Help Me Pick a New GPS

[slamjet]

I had my car broken into over the weekend (mine was one of a number of vehicles slim-jimmed in my apartment parking lot) and had my tools and GPS stolen. So I'm looking on newegg (my preferred vendor) and tigerdirect and am now thoroughly confused. Should I get a Garmin or Magellan and which one? Maybe I should get a DeLorme PN-40?

Suggestions welcome, please.

 

[raisindot]

The whole dang thing is very confusing. I've been thinking of upgrading from my Garmin C340 (an absolutely fantastic older generation GPS), but have been wary of doing so given the huge number of choices.

There are really several things you need to consider before choosing models:

1. Size: 3.5" or 4.3". Most new models are moving toward 4.3" or larger, but, in reality, size of the display is not all that meaningful. At best the screen should be a quick guide, rather than something you watch.

2. Text-to-speech: All GPSs can tell you to turn left or right. Text to speech reads out the street names. This features becomes extremely important if you're riding in cities or other densely populated areas. I wouldn't get a GPS without it, and most models have it these days.

3. Traffic updates. This is done several different ways. Some of the the Garmin models come with a power cable that includes "FM traffic reception for life." This basically can display, on the GPS, areas where traffic jams are occurring and sometimes offer alternative routes. How well this function works depends on the area. Reviews are mixed. Other Garmins come with a cable that receives MSN traffic updates, which supposedly are better, but MSN will be cancelling this service in 2012. These Garmins can generally receive the FM updates, but you have to get a separate cable for it. Magellan and Tomtom have their own systems which probably work similarly.

4. Customization: Some models allow you to create your own routes and "ask" the GPS to find alernate routes. The success of this varies by model.

5. Map upgrades. New Garmins generally come with one free map upgrade, and then require you to purchase future upgrades (the policy now is that you pay a set price for lifetime upgrades). These have to be downloaded and often take several hours. Other brands use more "active" updates (sometimes linked in with Google or Yahoo maps) that do a better job of keeping the maps updated.

6. Nearby attraction/facilities: All GPSs can point you to nearby gas stations, markets, parks and hotels. Some models just do it better than others.

Other factors to consider: Bluetooth connectivity, downloadable car icons and voices, battery life, brightness of the display, quality of holding on to the satellite signal, etc.

I've found that Amazon is the best place to look at the reviews for all the different models out there. They can be particularly helpful for identifying common flaws among certain models--for example, one Garmin GPS became notorious for freezing after a bug-laden software upgrade. Sometimes you have to take the negative reviews (and some of the positives) with a grain of salt. Some areas are going to have lousy reception or bad routes. Some will get faulty units. In any case, if I were buying one I'd stick with the big three manufacturers: Garmin, Magellan, and TomTom, and avoid the off-brands. I'd also recommend buying from a store that offers a generous return period without a restocking fee. And get yourself an extra mounting stand and not use the suction cup-window method, which nearly always failts after awhile.

Jeff in Boston

 

[SRock]

What did you have before and what do you need it to do? Do you want turn by turn directions? Do you need a handheld or prefer something that will stay in your car?

I have a Garmin GPS Map 60CSx and it is great. Color, Turn By Turn, restaurant suggestions etc.

It really depends on what your needs are and what you want out of it.

 

[xriley]

I don't think that you can beat Garmin's POI's. I believe that Garmin and Tom Tom are even as far as routing goes. Keep in mind my Tom Tom is a year old, and I had a Garmin Nuvi 660 before. The Garmin was quicker at routing but much more annoying (maybe too quick). The Garmin would reroute telling me to turn after I just passed the road. There were a few other quirks with Garmin that eventually led to it's trip out the window. I rarely even pay the Tom Tom much mind, it just does the job and I don't expect anything more from it.

 

[Bertilak]

My only experience is a couple of years out of date.

Went on a three-day trip with a buddy and he had a TomTom. It was a great comfort to have along.

It was quick to pick routes and to reroute if we chose to ignore it for a while. It *always* told us the best way to get where we were going no matter where we wandered off to. Its interface was intuitive and easy to use. It's display was overall quite clear and useful. It called out street names etc. quite clearly. The speedometer in the car was useless and the TomTom always knew how fast we were going and displayed it clearly.

I also went on a trip with an older Garmin. It ran into trouble in a city where there were elevated highways. It never knew if we were on the highway or a surface level street below. Once, while humming along at 70+ mph on a divided eight lane highway it said "Make an immediate U-turn!" That was because I ignored its earlier advice to "Turn right on Pine Street". No such thing on a limited access elevated highway! I don't know how the TomTom would have handled things because we weren't in that situation with that trip.

 

[redbike]

I purchased a refurbed Garmin Nuvi at Amazon and am very happy with it. Sorry, but I can't remember the model #, but it had the larger screen, text to speech, no bluetooth.

 

[Hreafn]

I love my Garmin the one thing that it doesnt have that i wished i had gotten was the bluetooth. If you keep the software updated it can deal with the high rise highways and the roundabouts.

 

[82R100]

I have a Garmin Nuvi 265T. Says the street names has Bluetooth and FM traffic for life.

The Bluetooth is less than ideal (seems to release and pick up again when other units are near) but has worked o.k. the few times I've used it. The phone numbers for points of interest are integrated into it so you can opt to dial the restaurant you just found automatically.

I find the traffic feature very nice, once you learn not to panic and bail out at the first hint of trouble. It's saved me from several big-time traffic jams over the past year.

As you start to narrow in on specific models I recommend browsing a user forum as some models seem to be buggy or lacking in content compared to others.

- Chris