>> the POI "Yellow pages" appear to be about 1-2 years out of date based upon items I searched for.
>>
>>I've read about the Pioneer unit but I felt that it didn't look as good in the dash as the MINI headunit so I didn't pursue it.
>>


Thank you, Sean, for sharing your experience!

It appears that many softwares are not as current as it should be, even the newly-released Pioneer unit. I think it has to do with production time, from accumulating data, programming, manufacturing, and distibution. By the time it gets to the consummers, the software is already somewhat "out-dated."

Pioneer in-dash unit protrudes outward a little when installed. IMO, the blue & green buttons totally disagree with the OEM red illumination. I'm the type who's concern with the appearance.

 

So the pioneer unit is blue and green?!? Oh, that may be prob... thanks for that info. I am still reseaching the purchase.. as well as saving up.. performance vs toys... Hmmm.... What to do first!

 

OK here are some pix about my Garmin 2610 install. I am not very mechanically inclined and was able to pull this off without breaking anything or short circuiting any electrical.

Here it is on my dash. It looks ok there and is easy to use and see. The touch screen is really cool.

 

Nice install! Great idea with the power outlet!

Thanks for posting the pictures! :smile:

 

looks great!!! I found a picture on mini2 for a lcd screen mounted under the toggle switches.. its looks great. I think that I may lean that way. Check it out

http://www.mini2.com/gallery/persona...geimg_0459.jpg

Sorry if this wasnt a link. you may have to copy and paste.lcd screen

 

My 2610 install is just a little to the left of Meneee's install. I chose to center it behind/above the tach. One advantage of the speedometer being in the center is that it clears up the dash in front of the driver for things like this.

I played with the iQue a little more and it is definately a stylus oriented device. The 2610 has icons big enough to hit with a finger but the iQue uses smaller icons making it harder to hit. I really want to like it and I still have 3 days left to return the 2610 but it is the equivalent of a swiss army knife when all you need is a philips screwdriver. I think I'm staying with the 2610.

Skoobedu,
the remote with the 2610 would probably be a lot better than trying to use the touch screen. You might be able to get away with the sandbag mount so that you can pull it out to get the the lighter or the space behind.

Menee,
you really should get a parcel shelf. Best add-on I've made and a good place to mount that second outlet.

Sean

 

Yeah I am going to get the parcel shelf. I will still use the power outlet I installed and you can hardly see it even with the parcel shelf. I am also going to something similiar so I can get rid of the hands free phone plugged into my cigarartte lighter spot. I hate to see cords all over the place. The 2610 is really easy to use and is way accurate.

 

The decision is final. Garmin 2610 or 2650. :smile:

For dash-top mount, do you worry about possible break-ins? I'm a bit paranoid because of my previous experience with theft.

 

>>The decision is final. Garmin 2610 or 2650. :smile:

I am prob gonna go the 2610 route as there are no install issues :smile:
It's plug & play ...so to speak.

Peace,
D

 

>>The decision is final. Garmin 2610 or 2650. :smile:
>>
>>For dash-top mount, do you worry about possible break-ins? I'm a bit paranoid because of my previous experience with theft. :smile:

 

I remember the days when we had our 1st Garmin Streetpilot Color that was dash-top mount. When the unit is off the mount, my wife puts a small stuff animal on the top because the mount has "Garmin" print on it. She feels safer that way.

Since the unit was stowed away, my wife kinda got lazy and didn't use it much at all. She feels it wasn't useful because it lacks routing function on the earlier models. Now we can't live without one. :smile:

_________________

 

thanks for the great info. I am still leaning towards the pioneer. I think that willbe the best for the dollar. I think that I have my lady talked into it too... We'll have to see until after XMAS to check it out....

skoobee

 

>>thanks for the great info. I am still leaning towards the pioneer.
>>skoobee

Great choice! Pioneer offers one of the best GPS system currently available, if not the best. The SYS910NAV package is a great value compare to Alpine & Kenwood. I have that system in one of my car since July and it works perfectly. :smile:

 

Menee,

How did you mount your base? I used an alcohol pad to clean the surface and now I have a large whitish grey spot on the dash around the base. Tried basic cleaners and it won't go away.

The 2610 is really easy to hide. I've got tinted windows so I just unclip it and put it on the parcel shelf with the power cord still attached. When I get back, pull it out and clip it on. Total time about 15 seconds.

Sean

 

>>Menee,
>>
>>How did you mount your base? I used an alcohol pad to clean the surface and now I have a large whitish grey spot on the dash around the base. Tried basic cleaners and it won't go away.
>>
>>The 2610 is really easy to hide. I've got tinted windows so I just unclip it and put it on the parcel shelf with the power cord still attached. When I get back, pull it out and clip it on. Total time about 15 seconds.
>>
>>Sean
I used the removable sticky pad that came with the Garmin. I have not tried to unstick it yey so I don,t know if will leave a mark, I don,t think it will though. I did not clean it with the alcohol just stuck it on.

 

I am also struggling with the decision about which GPS nav system to buy. I want one that I can move between two cars and one that I can carry with me when I travel to Europe. I've used the Garmin system and like it. The new 2610 looks like a great unit. I also like the new Magellan systems. But, I am very interested in the new Bluetooth GPS systems that you use with a Bluetooth enabled PDA. Seems this would be a great system and perhaps more functional overall - but my main concern is the GPS. Has anyone done (or seen) a side-by-side comparison between a stand alone unit like the Garmin and a Bluetooth GPS/PDA system? If so, I'd be interested in any comments/observations.

 

I finally ordered Garmin 2610 and download the maps for my road trip tomorrow. I really like the touch screen and remote control. :smile: I was also amazed at how good the reception is. It was able to locate the satellites INDOOR. WOW!!!

_________________
04 IB/W MCS

 

After reviewing this thread, I purchased a Garmin 2610 on E-bay for $745. Got it in the mail Friday and tried it out this weekend. What an incredible device! The beanbag mount stays put. The controls are easy to use, the CDROM mapping software is awesome and downloads via USB quickly. I was driving home around sunset and the GPS automatically switched from the daytime screen to the nightime screen. Amazing!

 

MY EXPERIENCE WITH GARMIN 2610:

I had the chance to use 2610 extensively when I drove from Mentor, OH to Los Angeles to Portland, OR. It is by far the best portable unit I've used. I was able to load the entire route onto the memory card that came with the unit.

As an electronic enthusiast, I've own 8 different GPS Nav systems: Alpine, Pioneer, Kenwood, 2 Lexus factory GPS, Garmin Streetpilot Color, Garmin SP III, and Garmin 2610. Beside Garmin units, all the others are DVD based. My biggest complaint about the previous Garmin units is the routing calculation time, which is unacceptably long comparing to the DVD units. I often had to pull over to allow the unit to finish route calculation. On the contrary, the new 2610 is almost as fast as the DVD units. It's packed with features and options. Most of all, I love the touch-screen feature and the remote control. Unlike OEM factory (MINI) units, all the functions are maintain while the car is in motion. For this simple reason, I refuse to get factory Nav ever since my experience with Lexus unit. Don't get me wrong, factory Navs are great, but I just don't like the idea of stopping every time I want to input a destination.

I also like the speed display, which is somewhat more accurate than the MINI. BMW has the reputation of beefing up their speedometer, making the dispaly speed faster than the actual speed. Another feature that was helpful was elevation display. Due to the snow and icy condition through northern CA and southern OR, I wanted to know if elevation is increasing or decreasing. Hence I can anticipate the road condition ahead.

2610 also has 5 different language selection. For English, there's British or American. I, of course, chose British, which goes well with MINI's British heritage. :smile:



_________________
04 IB/W MCS

 

Shameless bump, but does anyone have any pics of where they installed their Garmin? I was thinking on putting it below the toggle switches but that's too hard to glance at while driving. One of the major reasons I got it was to see the side streets and shortcuts.

I'm now thinking on the area next to the tach, but the mount included doesn't tilt far enough.

Any ideas?

 

I am getting ready to post the details of my install of the TomTom Bluetooth GPS for Palm Tungsten T3. We have two Magellan Roadmate 700s and my initial impression is that the TomTom Navigator is much better. And cheaper too. There are some downsides but that will take a few more days of testing to nail down the problems and if they are mine or TomTom Navigator on the Palm or the Bluetooth GPS unit.

Stay tuned.

Rich

 

Would this be a Vcommand??? www.vcommand.com. I have two of them, one that's mine and a demo unit. They are great in the MINI to get around, especially if one is lost and needs gas, looking for the nearest party or MINI event... (Ok, you NEED the addresses for the last two) That said, a Vcommand unit can't really be used on a bicycle, as a ahndheld walking, or to help one design a twisty route for an event. So far, there is no one device that does everything.
Mike

 

I just asked these questions on another thread, does anyone know this?

A features on some of the GPS’s is the MPH – they must be accurate, but how fast do they update?
Can a person use it for determining 0-60 times?
For that matter can it be used for ¼ mile times?

 

Take a look at the Garmin Quest, its new its fast and lots of on board memory. Just used it for a trip to Virginia and back to Western New York. Still working on the best mount. May use an upside down cup in the cup holder and mount it there, a larger version of the way my xmradio Roady 2 is mounted.

 

I have had this unit in my MINI for about two weeks and I LOVE it ! I use it everyday to get to my new clients houses and it is dead on! I paid $610 for the unit from www.shipdog.com . Check out the tom tom website at www.tomtom.com . This was a great deal and is a total touch screen system having only one button the power button. Great deal, great equipment .

K9-MINI