Pondering a new GPS...Your thoughts?

[UGAFan0829]

I currently have a Garmin Streetpilot C330 I think, which is one of the older GPS systems. I really enjoy having it as it has been quite helpful at times, but also quite aggrivating at times as well. I haven't updated the maps since 2008, so I know that I probably need to do that sometime soon. But here's what I was thinking...instead of spending the $80.00 or so for the update, that maybe I should take that money plus a little more and just buy a brand new one. The one I have works fine, but I hate the actual system. It's kinda big compared to the newer systems and is terribly hard to adjust after it's been mounted. And since it uses a suction cup, it's constantly falling off. What I would like to know is what GPS you use, and would you recommend it. I don't want to spend a ton on a new one, maybe around $150 or so.

 

[JB2K]

Given some of the bargains currently available, it's probably not worth it to spend money to upgrade your maps on an older (and more bulky) GPS unit.

The newer generation Garmins are a lot thinner (and easier to mount in the car!).

In fact, Target has the Garmin 205W on sale this week for $129 with a free $15 giftcard (bringing your costs down to $114).

 

[jakoky]

hi there...i also have a garmin and was in the same place as you..upgrade maps or just buy a new one..i read great reviews on tom tom units, and went ahead and bought one...first, i loved everything about it much more than the garmin...i ran into one BIG problem though...i tested it getting from one city to another, pretty much one main road to use, and it kept wanting me to turn off and take backroads and add huge amounts of time....I ended up taking it back(it did get me to all my other destinations i tested it one but...this main highway has existed for over 20 years and that it couldnt get me from A to B was an issue)..i am in bc, canada and believe that probably the US maps are better...I am waiting til they put out some new tom toms, because after using it, i really hate my garmin...good luck

 

[Mickeypooh99]

We got a garmin last November, and I don't like it. It loses signal all the time. We will be out in the open driving down the highway no clouds in the sky, and it will lose signal. It is so annoying. It was the cheapest garmin on the market at the time so I don't know if the higher end models are better.

I can't remember what brand our old one was. We got rid of it when we bought the garmin. Now I want it back!

 

[Crystal824]

We have this same issue. We have been debating on updating or getting a new one. So far we haven't made a decision and just continue to use our old one that needs updated badly.

 

[berly1657]

We purchased a Garmin 265W this past Christmas. We love it. This is the 1st one we've owned and just went down to WDW for spring break. It has updated traffic problems (which we ran into a lot) and some other features that I can't remember, but were worth upgrading to this unit. I think I paid around $175. We also purchased a garmin dash mount - works awesome! We did learn - you can't totally rely on it and it was nice having a map to see where it was rerouting us - we gave our 2nd map to friends who came down w just their GPS....

 

[southtexasmom]

We have the Garmin StreetPilot c330 also, new maps for it were going to cost us $99 for updated maps. Just last week I bought another Garmin, I think its the 1350 at Sams Club for $139. So far I love it and screen seems huge after using the StreetPilot for 3 or 4 years.

 

[joxer1014]

Just my two cents here. I went with a Magellan 1424 and only paid $99. It is 4.3 in screen and all the usual features. Text to speech and speaks all street names. Over 6 million points of interest and AAA guidebook for the whole US. Any POI I was looking for that has been in existence around a year ago was in there. I was going to a new Best Buy that opened less than a year ago and it wasn't in there nor did I expect it to be.

What sold me is if you are an AAA member the one year warranty automatically becomes a two year warranty when you register it with your AAA number.

The only downside that I could find was that you could not customize the 1424. I know that some of the Garmins would let you download voices or stuff like that or user made maps or POI and I still cannot figure out how to do it with mine but it isn't and issue with me. Maybe the more expensive models let you do that buy since I really didn't need that I didn't look in to it further.

If you want to know more about my Magellan feel free to ask.

 

[DVC-Don]

We have three: Tom Tom (sons), Garmin (daughters) & Magellen (wifes). The Tom Tom ($49 for the update) and Garmin($99 for the update) have been updated recently but do not have the street names feature. The Magellen was a free one for buying a new Dell desktop recently and has the street names feature. I have used them all and to tell the truth I prefer the Garmin for ease of use.

 

[SamSam]

I love our Garmin 255W, easy to use, good price (shop around, many sales).

 

[disneymarie]

I have a Magellen I am not thrilled with. Low end model so no traffic updates. not a text to speech, but it did locate an address and turns to a place so far out in the boonies, I never would have found it with Yahoo maps.

But, I ordered a Garmin Nuvi 1340 I think; it is at Amazon with the dash mount and accessory pack free shipping for $188 this week. The unit alone was on sale at Sears for $219 this week. It is not refurbished.

I am hoping that the network for Att will work with traffic so I do not need to use the Verizon wireless phone data plan for GPS.

I do not use blue tooth, or lots of POI, I just need to get there and warn of traffic jams.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

My husband has a Garmin and loves it. He researched a lot of them before he decided on it and it is very user-friendly and gives good directions. We use it in my van when we go out of town and I've come to rely on it in a strange city. The only time I can think of that we've lost signal is in a parking garage.

Do note that he preferred and bought the "W" model with a wide screen. It is much better than the regular model.

With the above-mentioned deal going at Target, I'm tempted to buy my own!