46 replies to this topic

[Darth Lefty]

I have a Garmin of the sub-$100 variety, which I got ages ago for geocaching. Black and white screen, no maps... don't know where it's going but it's seen where it's been. Functional and inexpensive.

[tsukiji]

If you do some research online on GPS reviews, you'll find that the Garmin Nuvi series is consistently the highest rated. Magellan may be second but Tom Tom's routing algorithm leaves something to be desired.

I have a Nuvi 680 from Costco. Generally pretty happy with it. Comes with 1 year of MSN service.

That being said, I don't think any GPS unit is perfect. At best, the most I'd give any unit is probably 7 out of 10. But it does provide some benefits (as you're guessing).

I'd highly recommend a Nuvi from Costco. Leverage their generous return policy. Reward them with your business if you're happy with it.

[mando]

I've tried several GPS's over the years, tomtom, garmin, magellan and the best one around - with best technology, best screen view and layout - and best price can be found at Costco
Magellan Maestro

dont get one that is too cheap, those are usually hard to view because of cheaper screens and they don't have info such as gas stations, restaurants, hotels, etc built in. Another important note is the GPS capability to sync quickly with satellites, some GPS's take a long time to connect, others it's very fast... for example my tomtom gps took a long time to connect and it also lost connections often (very annoying), where as my magellan gps connects nearly instantly and hasn't ever lost sync - unless I'm in a tunnel or the like

GPS' do get updated but not very often and its usually a free update done via the manufacturers website when the gps is connected to your pc via a usb cable

I second the Magellan recommendation. I'm sure Garmin and TomTom are just fine, too, but you seem to get more bang for buck with Magellan. They're also built like tanks (at least mine is). Get a model with text-to-speech so street names are spoken. Some models are capable of both street navigation and "off-road" use - which could be handy for occasional use for boating, hiking, geo-caching, etc.

For a real deal, look up refurb units at buy.com

[Steve Heard]

After checking out a few, I decided to get the Garmin Nuvi 200. It works great.

The only drawbacks are that I have to enter the city every time, and I can only program 1 stop along the way. Being in real estate, I usually have a list of properties to show, it's a slight pain to have to program a new address in after each home I visit. Overall, though, I love it.

[Andrea V]

After checking out a few, I decided to get the Garmin Nuvi 200. It works great.

The only drawbacks are that I have to enter the city every time, and I can only program 1 stop along the way. Being in real estate, I usually have a list of properties to show, it's a slight pain to have to program a new address in after each home I visit. Overall, though, I love it.

The "only drawbacks" that you have, are pretty big... It seems to be more of a pain then help. I guess if you don't mind taking the TIME to do all of that.... *shrug*

[Dave Burrell]

After checking out a few, I decided to get the Garmin Nuvi 200. It works great.

The only drawbacks are that I have to enter the city every time, and I can only program 1 stop along the way. Being in real estate, I usually have a list of properties to show, it's a slight pain to have to program a new address in after each home I visit. Overall, though, I love it.

are you sure you can't store addresses in it? most all GPS's have that capability... that way you could pre-program it to load up all the houses you need to go check for the day and be set....

double check that... if it doesn't, take it back and get one that can, you really do need that feature - it saves tons of time and could really help streamline your routes to save you both gas and time

[DavidH]

My timing is off, I just (literally 5 minutes ago) placed an order with Amazon for a Garmin Nuvi 350 ($199). Consumer Reports rated it as a a Best Buy and it's #4 in the ratings, closely following other significantly more expensive units. It's a gift but 1,900+ Amazon folks gave it 5-stars. More to follow!

[Kailash Nathan]

I'm looking at buying a GPS system to have in the car.

When I google the subject, I find them ranging from $99 to $900.

I just need a readable screen and accurate directions. If it has voice prompts, that's a nice bonus.

Any recommendations?

Nextar has one for $99 at Costco.

Also, do they get updated? Does it cost to do so? Are there subscription fees?

I'm lost.

I bought the Garmin Edge 605/705, a bicycle fitness GPS. It is great for tracking workouts and also does navigation. I use it on my bike, i've used it in the car and in the backcountry (since I have the TOPO maps)

It's kind of pricey, $550 - $650 but well worth it for me.

Doesn't have voice navigation but beeps once to tell you you're close to a turn, you can then glance quickly to see what turn it is... Beeps twice to tell you to make the turn now!

Great thing about the Garmin's is that you have a wide variety of maps to choose from (boat maps, Topo maps, road maps of different countries).

TomTom only has road maps of different countries.

Garmin is the way to go!

[Jolene]

Bumping an old thread because I'm looking for one for Jesse. Dave and Mando: Which version of the Maestro do y'all have? Do you still have them? Are you still happy with them?

Chris: Does yours have voice navigation?

[chris v]

Bumping an old thread because I'm looking for one for Jesse. Dave and Mando: Which version of the Maestro do y'all have? Do you still have them? Are you still happy with them?

Chris: Does yours have voice navigation?

Negative on the voice nav.

[bunny]

Couple of points of interest. Garmin charges for map updates, and in the last few years have restricted the update to only one GPS unit by serial number. I've bought Garmins for years and the reason why I stuck with them was that I could update my older ones and other family units from the newer map packs. Now that you cant do that, i'll look at other brands.

The other thing is that map rollups for rapidly changing areas take a very long time to happen. Some streets and businesses in folsom that have been around for 3-4+ years still havent made it into the GPS maps.

There are also often incorrect turns. An older garmin map set tried to take me through the middle of the railyard in roseville. The 2008 garmin map pack thinks that there is a 'break' in folsom blvd near the Dos Coyotes...if you're going from downtown folsom to route 50, it asks you to take a right turn and then a u-turn and then a right turn, as though there is a barrier across folsom blvd.

There is also a map 'skew' in the Waterford area in EDH, the map they have is about 1/8'th mile skewed east, so the unit often thinks you've left the road and are driving through peoples back yards.

As far as an app like a realtor going to multiple homes, some of the GPS units come with PC based mapping tools that let you enter dozens of "waypoints", then download those to the GPS and route from one to the next. Its a lot easier than using the tiny little touchscreen to enter addresses.

[Bill Z]

I really like my Magellan I got a few years ago. And anyone who has a talking one knows the all to familiar sayings

"RE-calculating route" & "you have arrived"

[EDF]

After checking out a few, I decided to get the Garmin Nuvi 200. It works great.

The only drawbacks are that I have to enter the city every time, and I can only program 1 stop along the way. Being in real estate, I usually have a list of properties to show, it's a slight pain to have to program a new address in after each home I visit. Overall, though, I love it.

Oh Schteve....

you telling me that you don't go and "preview" first before going out there...? or are you using the GPS to preview...

I mean when I first got into the "bidness" my old mentor asked me how well I knew San Jose... I said like the back of my hand... then he asked me where certain streets where.. and oops... I didn't know squat...

so what I did was preview homes just about every day... and after a couple of years.. I knew San Jose pretty dang good... if someone gave me a street.. I'd ask for the cross street.. and then I pretty much knew their hood...

you gonna tell me after all the years you been here.. you don't know this area...?

I think computers are making us a little lazy in many respects...

I'm just poking fun at you dude... I have a "trejo" and use the google maps function on that.. just threw all my maps away...lots of less junk in my "ride" now...

[mando]

Bumping an old thread because I'm looking for one for Jesse. Dave and Mando: Which version of the Maestro do y'all have? Do you still have them? Are you still happy with them?

Chris: Does yours have voice navigation?

Actually, my Magellan isn't a Maestro. I have an old Roadmate 2200T with the "off-road" firmware upgrade. Still have it, still use it, and still like it, but it's due for a map update.