actually, it'll be for the wife's car. she said she wants one for her b-day and so I looked at TomTom and Garmin. I'd like something basic that has the street naming feature....ideally under $200. got any recommendations?
choosing a GPS system for the car
- Thread starter gaseousclay
- Start date
TomTom has some very nice units for very reasonable prices.
What I like about TomTom over Garmin is the ability to customize with other "voices" and the fact that TomTom doesn't keep telling you to keep driving down a straight road.
I don't need that, I want it to tell me when and how far to the next change in direction, not that I should continue driving down the road I'm already on.
Having said that, the mounting hardware for the TomTom (newer version) is not as good as the older version.
What I like about TomTom over Garmin is the ability to customize with other "voices" and the fact that TomTom doesn't keep telling you to keep driving down a straight road.
I don't need that, I want it to tell me when and how far to the next change in direction, not that I should continue driving down the road I'm already on.
Having said that, the mounting hardware for the TomTom (newer version) is not as good as the older version.
I use the Garm Nuvi 225W at my volunteer position at the Red Cross, and it's always proven reliable. The only caveat I'd offer is that you want to make sure to connect it to the net and update its database of maps with some frequency. Happy hunting.
Does she have a Cell phone? Depending on your cell provider and the phone some have decent GPS apps you can purchase ( I know most AT&T phones can get it for 9.99 a month) or in the case of an Android based phones you can use the google maps navigation which I have found to work just as well as my fathers Garmin.
My money is on TomTom. I have used it on a phone for years. I had a SD card I could slip in and use when I was overseas. Then TomTom quit making that version so it could partner with the IPhone (I think that's the reason) so I went to the regular version. I have not had any problems it it. Over the past couple of years TomTom has found it's way into Christmas gifts for both my sons and to my daughter in law.
We got a Garman as a promo gift from a company we do a lot of business with and I don't even know where it is now. I put it in my wife's car, and after a few times I started to move my TomTom back and forth between cars. While the Garman worked OK, it did not have the extra features of TomTom.
In Europe it seems like all of my friends use TomTom - I don't think I have seen any other model used. So.....my vote goes to TomTom.
We got a Garman as a promo gift from a company we do a lot of business with and I don't even know where it is now. I put it in my wife's car, and after a few times I started to move my TomTom back and forth between cars. While the Garman worked OK, it did not have the extra features of TomTom.
In Europe it seems like all of my friends use TomTom - I don't think I have seen any other model used. So.....my vote goes to TomTom.
I just find my Garmins to be more rugged and reliable units. We get some frigid temperatures down here and I've had my Tom Tom XL unit die on me when I've left it in the car over-night. The Garmins regularly get left out and have survived.
I'm currently using the 285W in the wife's car and the 1350T in mine...both are slightly older but fantastic units. I prefer my wife's unit without the traffic module over mine
I'm currently using the 285W in the wife's car and the 1350T in mine...both are slightly older but fantastic units. I prefer my wife's unit without the traffic module over mine
About three and a hlf years ago, I was in a similar position. After much deliberation and research, I decided to just ask Nick. 
I bought a Garmin Nuvi, and haven't looked back.
I bought a Garmin Nuvi, and haven't looked back.
I have one of each, both about the same price. As for the navigation part of it, they both do the job fine. As for telling me to continue down the straight road, I've noticed it on both. What I've noticed in that way is on the interstate periodically it will say "stay left and continue on" whatever interstate I'm on. As for other features, the Garmin has other voices available just like Tomtom, just not as many. Both companies charge for the voices and I'm not willing to pay $12 to have Mr. T tell me where to go. I do find that the Tomtom puts more information on the screen while navigating and I like that but it takes up screen space.
I'm a Garmin person. Can't go wrong with one of those.
I use a Magellan Roadmate 1440. I also have a Garmin Nuvi 770 (I think thats the number). Both have updated maps and both are good units. However, I like the Magellan better because of the map layouts and the options. We both like the screens better and the Roadmate seems to be easier to use on the fly. If I was buying a newer one today, I would go with Magellan.
Couple of points:
1. I have only used TomTom. It wasn't mine, but the owner and I went on a trip for about 500-600 miles and back. The TomTom did everything I wanted it to. Not to say a Garmin might not have done it better, but I can't think of anything I wished for.
2. The GPS apps in cell phones have a fatal flaw: their maps are not stored on-board and need to be downloaded real-time. If you ever go outside a primary service area (3G) even to something like GPRS or heaven forbid roaming, maps won't download until long after you have left the area they cover. Then there are areas with absolutely NO service. On long trips where you are most likely to benefit from GPS is when you are most likely to find your cell phone app just doesn't cut it.
1. I have only used TomTom. It wasn't mine, but the owner and I went on a trip for about 500-600 miles and back. The TomTom did everything I wanted it to. Not to say a Garmin might not have done it better, but I can't think of anything I wished for.
2. The GPS apps in cell phones have a fatal flaw: their maps are not stored on-board and need to be downloaded real-time. If you ever go outside a primary service area (3G) even to something like GPRS or heaven forbid roaming, maps won't download until long after you have left the area they cover. Then there are areas with absolutely NO service. On long trips where you are most likely to benefit from GPS is when you are most likely to find your cell phone app just doesn't cut it.
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I've used a TomTom and a Garmin. I've also seen a Magellan in action.
All are good products, but the best is Garmin, imo. It always seems to find the fastest route times.
All are good products, but the best is Garmin, imo. It always seems to find the fastest route times.
+1 on the Garmin Nuvi. Way better than the TomTom it replaced.
I simply can't find any faults with the Nuvi that I've owned for several years now but I suppose the TomTom is just probably as good. I just took one of my infrequent driving trips and rather than simply using the factory GPS on my BMW (by far the most user unfriendly GPS possible)I also took the Nuvi as well, sort of stereo GPS. I've also used the Nuvi in Europe, driving in Spain and France. It even guided me on a road that was partially paved where the only other vehicle on this section was a farm tractor. Excellent maps and POI's as well as excellent customer service. So, I vote for the Garmin Nuvi.
One other thing!
Several years back (5-6) I did use a borrowed Garmin for a trip from Austin to Galveston. The thing got really confused by elevated highways in Houston. It thought I was down on the surface streets and told me things like "Turn right on Pine Street". I assume Pine Street was 20 feet below me. When I passed Pine Street it told me to make an immediate U-turn (back to Pine Street?). Well that would have killed me being that I was on an elevated, divided 8-lane highway going about 70mph in heavy traffic!
It was fun to listen to, anyway.
I assume these things are smarter nowadays.
EDIT: The trip I mentioned above with the TomTom was through more remote areas for the most part but it did get me through the New York City area from upstate NY to Connecticut.
Several years back (5-6) I did use a borrowed Garmin for a trip from Austin to Galveston. The thing got really confused by elevated highways in Houston. It thought I was down on the surface streets and told me things like "Turn right on Pine Street". I assume Pine Street was 20 feet below me. When I passed Pine Street it told me to make an immediate U-turn (back to Pine Street?). Well that would have killed me being that I was on an elevated, divided 8-lane highway going about 70mph in heavy traffic!
It was fun to listen to, anyway.
I assume these things are smarter nowadays.
EDIT: The trip I mentioned above with the TomTom was through more remote areas for the most part but it did get me through the New York City area from upstate NY to Connecticut.
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I have a Garmin 265WT. 4.3" wide, with "talking street names" and it provides free traffic jam updates that are received through the power cable. I paid $129 for a refurbished unit through Circuitcity.com six months ago, and it's the best GPS I've ever used.
Jeff in Boston
Jeff in Boston
If the maps are outdated owing to new roadways/elevated roadways that were built after the old mapping that's on the GPS, the directions will follow the older roadways that are shown on the unit.
That's a possibility.
Interstate 10 through Houston has been there a long time but there was construction of major improvements through Houston that completed in 2006. Perhaps that involved making it an elevated highway and eliminated some exits. Still, it has been a major interstate for decades and "make an immediate U-turn" must have been bogus advice since before there was a GPS..
If the highway was re-routed by even a few hundred feet that would probably be enough to cause major confusion with an outdated map.
It was my first-ever use of a GPS and I was much more amused than impressed!
Forgot to mention -- the display did show me "on" (or perhaps it was "under") the highway so it knew the highway was there, knew I was there and still wanted me to make a U-turn -- thus my guess that it actually thought I was on a surface road below the highway.
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I agree, however mine has now officially started collecting dust as I now use my Droid with google maps. Free updates...what
My job is based off driving to peoples homes, which could be city, suburbs, or extremely rural. I have tried several different name brands, and several cell based services, but Garmin is the clear winner for routes. I currently use a Nuvi 855. I can't say the voice activated navigation is flawless, but it's very helpful. It may not have customizable voices, but it will get you from point A to point B, wherever point B may be.
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