GPS recommendations please

[sardoghauler]

Some of you guys live on the road so hopefully you can give me some educated opinions on in-vehicle GPS units. My sisters and I are getting together to get my old man a GPS for his cars. I need your help to find what he would want. here are the criteria



- mobile - simple to use in multiple vehicles

- clean looking mount - (his vehicles are immaculate and clutter won't do)

- easy to read screen (let's not get him killed while trying to read the thing)

- INTUITIVE INTERFACE!! he has no patience for technology but really wants a gps. he tends to get frustrated and swear at systems that don't follow his logic pattern. If he has to hook it to a computer to plan a trip he won't use it. (hmmm, then I can take it)



Ok, let me have it... ... ..... wuddya use, wuddya like - figured we be out 7 to 8 hundred bucks for this gizmo.







thanks

 

[Turbo Thom]

First... ... ... . You need to work on his attititude. I'm 62 and still love to learn and try new stuff. Maybe, just let him get lost like he is, and tell him it's his own damn fault.



That said... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...



I looked at a Magellan last saturday and was impressed with the look and function of the thing. I know most folks like the Garmin, but I think that's a lot of "staying in the loop thing". I was in Best Buy and the price was rite at what you said. I like the voice on the Magellan better than the Garmin. She just sounds pretty. I need that. Both are great units and you want go wrong with either.



. . Preston . .

 

[RustyJC]

Look at the Garmin 2620 and 2730.



Rusty

 

[Todd F]

When I purchased my portable GPS, I found Garmin to have the best software. All I can say is it awsome when taking the Quads out riding. So my best advice is when purchasing look a GPS unit, think what else you will need besides the unit itself

 

[BRobertson]

We just did a 8500 mile trip and used our new Garmin 2610. It was great and really helped in the big citys.

I'm a burnt out old Alaska bush pilot and I almost panic when I get in the city traffic!!!

The 2610 gives voice directions and has a touch screen. Easy to use!!

Bob

 

[DHayden]

I have a TomTomGo 700, couldnt be any easier and you can find a good deal on ebay. My second choice would be the garmin 2620. The TomTom has over 50 voices to choose from also.

 

[cap-n-cray]

I have a Garmin GPSMAP 276C and love it. Besides street maps it also can use Blue Charts for boat navigation. I used the British voice for directions... She "Bridget" tells me where to go. Check out GPSCity.com for information on all the different models of GPS and pretty good deals.



Cary

 

[HParfitt]

Second on the 276c. It's actually a marine unit so it's quite robust. It is also water proof to some mil spec std. I use mine on the motorcycle as well. They have a new unit, the 376c that adds xm radio functionality. Both units, the 276c & 376c use solid state memory. This is more vibration resistant than some of the units that have mini hard drives. I have also purchased the external antena that mounts via suction cups to the INSIDE of the windshield. It provides a much stronger signal than the fold up one in my experience. One thing of note. In my dodge I just attach the antena to the inside of the windshield. It avoids have to run any cables outside the vehicle. In my Toyotas they must have some sort of metallic coating in the glass or the lamination because I get no signal unless I put the antena outside. Never realized that till a couple of weeks ago. One other thing I would mention is you need a pc to take full advantage to the Garmin mapping software.

 

[SMolteberg]

I'm with DHayden, TomTom all the way. Touch screen with big buttons, internal antenna, all maps preloaded and easy to use. I use TomTom in a Pocket PC wich are a bit mor tricky, but maps and software are the same as the Go500 and 700.

 

[SnoKing]

Garmin C330. Garmin by far has the best user interface. SNOKING

 

[Woodenhead]

My wife just picked me up a Garmin Street Pilot 2720 for Christmas. Yeah I researched it and told her what to get but what the heck. This thing blows my mind everytime I turn it on. It's so simple to use I had it all figured out without having to look at the manual. It has a touch screen which makes it super simple to enter in the information, search for addresses, points of interest etc. If you have it on the dash and don't feel like reaching for it you can just use the remote that comes with it. It has 6 million points of interest entered in. I've searched for all kinds of stuff and come to find it basically has a entire phone book/directory of business' in North America. The display is so very clear and has a "3D" view of what's ahead. When you're coming up to a turn it automatically starts to zoom in to give a clearer view of where your going. I could go on all day about this thing but you'll just have to check some out. I did some research and my advice is to read some online reviews (I looked on Amazon) from people that have had them for a while. Like anything else, you get what you pay for.



Hope this helps a little,

Mike

 

[kiwi bird]

Love my Garmin C330

 

[Diesel&Donuts]

I go for the Garmon 340 that says "street names". Its an upgrade of the c330. Whats nice about saying street names is that you don't really need to take your eyes off the road to watch the map. Just listen to the voice commands. I don't really care for Jill's voice tho.

Harold

 

[sardoghauler]

Now I want one too!

Thanks guys



I settled on the Garmin c330. I have a garmin 60cs for woods work and have been thrilled with their product so it was an easy choice to go back to them. I admit the tomtom was tempting though. I liked the simplicity and size of the 330. I think with him the all touch-screen interface is the way to go. Thanks for all your input - i appreciate it.



Happy Holichristmukka Season to you all

 

[Eric_B]

Try this site for inexpensive

http://tigergps.com/tigergps/refurbishedgps.html



Never purchased here and not affiliated, just happened to run across this site.

Hope this helps.

 

[yycguy]

I have a Garmin GPSMAP 276C and love it. Besides street maps it also can use Blue Charts for boat navigation. I used the British voice for directions... She "Bridget" tells me where to go. Check out GPSCity.com for information on all the different models of GPS and pretty good deals.



Cary

I third the Garmin 276C. I find it easy enough to switch vehicles with the RAM (www.ram-mount.com/ ) mounts. The display on the garmin is beautiful very clean, and as someone else said there software is probably the best out there. One other note about this Gps is its for your boat as well, with the optional fish finder add on its a fantastic fish finder.

 

[TGibbs]

I have seen a few and played with a few. Magellen I wouldnt even look at. Garmin are the ones I like the best, both in the cockpit of the airplane and driving around town.

 

[SnoKing]

I have seen a few and played with a few. Magellen I wouldnt even look at. Garmin are the ones I like the best, both in the cockpit of the airplane and driving around town.

Garmin rules out on the water also! I have 2 12XLs, a 48 and a 2006C. Had a 45 years ago also. Run one of the 12XL's on the snowmobile in the winter. SNOKING

 

[Skydiver]

When I bought my Garmin Street-pilot 3 delux about 3 years ago I went to.

www.gpsnow.com . They had the best price.

Tim