Thinking of getting a GPS

[RESmonkey]

Do all you do is pay the retail price, or do you have to pay some subscription and what not?

edit = I'm referring to the Garmin ones.

 

[IronWing]

For the handhelds you pay for the unit then buy the more detailed maps separately (not subscription). I don't know if the car ones come with maps or not.

 

[RESmonkey]

Are those the Garmin ones you stick on the car windshield? And can you 'download' the maps?

 

[SoulAssassin]

There is no monthly charge, they come with perfectly fine maps and you can pay to update to the latest version when new maps come out every year (though it's typically not worth it to upgrade every year) for around $75. There are also an assortment of other maps (off-road, water, etc) available.

http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/

BTW, definitely get a Garmin.

 

[AlienCraft]

I think I'm going to get the Garmin 350.
<$300.00 is what I'm looking for AND it'll play MP3s via an SD card....I'm there.
Now I just need to upgrade the car stereo to allow 'inputting' and we're gold.

 

[dawp]

Originally posted by: AlienCraft
I think I'm going to get the Garmin 350.
<$300.00 is what I'm looking for AND it'll play MP3s via an SD card....I'm there.
Now I just need to upgrade the car stereo to allow 'inputting' and we're gold.

my son has that particular one. I've used it and like.the 3D view is nice.

 

[Reckoner]

My Garmin blows. The routing system is half-assed, and it only brings me to my point of destination approximately 50% of the time. It's been off as much as 4-5 miles before. It also loves to take backroads, even if you're close to the highway and would've been faster.

I have the StreetPilot C320, so I don't know if the routing engine has improved at all in the Nuvi version, but YMMV.

 

[Crucial]

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
My Garmin blows. The routing system is half-assed, and it only brings me to my point of destination approximately 50% of the time. It's been off as much as 4-5 miles before. It also loves to take backroads, even if you're close to the highway and would've been faster.

I have the StreetPilot C320, so I don't know if the routing engine has improved at all in the Nuvi version, but YMMV.

thats interesting since almost every review about nuvi's rave about how the routing is better than everything else out there.

 

[Q]

I have a Garmin nuvi, used it only a few times so far but it works well.

 

[RossMAN]

There is no monthly fee and yes it will still work.

The GPS comes with the maps for free.

Of course newer map updates are available for purchase.

 

[TheCanuck]

I just picked up a lesser known brand called Xroad V4150 from Compusa for $150:

Xroad GPS

Besides the GPS option (which works well), it can also play avi/xvid videos, mp3s, display pictures and has bluetooth. Might not be as polished as the Garmin units but it does do a good job of routing and so far has obtained a signal within 20 seconds when in the car. Seems this is basically the same as the Mio GPS units so you can use their software as well. Not perfect (only comes with a car charger and not a wall charger), but for $150 it does a great job and the ability to play videos is useful if you convert any recorded TV shows to avi format.

 

[George P Burdell]

Get a Nokia N810.

 

[syee]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
There is no monthly fee and yes it will still work.

The GPS comes with the maps for free.

Of course newer map updates are available for purchase.

Garmin's TMC feature requires a monthly subscription. Note that this is their traffic receiver and not the GPS routing function. It just an integration with your GPS to minimize the delays due to traffic. That may be the feature with a monthly cost you were thinking about. It's an additional option that you have to pay for (the receiver as well as the service).

 

[Vasp]

So, which one are you getting

 

[D1gger]

My wife bought me the Nuvi650 for Christmas and I have had very good experience with it's navigation and accuracy. I haven't bought any other maps for it yet, but I may do that as we start to travel more.

 

[waffleironhead]

I have a magellan meridian gold or some such. I got it about 8 years ago.. Ive used it all of 10 times maybe. The fews times I used it it was inaccurate as all hell. I would set it to track my trail out hiking and it would jump all over the place. This was open land with few trees, so no it wasnt any mountains and trees obscuring the sats. Made it real hard to try to backtrack!

 

[hiromizu]

...Dont think! FEEEEEEEEEEL! See it is like a fingah pointing away at da moon. Dooont concentwate on the fingah or you will lose all da heavenly gloly.

 

[Quasmo]

Garmin Nuvi 650 for $300

 

[ponyo]

Originally posted by: Quasmo
Garmin Nuvi 650 for $300

I rather get the 360. Widescreen is kind of useless and bulky on a GPS.

 

[Throckmorton]

Originally posted by: waffleironhead
I have a magellan meridian gold or some such. I got it about 8 years ago.. Ive used it all of 10 times maybe. The fews times I used it it was inaccurate as all hell. I would set it to track my trail out hiking and it would jump all over the place. This was open land with few trees, so no it wasnt any mountains and trees obscuring the sats. Made it real hard to try to backtrack!

It sucked because of selective availability. If you try it now, you should get within 3ft accuracy.

 

[pjcolon]

I got a TomTom Go 720 from My Gf for Xmas, very nice model, my brother has a Garmin, don't know what model but it about year and a half old, and it blows compared mine.

 

[huberm]

i had a garmin and hated it so much i bought a tomtom oneXL. I love my TomTom.

 

[RESmonkey]

I may go with the Garmin Nuvi. It seems popular here and around the net,

 

[SuperSix]

I have a Nuvi 260 - and love it.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: RESmonkey
I may go with the Garmin Nuvi. It seems popular here and around the net,

Which model?

What's your budget?

Do you have access to a local CostCo?