Need some help finding the perfect GPS

[maxima lover]

So I have always thought GPS was kind of silly unless you're a delivery man who went to a lot of addresses during the day. I even had the chance to get one for free, but turned it down.

Well I am looking for a new toy for my car and I think I have a good idea how I am going to mount it, but I need some special things on the GPS and I don't know much about them at all. Hopefully some of you are pros about GPS and can point me in the right direction.

What I need in the GPS in order of importance

1. Voice recognition (to enter in addresses)
2. Height of 3.1in or shorter
3. If possible, the ability to turn on remotely somehow. This could be something like when it gets power through the cord, it comes on. I'm not sure if any units do that though.
4. Lower price. I don't want to blow a ton of money on this project.

[sniper4usmc]

what is your budget?

[maxima lover]

what is your budget?

$500 I think. I would really like to get something, maybe used on ebay, for closer to $200 if possible. If there is something that fits exactly what I need, I'd probably be willing to up the price a little.

[bart99gt]

Usually the middle of the road Garmin nuvi's do very well. We (meaning my wife) has a 750 that we are quite pleased with. Higher end units usually include features that are either duplicated in our other gadgets (bluetooth capability) or are of limited utility for us. Of course, YMMV.

Overall, the Garmins always seem to get the most consistent reviews about the quality and quantity of POIs, maps and directions. Some of the other manufacturers may be a little better in one category, but then fall down on the job on another.

[maxima lover]

Yeah. I think I am leaning towards the Nuvi. My ex gf had one and it worked pretty good. The model I am really looking at is the Nuvi 855. I can get one for about $230 on ebay and has at least the first 2 things on my list. The Nuvi 850 is about the same thing from what I can tell, just an older model, but it doesn't have the little push button to activate the speech recognition or lane assist (The LA is not very important to me). I can't find any other differences.

Another thing I like is the headphone jack option which I will most likely use with another speaker

Only concerns I have is the antenna. Where I had planned to mount it, it was not going to have a clear view to the sky. I don't think I can add an external antenna to it. Also, I looked through the manual, and I can't figure out if while plugged into the cigarette lighter, when power is off to the car, will the Nuvi shut down? And then when the cigarette power gets turned on, will the Nuvi come back on?

[QuickTrigger]

Yeah. I think I am leaning towards the Nuvi. My ex gf had one and it worked pretty good. The model I am really looking at is the Nuvi 855. I can get one for about $230 on ebay and has at least the first 2 things on my list. The Nuvi 850 is about the same thing from what I can tell, just an older model, but it doesn't have the little push button to activate the speech recognition or lane assist (The LA is not very important to me). I can't find any other differences.

Another thing I like is the headphone jack option which I will most likely use with another speaker

Only concerns I have is the antenna. Where I had planned to mount it, it was not going to have a clear view to the sky. I don't think I can add an external antenna to it. Also, I looked through the manual, and I can't figure out if while plugged into the cigarette lighter, when power is off to the car, will the Nuvi shut down? And then when the cigarette power gets turned on, will the Nuvi come back on?

i would advise the nuvi over any other gps. I have an older model nuvi 650. got it about 4 years ago for about 450 bucks. I do not know where you plan on mounting the gps. I have mine mounted on the vents and i am able to pick up signal very well. I don think it should be a prob. might take a while to lock a signal thou.

When i switch the car off, the nuvi take 20 seconds to shut down and it will pop a message saying " going to shut in X seconds" and you can click cancel and it will remain on. I take it from one car to the other without the power chord and it still work without any prob. battery life is still pretty good. The only thing i would suggest is buy the gps based on what features would think you would be using. I have an mp3 player and e book reader and all those stuff. never have used it and never will. But garmin makes the ultimate gps. My dads tom tom and magellan can never match mine, in terms of ease.

The lane assist is a very good feature, i would recommend it. Its kinda sad that it didnt come with mine inspite of being expensive but that was 4 years ago. They are a lot cheaper now.

I have a lot of friends that use the nuvi 255 or 2XX. they are cheap, small and look good in the car. They can blend in well with the car.
And adding trapster to the nuvi is way too easy......Hope this helps

[Eloi]

<I have a lot of friends that use the nuvi 255 or 2XX. they are cheap, small and look good in the car. They can blend in well with the car.>

I second that , I run a Nuvi 255W , easy to use , sturdy , recent map .

I tried 2 other brands before setting to Nuvi.

[FoolishOne]

Have a Garmin 660, and can't say anything bad about it. (Random: I believe the Garmin's connect to like 15 satellites where as the others only connect to few.)

The one thing I hate about it is that there is no hardwire kit from Garmin. You have to butcher the cigarette lighter to hardwire it.

I know for mine, the antenna has to be open and pointed out into space somewhere in order to work. So I would definatly look into remote antenna options.

[QuickTrigger]

Have a Garmin 660, and can't say anything bad about it. (Random: I believe the Garmin's connect to like 15 satellites where as the others only connect to few.)

The one thing I hate about it is that there is no hardwire kit from Garmin. You have to butcher the cigarette lighter to hardwire it.

I know for mine, the antenna has to be open and pointed out into space somewhere in order to work. So I would definatly look into remote antenna options.

Yeah i so wish they came out with a hardwire kit. That would have made my life so much more easier. Did ya manage to hardwire the GPS. I wasnt so sure about it. didnt want to risk it anytime soon. Might order an extra pair of wirefrom fleebay and might attempt it.

I also have to open the antenna and point it upward.But recently i have been bending it back down so that its 90 degree from the body and i dont see it when i drive. I havent had any prob in picking up signals. I love the garmin. if this would ever die, i would end up buying another garmin unit.

My gps has already given up on me once. The antenna on the unit died and luckily i had taken extra warranty from frys. so they go a new unit for me.

[fire65]

I got a spare cord off ebay and hardwired mine. I wanted to keep the other one in case I want to take it in another vehicle.