nrwayne

We're currently traveling east and west of the Rhine River in a Ford Focus rented through Avis. It has a built-in Blaupunkt GPS unit that is an abomination. No maps at all, just an arrow telling where to turn. Yes, it also tells you how far to your destination. But it gets worse. In any substantial urban area, you get one choice: the city center. We went to Strasbourg, France today. The GPS got us there, but was totally useless for any local navigation. Unlike the fine portable units (TomTom, etc.) we've used previously, this one was about as easy as celestial navigation. A decent GPS can be a big time-saver for those on the roads. This thing is garbage. I'm aware that the rental companies may not be thrilled to confirm what GPS equipment they will be supplying, but the downside of not checking in advance may well be one of these abominations. If they tell you it's an aftermarket unit, you're probably OK. Do not, under any circumstances, accept a car with one of these.

Alec

I just take my own portable GPS unit, download relevant maps, and stick it on the windshield. That way I know I have reliable information and also can input desired destinations in advance and save them.
I have Garmin Nuvi and it's simply superb.

bettyk

Have you checked to see if there is another choice for navigation? Maybe there are different selections that would bring up maps instead of the arrow.

gb944

I agree with Alec. Buy, learn, and use one here in the states, and carry it with you to Europe with an appropriate set of maps. It's much easier without having to learn a new system (especially if you don't want to learn a foreign language at the same time.)

Garmin and Magellan and Tom Tom all have portable gps units with european maps available.

RonZ

I took my Garmin, pre-loaded with maps of Europe, on my recent trip and it worked like a dream. However we needed to charge it in our hotel room and then activate it in the car using the 12v connection.

Linda431

Ron, would the unit work in the car if you didn't pre charge it? I sort of thought it worked like the car charger of a cell phone. I'm thinking about getting the DH one.

Robespierre

Sounds like Yet Another Reason To Bring Your Own GPS.

Garmin and Magellan and TomTom make fine units, or so I hear. I use a Compaq laptop in the car and an iPAQ on foot. AutoRoute maps cover all of Europe - the 2007 release can be had for under $40. The iPAQ city maps are free.

Alec

Garmin unit I have comes with USB lead for charging from a PC and a connector for car cigarette lighter. While it's connected to the car it charges internal battery automatically so there is no need to pre-charge. When you first buy it they recommend you to charge the battery through PC first.

hopscotch

mark

nrwayne

No map option that I could find. Plus, the display is reminiscent of an Apple II. As suggested by several posters, the approach of choice is probably to bring your own TomTom, Garmin or similar rather than rolling the dice with the renting companies. As most of us know, the phrase "or similar" usually means that the vehicle they provide you is the "rough equivalent" of what they had indicated you would be getting. Sometimes very rough, as in the Zafira we were offered last year. It came along with damage on almost every panel as well as a driver's door that wouldn't close. When we pointed that out, they quickly came up with a largely undamaged car . . . with a nearly empty gas tank. Ah, the joys of car rental in Europe.

Dukey

Another alternative is to know what kinf od GPS unit any particular rental agency uses in its fleet.

I generally use my Magellan Roadmate 760 when I go to Europe except when I'm renting directly from Hertz which generally uses the same thing.