realize that sounds a bit silly, but I just can't bear to have anything glaring in the windshield and having something stuck on it was even worse. I can't even stand to put Armourall (sp?) on my dash because it makes it glare.

Sheila

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Place the windshield mount onto the windshield with the lever in the up position. Press firmly. Move the lever the down position, this creates the suction necessary. The lever must be moved when the mount is pressed against the windshield. voila.

Yes, we tried the lever in both positions since we weren't sure which way it went, but neither worked. Eventually, I looked at the instructions to see if we were doing it correctly, and it seemed we were, but the thing will just NOT stick. We didn't even have the GPS in the bracket (not wanting to take a chance of dropping it). Thanks for the suggestions! Guess I'll just give the bean bag mount to DH early.

 

[T. Lynn]

With my 350 I can use the antenna part as a prop and put it in my console if I wish. I feel the same way as you and that's why I put it on the far left side of the dash. It is so small and not in the way at all.