gjslutz Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 What is the best deal on a portable GPS? I have been using my A/C GPS for a few years and would like to do an land unit. I don't need blue tooth. Garmin Nuvi 650? Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al N. Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Gary- I think I'm going to get the Tom Tom One XLS based on what I know about the Garmin vs. Tom Tom systems. The Nuvi 650 is a great unit though...but more $$$ than the Tom Tom. -Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 I am very happy with my Garmin NUVI 270. It comes with both US & Europe maps already loaded. We went to Italy for 2 weeks in October and were lost leaving the airport. The GPS (nick named "Lucy") saved our butts. We went with another couple and they were highly skeptical. They were loaded with maps and directions but we kept getting lost, only to have Lucy rescue us. It had "pedestrian" mode, so you can put it in your pocket and it will run for abt 5 hours on the built in battery. (Also handy in a Seven w/no cigarette lighter). We bought a recharger and refueled it at nite. It was amazingly helpful in Venice (no cars/roads, just a maze of narrow sidewalks). Again, it saved our butts. Of course, remembering to turn it back to "Automotive" mode is critical (wh/we learned as I was directing my co-driver down what looked like a side walk, which it was-oooops, it was still on pedestrian mode). Need a bathroom? In Europe they don't have fast food places every block so finding a "WC" was critical. Lucy always knew where they were. Ditto restaurants, gas stations etc. Here in the states I used it yesterday on my blat into the unknown. The system has a loud "voice" so I just turned where directed. I also used it to reconnoiter. It also tells you your speed and is much more accurate than the laughable device in my Caterham. It has a trip data function that tells you what your top speed was. Of course, in Europe, our daily challenge was to beat the top speed from the day before-we finally hit 103 mph-not bad for a 1300 cc diesel mini van loaded to the gills It can be hooked onto the windshield with a suction cup so you can watch its excellent visual directions too. Cost was about $500-worth every penny. I have a 2007 Accord without nav and use this all the time. Same with the Seven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandurath Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Are they weather proof in case you get caught out in rain? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjslutz Posted November 26, 2007 Author Share Posted November 26, 2007 As I was talking to a Garmin tec. rep. on an aviation related gps problem, he told me Cosco had a sale on the Garmin 650 @ $295. That was much les than his emp. cost. We don't have any Cosco's around here and online they are sold out on line. Their aviation units are very user friendly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 I just bought a TomTom One 3rd Edition for the wifey. Nothing fancy. It was $100 off at Target. Bought it for $149. They have gone as low as $129. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solder_guy Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 I like getting lost .. and finding new roadside attractions ... like this. More about it Failed Utopia. :crazy: Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soareyes Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 Are they weather proof in case you get caught out in rain? Both the Garmin Quest and Garmin Zumo are weatherproof. The Zumo (I have the Zumo 550) is geared toward motorcyclists, which makes it very nice for a Seven. Both the Quest and Zumo allow you to upload routes that you plan out on your PC using Garmin's mapping software. None of their Nuvi line allow this route uploading until you get to the newer 700 series. A disadvantage of the Zumo line is the size compared to the Quest and Nuvi lines, not as easy to pop in your pocket when you leave your car. I have owned mine for about a year, and I have been very happy with its performance. It is pricey though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjslutz Posted November 27, 2007 Author Share Posted November 27, 2007 All, thanks for the input, now I’m confused. Should I get water proof, price driven, compact, and more? I have a local friend that has a Tom-Tom unit I can try. I have had several aviation Garmin units that have been problem free. Likely for this weeks traveling I’ll just use my Garmin 196 aviation unit in the land mode. The COSCO deal is off the table for now. For a change I’ll wait and look for a deal. As it will be used for a couple vehicles I don’t GPS in. I’ll look for one with many features except Blue Tooth as I don’t see a need for that, or should I? Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 You got me curious: Costco dot com GPS offerings edit -- I'm assuming you meant "Costco"... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjslutz Posted November 27, 2007 Author Share Posted November 27, 2007 Sean, You are correct Costco. I did your link and ordered it. $299 + $15 non member add,, $9.05 S&H, $19.44 sales tax. Total $343.48 Still a better deal than all I found. They had ended the sale on 11-16-07 it now is through 12-10-07 while they have them. I had given up on them, thanks. Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevet Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 Glad this thread happened when it did. I just ordered a Garmin Nuvi 350 for 'family use' Seems to get great all round ratings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 Just to clarify, no I do NOT work for or own stock in Costco. (But maybe I should?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew7 Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 I have a couple of questians for those that use gps. Is the program software better and can you use it as a map to plot your own trip? To explain a little, I mostly navigate but sometimes pull a 30' trailer on vacations. I was going to use a laptop with software for navigating so I borrowed a Delorme map program from a friend and it would either select interstate only or farm roads. I was planning a trip to Maine and had me going in/by N.Y.C.. That is not someplace I want to maneuver my trailer, the road you travel shouldn't be a hassle. I plotted going to camp. It shot me towards Pittsburgh then on an expensive toll road and the other way was tortuous back county roads. The other trips I've planned shot me states out of my way. I thought it was this software but a locost buddy came to see me and he had a gps (TomTom I think). I talk with him after he left, its a 45 min drive with 5 main roads to his city. He said he did 6 dozen left and right turns to get him home. Maybe they should rename it DumDum.:lol: My trip this year to meet everyone at the Dragon had me starting from my house going on back roads I wouldn't want to take the seven on let alone a truck and trailer, lefts and rights, starts and stops for miles. All the while a perfectly good paved road that I travel for 10 years was less than 1/4 mile away and after 4 miles it join the route. Is the software so poorly written that IF road A is X long GOTO Y ELSE Z. I'd like to update and get a gps but if they are all that way I'll stay with my 2D manual nav system(maps). I would like others impressions of them. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 I've used iGuidance iNav with my laptop, and have generally had very good luck with its directions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjslutz Posted December 1, 2007 Author Share Posted December 1, 2007 Andrew7 I have the Delorme on my laptop. About 5 years ago I used it im my Motor Home as the screen was big enough to see 3' away. I listed the type of roads I wanted to use and didn't have any isues with it. I had a 47, 000 pound unit pulling a 2 wheel trailer with an M roadster on it. Weight, length & height was an issue to me. In the set-up section I was able to list the defults I wanted and could list the avg. speeds to get an idea of the length of the drive. It would update ETA as you drove and corrected for present speed. I was also running a 196 Garmin aviation GPS in the road mode, it would up date ETA as well. All worked great for me. I have had issues a few times with the Garmin doing what you said as well as with my wife's 08 Civic and factory GPS. It helps to know where you are going, so you don't make those kind of turns but in a city it can be a problem. I'm presently out of state with the Garmin 196 and wouldn't be W/O a GPS. It is great to let you know when the next turn is coming at you when the PX is asleep. It will also tell how many miles to and time to the next road change. The value of a GPS? With out it I would loose over 50% of what little I have and would have needed to take the time to retrain a younger trophy wife that could read a map while riding. I'm not sure I have that much time left or the money to buy one of those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew7 Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 Thanks Mazda and Gary, The night before a trip, I'd sit down with maps, plot out a route, mileage and stops. Navigation comes easy to me, my times and mileage were always close. There are a lot of features I liked with the mapping program and I thought a gps would be a big help. Every time I tested it, I was disappointed. The route being too long or out of the way. Gary can you imagine taking your rig down a township road because IT told you to, trees ripping at the A/C units and the rear gouging out the blacktop trying to go up a hill. Its enough to make me turn the laptop into a UFO. I'll check out iNavigate and test a couple before I buy one. Maybe the last couple of years the programs have become more advanced. I guess I have a problem letting a maching tell me where to go AND trusting it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanG Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 I had a brand new Novi 350 at ToD. It was very helpful as I am directionally challanged. I would like it to have more volume, initilize more quickly and record the track that you actully take. I found that I do not look at the display very often, I let the spoken directions guide me. It would be tough to hear in the 7. In wet weather I would bring a plastic bag and a twist tie for watter profing the unit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandurath Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 I may have to look at these more. In my semi or on my bikes, i just used notepads or memerised where i needed to go. If exploring, i just used my map. Nice thing about commercial maps vs wal mart special is the details of the states (there are also laminated so can write on them or get them wet). But nowhere near these new computer maps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjslutz Posted December 2, 2007 Author Share Posted December 2, 2007 Still driving in the Fl. area and the Garmin 196 has been great. Still have the wife that sleeps as soon as I start to drive. Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now