I want to purchase a NAV that I can use between 3 cars. I know nothing - I mean zero - about these things. I'm an artist and travel cross country. I want maps and ability to find resturants, motels and such. I don't need phone hookup. I also want to be able to find my way home when I go motoring just for fun in CHEQQRS . I'd really appreciate imput from you guys. Models and an idea of price would be very helpful. I'm driving to LasVegas (from WI) Dec. 1 and would really like to have this done before then. Thanks in advance.

 

Choose one of the portable Garmin nuvi units and you can't go wrong. Base the nuvi type you purchase (e.g. nuvi 350, 360, 660, 680, 2xx, 7xx, etc.) on the price point you're looking to spend.

They're all very similar with the differences being in the screen size (standard or widescreen) and the number of additional features available (such as FM transmitters, traffic info, Bluetooth capabilities, etc.). However, the best bang for the buck is the nuvi 350 model and it will do everything you're looking for in a pocket size unit.

 

^ +1 for the Nuvi 350. You can spend more and get more features - but my 350 has been GREAT and does all I need... and now they're cheaperer than when I bought mine...

 

^ +2 for the Nuvi 350.

 

^ +3 for the Nuvi 350.

 

Tomtom's are great as well, the new 910 is pretty sweet, and I just got my dad a smaller version paid around 230 and brandsmart, he loves it and travels about as much as I do

 

I also bought a Garmin, but I got the Street Pilot 340. It has met all I have asked of it. I can't tell you the difference between it and the Nuvi, but go to the Garmin web site and check for yourself!

 

TomTom uses VERY poor quality maps in the U.S. and so I'd stay away from them (unless you spend a lot of time over in Europe that is) They use TeleAtlas as their map data provider and they don't do a very good job in North America.

Garmin, on the other hand, uses NavTeq as their map data provider and their maps are worlds better than TomTom's TeleAtlas-based maps in MOST parts of North America. This has been shown time-and-time again by folks all over (if you don't believe me just do a Google search and see for yourself).

TomTom also have VERY poor business practices and so I'd stay away from anything made by them. I purchased a TomTom Go 910 unit for my father as a birthday gift and it turned out that it was infected with a virus from the factory (that in turn infected his PC). When TomTom was confronted with the problem they completely denied that it was their fault. Once it had been proven to them that their units were indeed infected with viruses, they took for ever to admit it publicly and then NEVER recalled the units. Heck, they wouldn't even make a public apology to their customers for infecting their PCs with a virus (albeit a harmless one). A company like that is one that I WON'T DO BUSINESS with ever again (and I'll do my darnedest to make sure that other folks stay far away from them as well). TomTom = CrapCrap!!!

 

So, do you like Tom Tom or not?

I have used a few of these units here in Europe. The Tom Tom maps are not the greatest here as well. I ended up using a Navigon as they are Navteq maps and they are much better.

That being said, I have also used the Garmin and do recommend them. Not so much for the features as much the ease of use.

 

i have a Garmin Nuvi 200 and it works great...im not big on the million other features the higher end ones have...gets me there and thats all that matters to me

 

I have a 1st generation TomTom that I use in the US & have found the maps to be great. The only problem I ran into was when I drove on a recently opened section of an interstate bypass that didn't exist in my TomTom. Other than that the TomTom US maps have been perfect. Route recalculation is done in an instant & I love my TomTom's out-of-the-box ability to hook up to my computer so I can point & click my way thru a route on my large computer monitor.

The new 2nd generation TomToms have been slimmed down drastically to Garmin size & supposedly have the ability to instantly update their internal maps when a new road is opened & they have voice activation so you don't have to try to push things on the tiny screen while you are driving. Even though my TomTom is less than a year old I plan to upgrade to the new unit soon.

I also like the downloadable voices for the TomTom. That feature isn't a necessity but it sure is fun having John Cleese tell me where to go

 

Bare left..... Beaver right!

 

OK I have always wondered what the hec he means by beaver right. Please splain??



You have reached your destination. You can get out now but I'm not going to help you carry your bags

 

I've had Garmin GPS units for over 15 years now. I keep coming back because their customer service is outstanding and they are the leader in the industry.

The latest unit I have is the Nuvi 200 that I bought for my wife. She wanted the simplest, easiest to use unit and did not want to be confused or overwhelmed by features.

It is a great unit. Best one I have had so far and the extra features of more expensive units just are not worth doubling or tripling the price.

 

I don't think the joke is any deeper than a bad pun on the word bear.

 

Don't they say beaver right in the military or something It's just always puzzled me to no end. MBE I need to call TomTom & ask them or better yet I'll call John Cleese

 

As posted above... Just a spin on words. Typical Cleese.

 

i just got a garmin nuvi 350 and I love it. It's simple, cheap (read: under 200 bux) and it's fast enough to recalculate without being annoying.

Great for a portable gps unit to take from one vehicle to the next.

 

You probably don't hear the traffic circle one...

At the round about, take the third exit. WHEEEEEEEEE

 

nope never heard that one but there is a long one about making a u-turn. Something about making a u-turn so that you will be facing in the opposite direction from which you came

 

As noted by others,the Garmin Nuvi 350 has great functionality without extraneous features. One very useful feature it offers - one which differentiates the 350 from the lower-end Nuvi variants - is spoken directions prior to turns. This frees the driver from the need to watch the GPS unit constantly for directions, and gives directional prompts in a timely manner (for example, after a 50-mile freeway stretch, you are prompted by voice that the turnoff ramp will be a half mile ahead: "In .5 miles take ramp on right to I-83 south..") I find this a very useful and necessary feature. The Nuvi 350, in my opinion, offers the most essential features and the best functionality for the buck. A great no-frills unit.

 

I thought I had posted on this thread, but perhaps not. I have a Street Pilot by Garmin (the 340, I think) and the only problem I have is when you wish an address that is newer than the map software, or the postal system :impatient has changed the numbering of addresses. Then, I go with something close and look for it the old fashioned way!

 

haha i just realized i have the c340 pilot not the nuvi. they are vary similar any way. i <3 mine