So after a few hours.... ok maybe 3 days... of online research I've come full circle to square one. I'm lost and need some guidance - [FONT='Calibri','sans-serif']literally. [/FONT] So I've narrowed down my choices to the following criteria and price range :

-$200-$300
-Text-to-speech (with road names)
-Spoken German langauge
-Won't get me lost when driving through remote desolate areas in the country.
-Battery life not a critical issue but would be nice if lasted more then 20 minutes

As of now I've found these as possible choices
Navigon 5100 (Can't find any list of languages for this model but I just emailed them with hopes to get a prompt response)
Mio c520
Nav 740
Harman Kardon GPS-310

I've been looking for as many details and reviews as possible and so far but then I noticed a sinister trend to make such information a serious chore to find, then again maybe I'm just a klutz looking in the wrong places . Anyway... based on these 4 listed here within that price range, any suggestions? guidance? Thanks a lot and much appreciated!!!

 

I just bought the Garmin Nuvi 350 from here...
http://www.avalontronix.com/
...it was cheapest I found for new one. Just type it in the search box.

It covers everything you listed. MINI uses the 360 for their portable nav, the only difference is the 360 has BlueTooth, which I don't need.

 

Garmin seems to have the best software and interface..

 

TOMTOM 910. it has american, canadian and europe maps already loaded and tons of different languages also equipped with bluetooth and music downloads. definitely worth the money.

 

We have a couple of Tomtom's and they work great for travel here in the states but you do have to keep the maps up to date if you are in an area that is growing. If you want to load waypoints and do other stuff the garmins work well for that and also work with other programs such as Tremble stuff.

 

I gust got and garmin 360 at costco.ca for 289.99 wery good deal

 

Go Garmin, I have the Nuvi 660 and it is works perfectly. I have friends with the less expensive Garmins and the software works exactly the same!

 

I agree!!! I have the same unit and it is great!!!

 

I just payed extra for a Garmin Nuni 750, for about $350 shipped - great price.

The feature I really really wanted is the "trip track" feature, which records your entire drive, and can then be displayed on Google Maps as an overlay.

I use it to produce maps of our local MINI club rides.

One feature worth paying some attention to is the mounting. I didn't want anything that leaves a visible mounting as a clue to ******-and-grabbers, and I don't like most of the other removable mountings, as they don't work very well in a MINI. When not in use, I want all evidence hidden, and I want to be able to use it without plugging in a power cable.

With the 750, their suction-cup mount works well in a couple of locations: corner of the windshield, or on the center instrument cluster. I also like the internal battery - four hours is enough for most times I'll use it.

 

And more than likely the best customer support. Stay away from Magellan. You'll be practically spelling works to their phone tech support based in India. I've read lots of horror stories about them.

 

Oh man Rick, you may have just cost me $350. That trip track feature would be wonderful. I've been happy with my Nuvi 350 up until right now.

 

Got an old PDA? Do you use a SmartPhone? I'm using Copilot and its great! It works great on an old iPaq I had, giving it new life.

 

Someone told me today they bought their daughter a Garmin 360 from , I think it was Egghead for $250.00 and said it was a great unit!

 

Try searching for your Garmin on http://www.pricegrabber.com I have saved a lot of money in the past on GPS's and other electronics using that site.

 

costco.com has the Garmin Nuvi 650 for $299.99 until March 9.

 

A Garmin 750 shipped for $350 is excelent price. I dont think you can beat that and the 750 has all kinds of cool options.

 

Trip tracking, or tracklog as it's been known as since Garmin first put it in a device over a decade ago is one of the key features they use to have in all their models. They dumbed down the Nuvi's to make them more user friendly to the non-techy "gadget" crowd. Garmin is finally seeing that we want many of the old features back and adding them into some of the newer Nuvi models. I keep my 76CSx in my Mini (with OEM Nav) for the tracklog function.

 

Garmin Nuvi 750 @ $320 plus shipping:
http://www.86photovideo.com/products...oduct_id=18352

The 750 seems to be the only one in the Nuvi line that has the trip/track log feature.

A couple of links to converters from Garmin tracklog files to Google maps/earth:
http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/
http://www.pangloss.com/maps/GarminGPSmap.html
I've used these with my Streetpilot 2720, and they create beautiful online trip maps.

 

I have the Garmin 260, i purchased at Xmas at Best Buy ,and am pleased with the results.Q

 

I just got a Maestro 3250 for $179 shipped. You can check it out this weekend when you stop over if you want. Not a bad unit for the price.

[quote=minimizd06;2054962]So after a few hours.... ok maybe 3 days... of online research I've come full circle to square one. I'm lost and need some guidance - [FONT='Calibri','sans-serif']literally. [/FONT] So I've narrowed down my choices to the following criteria and price range :
/quote]

 

We have been using Garmin handhelds for over 3 years for Geocaching and auto navigation. Currently we have a color map60c and a map60cx. The 60cx is the newest. We have the City select N/A software for all the detailed roads. If I need a big talking screen, I just hook it up via USB to the laptop. My point is that there are other options other than a dedicated auto unit if you are into hiking or geocaching http://www.geocaching.com . When you take it with you it is not a target for thieves! We can import our "tracks" into google earth to view our route.

 

wow thanks for all the awesome feedback! Garmin looks like its a consistent winner, I'm definitely gonna have to do look into that.


btw... I haven't been posting on this forum or NAM that much - but its by far the best place for info, such a plethora of wisdom. rock on! \m/

 

Is that where you bought yours? I read reviews on that place and it seems that after you order the unit they call you up and try to sell you overpriced accessories for it. If you decline to buy more stuff, your purchase is mysteriously "back ordered' for weeks. This is a common scam with digital cameras, and not a place I want to deal with, even for a big price break like that.

 

A friend of mine ordered a video camera from 86th Street Photo & Video and got the whole "post-sale hard-sell" call-back a few hours later. Basically, they tried to sell him an overpriced spare battery, carrying case, cleaning kit, screen protector, etcetera etcetera. He didn't realize what they were doing and actually bought the spare battery, so I don't know what would have happened to his order had he refused.

For camera stuff, if I can't find it from an eBay seller with a good reputation, I pretty much stick with Adorama or B&H Photo/Video.

 

Rick, so the other 700's don't have this feature? Really wanted Bluetooth, ie 760. TIA Michael