What do I look for in a GPS for DD?

[D L and K's Mom]

DD who is going to turn 19 (oh my goodness I can't believe it) wants a GPS for her b-day. What should I look for? Are there any out there that are resonable priced? I am trying to get her to just get the APP for her phone but, she really wants on for her car. Any help would be very helpful as I know nothing as to what I should be looking for etc....

 

[flipturngirl]

I have a garmin and love it. You will want to make sure to get a charger for your house as well. It has one for the car but charging it in the house before you go is always a good thing to do!~ I do not have any suggestions of what to get...but I hear they are all pretty much the same... Garmins are really good.. They now have the mph on the screen.. You know those times you are going what is the speed limit through here? well it is posted on the screen. A lot of them also will have places of interest and a map of where you have been.
I personally would stay away from the APP on the phone. I also have the APP and when I forgot my GPS it did not really help me. The volume is not loud enough and it does not give the easiest directions.

 

[WhateverLolaWants]

A great feature to have is where they tell which lane you need to be in to go in which direction on the highways. Also, you want one that tells you street names, not just "turn left in .5 miles."

 

[golfgal]

Bluetooth capable is really nice, mine doesn't have it but my next one will. Speaking street names is nice as well.

I would get the GPS over the app for her phone. I am pretty sure the phone app has a monthly or per use charge which will end up costing a lot more in the long run.

 

[golfgal]

I don't know if this is available but it would be nice to have a feature that allowed you to let the GPS know there is a detour or something. There are times when traffic is bad and I want to route around it but it keeps trying to take me back to the road I am trying to avoid. If there was something you could push that says "avoid current road" or something similar that would be REALLY helpful.

 

[flipturngirl]

I don't know if this is available but it would be nice to have a feature that allowed you to let the GPS know there is a detour or something. There are times when traffic is bad and I want to route around it but it keeps trying to take me back to the road I am trying to avoid. If there was something you could push that says "avoid current road" or something similar that would be REALLY helpful.

The GPS that I have allows you to tell it if there is a detour.. it will recalculate and you are on it's way.. same with bad traffic. The one my parents have has the capabilities of knowing that there is a detour and bad traffic based on satellites or something like that.. it is a newer Garmin.. and we know this because when we were in LA it kept telling us to get off I5 and go on a different freeway that was not as busy..radio report helped us to know that the GPS was telling the truth!

 

[golfgal]

The GPS that I have allows you to tell it if there is a detour.. it will recalculate and you are on it's way.. same with bad traffic. The one my parents have has the capabilities of knowing that there is a detour and bad traffic based on satellites or something like that.. it is a newer Garmin.. and we know this because when we were in LA it kept telling us to get off I5 and go on a different freeway that was not as busy..radio report helped us to know that the GPS was telling the truth!

Good to know, thanks.

 

[flipturngirl]

Good to know, thanks.

No problem!

 

[Dan Murphy]

I purchased this for myself about a year ago (still a current model) and then one for my DD also. I have had a number of units over the years, this one is stunning.

http://www.gpsmagazine.com/2008/11/garmin_nuvi_765t_review.php

And a good site for reviews of almost all GPS's.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=134



Good price at Buy.com

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=208941080&listingid=65821863

4% additional savings through www.bing.com

 

[LuvOrlando]

Many cell phones have GPS built in now and all you have to do is turn it on. I just discovered my new AT & T Xenon happens to be GPS ready. If your DD has a phone that is GPS ready, or is almost ready for a new phone I would strongly consider going this way. Not only is it less likely it could be carelessly lost because it is part of the phone but it could be insured along with the phone for theft or damage and she would rarely be without it, so she'd have it even if she were to get lost on the street or in a friends car... never mind the help if it were to go lost. Lots of pluses there I think.

Good luck

 

[Ephany]

I have a Garmin and the features I like is that it says the street names, it has a traffic detour option, it shows the speed limit of the area you're currently traveling and it shows if the turn ahead is on the right or the left. I've never charged it anywhere but the car, so I can't speak for an additional home charger.

The only feature I wish it had was a 'show lane needed' option for when I'm traveling in an unfamiliar area. It would show me which lane was the best to be in for my next exit or turn. A lifetime free update option would be nice also, we're considering rather to spend the $99 for lifetime updates for DH's Garmin or get him a new one as his is waaaaay out of date.

Edit: I totally forgot about the 'where am I' feature. This is really nice when you blow a tire out at 10pm traveling in an unfamiliar area and you're stuck on the side of the road with no idea where you are, but you're pretty sure it's NOT a nice area. I used this when talking with my insurance company after the above incident and it really made it easier for the roadside assistance guy to find me quickly. Definitely recommend it!

 

[mamacatnv]

I just bought the Garmin 265WT - I have been researching them for months. This one has really good Consumer Report reviews. It was $179 at Radio Shack but I noticed it in the upcoming Costco Coupon book for $169 with a $20 off coupon....rats it never fails as soon as I buy something Costco finally gets it

I wanted one with BlueTooth - I don't own a BlueTooth, don't need it in the state I live in, heck don't need the GPS where I live either but I travel to Oregon and California often. Both of those states require hands free talking on cells and I am not all that familiar with the areas. I wanted a GPS that could function as a GPS and BlueTooth as well. *Note, in order to use the BlueTooth your cell phone must be BlueTooth capable.

I love it! I am leaving in a couple of days for Portland,Oregon, I can't wait to try it out. I have it already programmed with all the locations that I know I will be going.
The Garmin 265WT came with the car charger, a USB charger & the windshield mount. The guy at Radio Shack programmed the Bluetooth for me and it works like a charm. It has spoken directions, is traffic enabled, has detour suggestions and lane assignments (I think) it tells me the turn is on the right/left etc. So far I have not tried it out on major intersecting highways (we don't have any here) but I am pretty sure that was one of the options. It also has the "where am I now" feature which is fun.

This IMO is a great little unit for the price range I wanted and was the only Bluetooth capable unit under $200 that Garmin makes that I could find. Garmin was the only brand I wanted, they have been around the longest and have the best track records.

 

[torinsmom]

I just bought one for our trip in June. We are staying in a rental house, and I thought it would be helpful. I got the Tom Tom 130, and I really like it. It was only 59.99, but seems to have everything I need.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001OAT9M0/ref=oss_product

 

[mckryan]

QVC has a Tom Tom as a Today's Special Value today, and it has lifetime map updates and lifetime traffic. It tells you what lane to be in, etc. I think it's a great value, and even though I have a Garmin and love it, I'm seriously considering this for the lifetime updates!!