Portable Navi Systems

[GaderX]

The stock navigation system for my truck is out of the question because it is way too expensive. I am thinking of getting a tomtom or a garmin navigation system. Who has one and what do you suggest I get? I need some help here. Thanks.

[firecombs]

i have magellin

[dzyuba]

i have magellin

 

Garmin 350 - small, cheap, good battery life and easy to use

 

Yes, there are newer and better ones available but it does the job for me. I don't need widescreen, bluetooth, hands-free calling, etc.

[tde]

TomTom and Garmin are really the ONLY choices, and are pretty much equal.

The biggest diofference is that Garmin uses Navtech software, and TomTom uses TeleAtlas software.

Generally, in hte GPS world, if is accepted that Navtech is slighlty better in the USA and TeleAtlas in better in Europe.

If you are looking for something basic, but very functional, have a look at the TomTom One....it can be had for around 240.00 and really does a nice job, and is small enough to put in you pocket, when not in the vehicle.'

FWIW, I prefer the TomTom software interface to Garmin

 

Hope that helps

[Misawan]

The stock navigation system for my truck is out of the question because it is way too expensive. I am thinking of getting a tomtom or a garmin navigation system. Who has one and what do you suggest I get? I need some help here. Thanks.

 

 

I have a TomTom and I can tell you that it would be great if I lived in Europe. It still works nice but the website has everything optimized for Europe and I don't like the way it looks for updates when I connect it to my PC. It is not a bad unit but if the cost was the same I would go for the Garmin or other. My wife likes TomTom for the ease of use.

[BigJayDogg3]

I know z71steve has an antenna connected to a laptop, and it looks pretty nice. That is what I'm leaning toward not. He has Microsoft Streets and Trips or something like that, and it looks like it performs pretty well.

[AgDoctor]

I have the tomtom 510. I wired up another 12V outlet under the dash so I wouldnt have wires all over the place. I snapped the panel at the windshiled up and ran my wires down there and hid my mic wire and put it on the top of the A pillar. I secured the tomtom 510 to the dash will some adhesive velcro tape and it looks bombass. I get alot of compliments and it is really easy to use. I keep a ball cap sitting over it when not in use so it doesnt get so hot and so no thugs will get any ideas.

[BigJayDogg3]

You need to post pics of your entire dash. Between the navi and the edge, it should look BA.

[WFO]

Garmin 2610 and would not live with out it.

[Mighty HD]

Go with a Garmin.

 

Garmin is the cream of the crop and is a hell of a lot better than anything else out there.

 

 

I picked up my NIB Nuvi 650 on ebay with the 08 maps for $490 with overnight shipping.

[Paul58]

We had a basic, bottom of the line, TomTom 300 and it was great. Way nor accurate than my wife's $2000 factory NAV unit in her Acura (And Acura is suposed to have the best factory NAV available!) Just replaced it with a Magellan 4000 which is also very easy to use and has a few more features like the AAA Tourbook, which is great when we're on the road and need a quick overnight stop. My wife loves the fact if has rest stops in the POI's, something her Acura OEM Nav doesn't. The Magellan also uses Navtech software. The cost of portable GPS's have really dropped in the last couple years, we just passed our TomTom on to our daughter who is away at college, and as I was gathering everything together I ran across the receipt. We bought it, on sale, in June 2005 and paid $699.00! We just picked up our 4.3" wide screen Magellan 4000 for $299.00! And it has quite a few more features than the old TomTom! Regardless of which unit you go with, I recommend stinking with a company who specializes in GPS, Garmin, Magellan, or TomTom will give you a superior product over the units currently being marketed by companies who previously specialized in Audio, and are now branching into the GPS market. To prove this point, the (in my opinion) inferior NAV system in my wife's Acura is made by Alpine!

[07-Z71]

If you have the NBS, try the turn by turn with OnStar. I thought about getting a NAVI unit , but started using the turn by turn and it has been great. Just tell them what your looking for , or the address.

[SiriusFan]

I have a Garmin GPS 3+ and love it. I have had it for probably 10 years and it has never let me down except when I forget to put fresh batteries in. I had it hardwired in one of my vehicles which worked great. I am also a laptop user and its connection is great and easy to use. I to think factory systems are way to expensive since I plot many customers on a map and Delorme products make the factory units look like an after thought.

[Yoduman]

I love my Garmin Nuvi 350. And the window mount is solid.