What GPS System?

[CRMOM]

I want to get a GPS system for my husband so when we go to Florida again we can travel outside of Disney and feel like we know where we are going. We will also use it to get us to youth sporting events such as baseball diamonds etc. We can spend up to $500 but the person at Best Buy was not very up on the product she was selling so I wanted to get some advice on which one people have used in the past and have had good luck with. I also want a restuarant option so if we want to go out of the kingdom to eat etc. We live in Iowa so driving around Florida with just map quest directions probably isn't our best idea. So any rec. would greatly be appreciated!!!!!!!!! I know I'll find a lot more answers here than I did from the sales lady at Best Buy. Thanks. You guys are the best.

 

[Lewisc]

The Garmin units all do a good job. The cheapest units don't have maps for Canada and Alaska. As the units get more expensive the size of the screen increases and features get added. Features include blue tooth (lets you use your GPS as a speakerphone for your cell), real time traffic, mp3 player etc. Pick the Garmin unit with the screen size you want, make sure it "speaks" street names and you'll be OK. Black Friday should have some good sales.

 

[mmmgood]

I got the Garmin Nuvi 660. The Garmin Nuvi 660 offers text-to-speech functionality, has a cool display and integrated Bluetooth. Not only does it find restaurants but you can call them from the unit if you are synched with your phone. It picks up the satellite signal quickly and has performed well for me. It is a little pricy compared to some of the cheaper units but for around $300 is decent value.

I found mine at http://www.couponsforelectronics.com/gps

 

[momrek06]

Another vote for Garmin. Easy to learn how to use. First time I used a Garmin was in a rental.....I thought, sheesh, it will probably take forever to learn this gadget AND we left the rental office before I realized the rental company failed to give me the instructions for it.

Naaa, no worries, simple and easy to use. DH & I then bought our own Garmin and we also bought the friction pad.....love that way more than the window mount.

 

[johnnow]

Another vote for Garmin. When we were researching GPS units, the Garmins always came in as the most reliable. Wound up with the 780 and it works really well. My wife used it on her recent trip to Maine and liked it.

An entry level GPS will get you to where you are going. But, there are some questions that you should consider. These are things not found on the entry level units.

- Do you want it to say the street name
- Do you want real time traffic (service may not be available in all areas)
- Do you want it to broadcast to your car radio (Sounds cool, but if you do, make sure it has an integrated MP3 player. You can't use the car radio while tuned into the GPS.)
- Integrated MP3 player or bluetooth
- Does your budget include accessories (friction mount, case, etc...)

At the very least, buy the friction mount for your dashboard. These units get stolen all the time. I was warned several times not to leave any sign of the GPS or mounting system in the car. This included wiping the windshield clean after removing the mount for the GPS. The friction mount just sits on the dashboard and stows away easily.

Lastly, watch the big box stores for sales. These things are almost always on sale. If the unit you want isn't on sale this week, check back the next week.

 

[BigTigger]

Lastly, watch the big box stores for sales. These things are almost always on sale. If the unit you want isn't on sale this week, check back the next week.

Also watch Amazon. I got the Garmin 760 in June when Circuit City had it for $349 on sale versus the retail at the time of $599 (its $499 retail now). They didn't have any, but Best Buy matched the price. Amazon had the unit even cheaper, but I needed it for our trip the next day (i know, I know ... wait to the last minute!!).

I also vote Garmin. We've had the 200W, 750, and 760 in the family fleet and all are very reliable units. The 760 came with the FM traffic adaptor which is built in to the power cord. It is now used with the 750 unit as i got the MSN Direct cord for the 760 so I could get real time gas prices, etc. when traveling. No matter which unit you choose from any maker, make sure you like the Point of Interest (POI) presentation style. It's a great thing to have when traveling as you can pick a food type and it will tell you what's near by. Same for lodging and gas stations. You can also download custom POI's for things you like or want to have available like all Starbucks, Walmart SuperCenters, state parks, public transit stations, your brand of gas, etc.

Of the units we have, the 200W doesn't speak the directions and the other two do. I'm indifferent on that piece as I've done 800 mile trips with and without it. It is fun to use the British voices or Mr. T to tell you what to do as trip entertainment. The 200W has been replaced with the 205W, but the price points are the same. The 255W is the same basic unit with more oomph and spoken directions.

Best of luck however you choose!!

 

[bradisgoofy]

Another vote for Garmin but I would check eBay. I picked up a Zumo 550 (top of the line with all the bells and whistles plus it's WATERPROOF & has XM radio) and saved about $100.00 over retail.

 

[DVC-Don]

I just got a Tom Tom for my son for $138 (4.3" screen).

 

[brianm27]

I use a Tom-Tom ONE 3rd edition in the US and Canada. It has been a great unit and was only $149.

 

[Donald is #1]

Another Garmin fan! I have a Garmin Nuvi 650 and I love it. Besides in my local New England area, I have used it in Wisconsin and Florida during various vacations.

 

[bavaria]

An entry level GPS will get you to where you are going. But, there are some questions that you should consider. These are things not found on the entry level units.

- Do you want it to say the street name
- Do you want real time traffic (service may not be available in all areas)
- Do you want it to broadcast to your car radio (Sounds cool, but if you do, make sure it has an integrated MP3 player. You can't use the car radio while tuned into the GPS.)
- Integrated MP3 player or bluetooth
- Does your budget include accessories (friction mount, case, etc...)

That is a good list, but I would also consider the included maps. I find so many just have US, not even Canada, and don't have Europe. I want one for my North American travel but don't want to invest in one which doesn't include Europe (even though the car I drive in Germany does have indash GPS system from Mercedes). Even if one doesn't plan to go outside the US today, one day you may and you will find it useful.

I also agree that shopping around Amazon seems to have excellent prices.

 

[Lewisc]

That is a good list, but I would also consider the included maps. I find so many just have US, not even Canada, and don't have Europe. I want one for my North American travel but don't want to invest in one which doesn't include Europe (even though the car I drive in Germany does have indash GPS system from Mercedes). Even if one doesn't plan to go outside the US today, one day you may and you will find it useful.

I also agree that shopping around Amazon seems to have excellent prices.

The entry level Garmin units exclude Canada and Alaska, the rest of them include Canada and Alaska. Almost none of the units include North America and Europe. It makes no sense to pay the licensing fee when the vast majority of users won't be taking their unit to Europe.

 

[bavaria]

Well this looks extremely reasonable for a name brand which includes North America and Europe

http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-270-3-...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1225938454&sr=8-1

 

[Lewisc]

You found a good deal The Garmin 250 is the same unit with only North America maps, it normally sells for $100 less then the unit you found.

 

[debbiepump]

Have had a GPS for a long time and LOVE the Garmin. When you buy one, make sure you get what you will really use (do you need all those bells and whistles?). Mine has it all (I was an idiot when I bought it) and all I've ever used is the actual map/driving instructions. My bro-in-law just bought the 720 ((I think) and it has the basics and not the bluetooth, etc etc). We're so bad we don't even bring maps along anymore! Don't be in a rush to download the updated maps until you're ready to go on a trip-they're expensive. Also, the 'holders' I've got the in dash for my car, but also the windshield mount for when we travel. You're going to love it!

 

[AnitaDisneyVacation]

I have a garmin nuvi. It is easy to use and has lots of points of interest in its database (stores, restaurants, etc.). My only complaint about it is that on several occasions it has led me to the middle of nowhere when I punched in an address. It also has some inaccurate information in its database - it has led me to nonexistent points of interest too many times.

I don't know if all gps units share a common database, but the garmin has frustrated me and my family more than a few times.