GPS systems, navigation systems
 

Any thoughts on the GPS systems? I would like one that my daughter can use in college in the Los Angeles area. I think I also want one with an outlet adapter. Besides this I'm not sure. Which screens are easiest to see while driving? The Tom Tom I saw seemed to have more of a driver's perspective. I read the threads from last year, but couldn't find much since then. thanks in advance.

Garmin's got highest rating from Consumer Reports but are also expensive. Tom Tom's don't have as many international maps available as Garmin if you anticipate any international travel in the future. I got a Garmin and like it so far.

Bought our son a Magellan - it is OK, but it would no longer be my first choice.

Agree about the outlet adapter - his can only be used with car port and sometimes it would be nice to see a route at home before venturing out.

Agree about Garmin I have a Nuvi 350 and I am very happy. Easy to use, no need to download any maps. Used to have a Quest and changed it for the Nuvi, a lot quicker also gives out the name of the street vs. make a right 300 feet. Can also be used without a port. Hope this helps.
Gina

My sister received the Garmin for Christmas and used it on her trip to Hawaii two weeks ago. She was very impressed with the large screen and easy to use functions.
I'm considering one for my daughter who works in LA also.

Thanks guys. It's me...GroovyTarheel, long story, don't ask. (Went back to my original screenname, this GPS question was actually the only correspondence under something besides "klasvan". Wow, glad I got that off my chest). I'm getting a good feeling about the Garmins. Now to find one on sale this weekend as we leave Tuesday. Do they come preloaded for Europe or will I need to buy something to download. And if so, what is the approximate cost of that?

I like your new old name better. At first I thought you were a pickle salesman but then realized that would be Klaus - van! Good thread question as I have been meaning to buy a GPS navigator and kiss those lost when I don't want to be lost days good by, although I still love driving and gettin lost when the timing is right!!!

Most models are preloaded with US and Europe maps. Other destinations you have to purchase.

http://www.garmin.com/products/nuvi/#

If she is just going to use it local, I can recommend the Garmin StreetPilot C330. It comes with North American maps, adaptor to plug into the cigarette lighter to charge, and a USB cord to plug into your computer to charge. The charge lasts about 8 hours when the unit is fully charged. Maybe you can get an accessory for an outlet adapter. If you shop around, you can get one for about $325.

Make sure she doesn't leave it in the car when she is not there on a college campus, or it will be "history." ((b))

We've been using a Cobra NAV One 2200 for about six months and we really like it. It was a QVC TSV for under $400. The 3-1/2" screen is really clear and easy to read. The backlighting switches automatically The voice is pleasant, and the signals make it really easy to know where to turn. The mount is excellent and it's easy to move from one vehicle to another, or even take with you if you'll be renting a car somewhere not equipped with GPS. It has a USB port, which is also for downloading updates (which are free).

We left NYC on a busy Sunday, first heading up the West Side Highway. Traffic was backed up, so we headed across town to the FDR. Traffic back up there as well. So, we headed north on First Ave, having no idea where to go next, and the Cobra directed us over the Willis Avenue Bridge (no toll) to Buckner Blvd, to I-278 and onward, where there was no traffic all along the way! (It did not direct us around traffic, rather kept re-routing us beautifully whenever we left the recommended route.) We were very impressed.

The number of different GPS's is bewildering. As to Garmin, there are 8 nuvi, 16 StreetPilot, and others. The latest report by Consumers Reports is Feb 2007.

As for the Garmin 330, Walmart website has it for $293 and Target lists it for 300. ((*))

Jed Thank you!! tha's really awesome to know about the CR review. I'm going to try to find and read that in a few minutes.
djk, I hadn't heard of the Cobra before. Have you seen them in any retail places since you bought yours?
thanks for the website RBCal!! That should help tons. Budman (or anyone else), does the C330 have the home button, or would I need a Nuvi for that?

So, I've been reseaching my bonkus ronkus off and I have it narrowed down to a Garmin,now just to figure out which model. So, what the heck is the difference between "voice prompted navigation" and "text to speech functionality"??? My tiny mind knows not. Although I am going just now to the website recommended by RBCal, so maybe that will help clear up the distinction.

One thing I really appreciate about buying an item such as this on QVC is that you can try it out for 30 days and return it if you're not thrilled and try another one. You may not get the best price, but for me it's worth the difference to be able to return it and try another one. They do such a good job of demonstrating things, though, that I usually get it right the first time. But, I was sure thrilled to be able to test and return two digital cameras before I settled on a third.

PS Though I'm a huge fan of Consumer Reports, their reviews are not necessarily up to date and often include very few of the models available for most things. You also have to read carefully - their "features" priorities may be a lot different than yours.

Yes, the price has really come down on them. Under $300 is a great price.

Yes, the C330 does have the home selection, favorites, and recent selections.

The more expensive Garmins will tell you to turn at a particular street, whereas the C330 will tell you to turn in so many feet/miles, then show a cross section of the intersection.

Go to their website and compare with other products/prices to see exactly what features you will need/use. http://www.garmin.com/products/sp330/ ((b))

I have a Garmin 2730 (replaced a StreetPilot III) and wouldn't be without it. My only gripe is that it does not have battery backup...it must be plugged in to the car's 12 volt system or into 110 volts AC in the house...my StreetPilot used 6 AA cells as backup. My 2730 came with City Navigator NT v7, which covers the entire US and Canada. Pretty sure that you would need to buy software in order to include Europe (unless you bought it over there). Lots of Garmin users in the GPS newsgroups.

The text-to-voice is a joy.

You can find the operator's manual online for nearly everything. I like to check the manuals before purchasing for features and ease of use, along with the quality of the manual itself.

Having used many different brands in rental cars, I, personally, would not pay extra for the verbal instructions to include the name of the street, as you are much more likely to miss a turn looking for/at street signs. The Cobra has a tone signal so you know to turn on the next street, versus in "X" feet/miles (which is meaningless to me).

I bought my husband a Garmin Nuvi 350 for Christmas, based on CR reviews. He loves it. It is easy to use, and when we travel we just bring it with us and set it up in the rental car.

I've got the Garmin Nuvi 660 and love it. The screen is a perfect size, larger than most but not too big for a medium sized sedan, and voice prompts accurate.

I don't know if any system does this, but there is one highway in our town that I avoid at all costs because of the construction. I wish there were a way to reject any specific highway (say I 410 in my case..) without rejecting all interstate highways. Unfortunately it's a major interstate loop around our city and if I have to be anywhere in that area, it tries to direct me via that route. If you get off the computer's route you get a voice prompt "recalculating" (and she sounds really annoyed! :) ) but then she tries to take me through a series of turns that will bring me right back to it...until I get far enough away then she might "recalculate" a route not on that particular highway. Right now though, that's the only drawback I've found, and once that highway is fixed (EVER???) that won't be an issue.