Best GPS for the money????

Question

Im trying to purchase a GPS for my car (which i should have bought with the sat nav option - stupid me!!! - anyway). I have been on CNET's review page and read all about them and such. What is the best GPS for the money. Im looking for something in the $200 - $350 range with Bluetooth and traffic. It would be mostly used for CITY driving. I am hoping for some actual testimonials, as to how reliable some GPS manufacturers are and if you would buy again. Like TomTom, Garmin, Navman, Magellan, Mio? Does a large screen prove helpful? Map support? Customer support? That kind of stuff. Please dont provide links to CNET or something like that, I know where to find specs about an item. I want to know which model and make are the most reliable.

Answer 1

Today's GPS units all work fairly well and are pretty easy to use. The biggest difference used to be the maps, but even the maps are similar today. User configurabilty and map update costs are important considerations.



Are you interested in using your gps (for free) to detect traffic cameras? See how my $2000 Acura system compared to the $150 TomTom Version One (look for free poi file on page): http://www.a2dvoices.com/realitycheck/gps/TomTomGPS.html

Answer 2

I currently have the Garmin nuvi 660 but have also used TomTom and Mio (with rental cars when traveling in Europe). Regarding your specific questions:



City driving: You want to buy a more recent model with a newer GPS satellite receiver with higher sensitivity. Older receivers sometimes lose signal or get weak signal in obstructed areas, such as inside a parking garage, behind tall buildings or in snowy weather. Be careful with models that are older than 2 years but are often still sold.



Map support: The big companies have frequent map updates, maybe yearly. I don't know how often smaller companies (in the US) like Navigon and Mio have new maps. The value of these updates depends on whether you are in an area of constant construction and road changes.



Navigation quality: I think Garmin in the best, Magellan is a close second while TomTom is poor in this area. Go to a store with GPS on display and try out a few addresses you know, and see which brands give you the best routes. Also check how detailed the instructions are. For example Garmin tells you upon arrival, whether the place is on the right or left of the road. TomTom doesn't, so after traveling 100 miles, you are on your own for the last 100 feet :) Garmin is about as close to Yahoo maps as you can get.



Customer support: I've read that Magellan is terrible although I have no personal experience. TomTom is marginally OK. Garmin is great - knowledeable staff, no long wait.



Large screen: I like it. Easier to read map, and more importantly much easier to type addresses. On the smaller-screen models, I have to retype every 5th character because the keys are close to each other. Maybe you are not as clumsy :)



Links: I know you say no links, but read this one anyway: http://www.gpsmagazine.com/ . I find the reviews accurate, and the user comments insightful.



For your need and budget, I'd go with the Garmin nuvi 660 or 360. The 360 is almost the same but gives up the wide screen and FM transmitter (lets you play the GPS sound through the car FM radio). A budget model I might also look at is a Mio because it worked well for me in Europe, although I don't know how they do in the US.

Answer 3

A garmin Nuvi would be a good one. Magellan is also good. TomTom is good too. I just went to Best Buy and they have them on sale. Some at pretty good prices. I'd say a Garmin Nuvi would be your best choice.

Answer 4

I would recommend a Garmin or a TomTom gps.

Answer 5

I use the Tom Tom One 3rd Edition and I like it (it's on sale lately for about $150.00). Before I bought mine, I did searches and saw very few bad comments about it -- mostly that there should be more information in the quick start guide (the full manual is on their website -- not in the package). The unit is ready to use out of the box without updating, and the maps are detailed -- I even found one-lane gravel roads were named on the TomTom maps. If you want to, you can easily connect this GPS to your computer and download updates from TomTom for free (as often as you want -- every week if you want to). They may charge after 1 year but I don't know for sure. In October a consumer magazine rated it a best buy after testing over a dozen units (there were several units that were rated higher -- but they were more expensive). This one is a basic model -- get a more expensive unit for Bluetooth. I have no trouble with my smaller screen. I e-mailed a question to TomTom and had an answer in less than a day. My GPS unit does tell me (and shows me) which way to turn when I reach my destination.



As with any GPS brand, there will be some minor mistakes on the maps, but on this unit you can correct errors, and then you have a choice to share your corrections with other users the next time you connect the GPS to the TomTom website.