Muddguts
In the market for a GPS for the car. I don't travel a shitload but it'll still be nice to have one for local driving and the odd U.S. trip.
I've done a bit of reading and it seems it's a toss up between TomTom or Garmin.
My budget is up to $250
any endorsements? Avoids?
EDIT:
looks like this one is a winner
Milo
That's more than a few buy-ins for local games . . . buy a road atlas and play more games. win-win.
wildbill7145
I like the free lifetime map updates.
We got a Tom Tom a few years back and if you want to update maps they make you pay for a subscription type plan for this.
Thing keeps trying to make me turn off the 401 into farmers fields fairly often.
If I can offer any advice it would be to mount it to the left of your steering wheel, rather than the right. This will negate the issue of your wife taking the thing every five minutes to fiddle with it or look for something you don't need to look for.
trigs
i suggest tomtom because they get map updates whereas garmins don't. that is, you have to purchase the map updates for garmins. at least that's how it was when i bought one a few years ago. tomtoms also came with more maps in general (i.e. map of north america as opposed to garmins which only came with canada and you had to purchase the extra usa map).
both are pretty similar in design. i guess garmins are a little more user friendly but tomtoms are still decent.
wildbill7145
Fk u trigs (Still kidding), see linky Re: free updates.
trigs
wildbill7145;341392 wroteFk u trigs (Still kidding), see linky Re: free updates.
heh, yeah just checked the link. free maps FTW.
JohnnieH
Don't you have an iPhone?
Hobbes
JohnnieH;341395 wroteDon't you have an iPhone?
but he wants good maps. :D
wildbill7145
JohnnieH;341395 wroteDon't you have an iPhone?
Good you brought this up Johnnie. I know I can get get this for my blackberry (for a monthly fee I believe), and it's obviously available for iPhones, etc. I've wondered how effective this would be having a significantly smaller screen.
Wolffhound
At times I find the GPS redundant, but, I do like still having it.
Never get tired of the 2 iPhones in the car trying to prove the Garmin wrong...
Travelling everywhere with my daughter soccer, I like the Garmin, been in the car with a bunch of TomTom's and they aren't nearly as user friendly, 2 of the dads are forever bitching about the TomTom.
I have the same Garmin that I actually got free in a suppliers promotion, its simple, free maps, bluetooth etc.
Wolffhound
Milo;341388 wroteThat's more than a few buy-ins for local games . . . buy a road atlas and play more games. win-win.
Yet another quality Milo post.
Don't go changing.
trigs
Wolffhound;341398 wroteAt times I find the GPS redundant, but, I do like still having it.
Never get tired of the 2 iPhones in the car trying to prove the Garmin wrong...
omg that brought me bad flashbacks of a family xmas gone wrong. long story. glad the cops didn't haul me in at 3am on xmas day...
Muddguts
Actually I never though of using a GPS app. Are they any good? I have used the iphone mapping but it doesn't call out the turns or have the other features that a GPS unit would have.
JohnnieH
I like the iPhone map app. Haven't gotten lost with it yet.
There are apps available for purchase at the iTunes App Store. Might be worth checking out.
GTA Poker
I tossed my Magellan in the garbage (literally) a few months back. It was constantly incorrect. I use the navigation on my Android (I assume powered by google maps) and it is excellent and spot-on all of the time. Only downfall is that it is a huge battery drain, but a car charger makes it no big deal.
Muddguts
Tigerdirect has one that Inwas looking at for $60 cheaper than best buy but it's refurbished. What exactly does that entail? Someone's dropped it and it's been "fixed" sort of thing?
moose
SuperNed
I would never buy a refurbished electronic device. I think they are either just plain returns, or malfunctioning devices that have 'supposedly' been fixed. Then again I'd never buy a used rental car but for some reason people do...:o
[deleted]
the iphone 5 map app is really amazing
other than that, ive had both a garmin and a tomtom and they were both great.
jontm
Best bet the Nuvi Garmin at Costco for $160 ish. I used it from here to Vegas and Montreal to Foxwoods, never made a wrong turn. Map updates free. The new IPhone app is Tom Tom we believe and calls out turns, just not as good as dash mount.