GPS suggestions?

[Mackid343]

im not quite sure where to put this on the forum but if theres a better place, feel free to change it...

anyhow, im in the market for a GPS soon and im wondering what you've had experience with and what you like. im hoping to spend under 500 but i will be willing to spend more if i absolutely have to. i've been looking at the garmin street pilot c330 since it looks fairly easy to operate and i can get it at best buy. if i decide to spend a little more money, i was also looking at the nuvi 350

let me know what you think! thanks!

EDIT: also is there any additional equipment i'd have to buy such as an antenna or anything like that?

[Flex]

im not quite sure where to put this on the forum but if theres a better place, feel free to change it...

anyhow, im in the market for a GPS soon and im wondering what you've had experience with and what you like. im hoping to spend under 500 but i will be willing to spend more if i absolutely have to. i've been looking at the garmin street pilot c330 since it looks fairly easy to operate and i can get it at best buy.

let me know what you think! thanks!

I absolutely love the Garmin Nuvi660. I bought it and I have to admit it's one of the best things I've ever spent money on. Unfortunately, I sold it. My Jaguar came with navigation and so I sold it. I miss it very much though. It's way better than any factor installed navigation system. Most of my friends have one now after seeing how nice mine was. You really don't realize you were missing this in your life until you have one for a week. You'll never be the same. The Nuvi 660 is so slim it will fit in your pocket. So easy to navigate that you never need instrucitions. Battery life last so long that you never need to plug it in. I miss that unit. I'm sure I'll get another one later in the year.

Flex

[Mackid343]

good to know! all you needed was the unit and no antennas or anything?

[crazyVOLVOrob]

I got a garmin c330 and my father has a c550. The c330 is a perfect GPS and i wouldn't trade it for anything

I have used this GPS on over 10 road trips and have had no major problems!!!! I have used this GPS to get me around huge traffic jams and to help me drive across country the c330 is the best budget uinit available...I would no buy anything cheaper.


With the c330 just mount the GPS and plug it and and you are good to go...I would also set the GPS to WAAS and not normal supposidly WAAS is the best setting

[Mackid343]

I would also set the GPS to WAAS and not normal supposidly WAAS is the best setting

GPS accuracy:

* Position: < 15 meters (49 feet), 95% typical
* Velocity: 0.05 meter/sec steady state


GPS (WAAS) accuracy:

* Position: < 3 meters, 95% typical
* Velocity: 0.05 meter/sec steady state

there ya have it. looks like its a lot better to me

[lilmikey]

I got this Mio 310sx unit for like $200 canadian. I know its not top of the line but it has been working really good for me for the price. Many users have this unit and there are hacks out for it to watch movies on it, change the software to whatever GPS software you want (ie. TomTom, iGO, Destinator etc) add whatever WinCE software to it since thats what it runs on, and its portable. I have all the red light cameras and Speed traps programmed into it as well.

So if your in for a low cost unit I would recommend this one.

[Flex]

good to know! all you needed was the unit and no antennas or anything?

The unit itself has a discrete flip up antenna on it. You only have to plug it in if you want to use the "traffic" feature which will tell you where traffic construction is and offer alternative routes. Keep in mind that all GPS units are not created equal. Spend the money and get a Nuvi660 and if you're not satified you can take it back and get a less expensive one. I guarantee you'll keep it. I have Jaguar with a navi system that is regarded as "state of the art" and it sucks compared to the Nuvi660 I had. I'll get another one eventually. I sold it to my mechanic and he had a few different ones. He loved it. He let one of his employees borrow it for a weekend and when he got back he bought one also. Now they all have one because they all travel on the weekends. Up north etc... You'll be happy with any cheap brand as long as you don't fondle the Nuvi660. Once you do that, you'll know that you want one. It's just so darn nice that you'll just stare at it. The screen is incredible.

Flex

[nautica2o3]

I recommend a navigation unit that has "SayWhere" or "Text to Speech" features so you don't have to look at the unit to know which street to turn to. Not only will it say when to turn, but it will say the streetname outloud as well.
So instead of just, "turn left in .1 miles", it will say, "turn left in .1 miles, Fifth St." It is very useful, especially when there are 2 streets pretty close to each other. I think the Garmin Nuvi and some Magellan units have this.

[crazyVOLVOrob]

I recommend a navigation unit that has "SayWhere" or "Text to Speech" features so you don't have to look at the unit to know which street to turn to. Not only will it say when to turn, but it will say the streetname outloud as well.
So instead of just, "turn left in .1 miles", it will say, "turn left in .1 miles, Fifth St." It is very useful, especially when there are 2 streets pretty close to each other. I think the Garmin Nuvi and some Magellan units have this.

the garmin c340 has this feature really it's not worth the extram $100 for the unit...TomTom and Magellan suck balls

garmin c330 is a great first gps unit to get

[Mackid343]

well i gave in and bought the garmin nuvi 350. i was out today and i love it. i got it on sale for about the same price as i would be able to get the c330. its so small and handy and very easy to use

thanks for your help!