We are in the market for a navigation system. Would love recommendations and ones to steer clear of. Garmin, TomTom, Magellan, others???? Maybe should have put this in the NAV forum - thought I might get more response here. Thanks

 

garmin has the best routing software

some people like the maps in tomtom better, I still prefer garmin's maps though

I own a mio, and 3 garmin's

 

I got myself a MIO c310x. If I had a lot of money I would have gotten a garmin, but the Mio is under 200 and it's very easily hacked; which means that you can easily update the maps yourself anytime you want and change the interface as you please.

 

MINI

 

My research took me to Garmin's Nuvi 350. I bought one on the web for $375 including 2 day shipping. I've taken two trips with it. It's amazing.

Here's a good description of it:

http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/garmin-nuvi-review.php

 

I've owned a Magellan and now I use Garmin 660, the Garmin is much better in my opinion. The Magellan used to get confused as to which road you were on, and would disconnect if you went under an over pass. With the Garmin I've actually gone through the Holland tunnel without it disconnecting. It also has some pretty neat features including a battery so you can take it with you when walking around in a city you don't know.

 

The integrated system looks cool...but wow...what a price premium!

 

I've ben selling and using precise GPS systems for ten or so years, for the recreational stuff I strongly recommend Garmin. They have the most usable interface and the best maps out there.

...I opted for the nav package in the car and use an older Garmin on my bicycle

 

The NUVI is dope. Costco has the same one MINI sells for like $600 on sale right now for $299. Smokin' deal on a great nav.

 

I have had a Garmin NUVI 350 for about a month and I just LOVE it. Have used it on several trips and have never had a problem.

 

I have been looking at the Garmin Zumo brand and really like the 550... It has routing with turn by turn directions... But the feature that I like is the ability to program routes into it from a computer... So now if it can guide you on your favorite (non-highway) routes.. A bit pricey still.. but some web stores have it for $700..

Anyway.. my two cents..

 

I have the Zumo and love it. I swap it back and forth from my Mini to my motorcycle and it works great in either place. I believe you can program routes into the Nuvi series as well. I went with the Zumo because I wanted it's motorcycle specific features. In addition, I got the XM antenna, so now I have XM, MP3, bluetooth for phone in the car, and Nav all in one handy unit.

 

Thanks for all the input. I would have loved to have integrated into my dash and large speedometer - that would would have been cool......but I think way overpriced. Didn't think about checking out Costco - thanks for that tip too.

 

I've been doing some research on different units. I didn't really think I wanted one until we were on a trip lately with a big huge folded map. My BF kept having to unfold it and I couldn't see the road.

This site has a good list of nav units available, though their reivews seem very biased towards Garmin:

http://www.gpsmagazine.com/buyers_guide.php

I'm still undecided: Garmin 350, 660 or TomTom GO 910?

 

If you are going aftermarket, Garmin. I bought my wife a Nuvi 360 about 8 months ago, we love it. The maps are accurate, more so than Tom Tom was, at least in our area. The yearly updates for the maps are reasonably priced (I think they run about $89).

 

Let me repeat myself one more time, MINI!!! And yes, $2100 is WAY over priced, and MINI/BMW should be ashamed of themselves for overcharging for Nav, ALL cars should come STANDARD with Nav today, period.

But remember, it's NOT just Nav, it's integration with PDC, software settings, menus, bluetooth phone connections, MP3's/radio displays..... maybe ya'all need a different angle???

 

-1 for mini

 

Birdman - It's beauuuutiful - I'm jealous!

 

Besides being overpriced, which everyone seems to agree, I think it doesn't fit with the rest of the Mini interior, everything else is round and has a classic style to it( if you like R56 interior, which I do), and then you have the rectangular video screen plopped right in the middle.

Aside from the look, the lack of being able to plan trips on it using my computer killed the factory nav for me, then factor in the 2d only view, the very simple looking menus, just didn't justify the price. Again, just my 2 cents, it just wasn't the right solution for ME.

 

Ah, not sure where your lookin', but the LCD Nav screen in my MINi and pictured above, is round. ..and, an aftermarket unit stuck to the dash somewhere with an antenna and power wires dangling around looks "real clean".

That said, I could care less what it looks like to be honest. What I look for for is functionality and ergonomics. The car is too small for an aftermarket unit to be dangling around the dashboard already 1/2 blocked by the mamoth rear-view mirror.

You can plan trips, ON the MINI nav. Select as many "destinations" as you wish by entering in the address, searching for things (like restuaraunts, hotels, attractions...), or just plain old pointing the crosshairs at a position. Then off you go in the order you entered them or in the order best selected by MINI.

If you ask me, the ONLY excuse NOT to get the built in Nav, is simply $$. If you can't afford it, I can fully understand that. Like I said, it's a ripoff, and one MINI/BMW should be ashamed of, and I'll post that till lthe day it's $100 extra or FREE. But if you can afford it, or are borderline, GET IT and thank me later.

 

I could afford it

but I did not want one, that was even before I learned it was built on idrive

bmw should stick to cars and let someone else do electronics

 

I bought the Garmin Nuvi 360 and have had nothing but great success with it. Slim, easy to use, fast acquisition. Can't beat that! After I found out MINI was offering their "Nuvi" addon kit, my dealer is installing the kit for me and all I have to do is slap my Garmin in

 

I agree I would have preferred a GPS system that pops up from the dash. I think mazda does that, probably some other car makers too.

 

To me it's a very nice looking Nav system .. and that peripheral speedometer really gives it character. Also, from what I understand, it not only does navigation very well, it provides real time traffic information that includes a lifetime pre-paid subscription .. And it has lots of other iDrive features (in other words, I don't think the price is out of line at all). I very much wanted that option but darn, there were an awful lot of options that I also wanted. Had to draw the line somewhere. Kept the emphasis on performance (the reason I wanted a MINI in the first place).

 

they would be better off if they never EVER mention the word "idrive" anywhere on any mini documentation

idrive is the worst navigation software & interface on the market, EVERY other nav system is better, I have yet to use one that was harder than the "idrive"

and every review I've ever read stated the same thing, idrive is horrible