Can Anyone Recommend Me A Great GPS?

Livewire · #1 03-02-2010, 02:35 PM

Hey guys

In the market for a GPS device, perferably one that doesn't suck at giving directions, reliablbility, etc. Maximum price is around $300. Any suggestions would be great, have no idea what to look for.

Thanks
Joe

geeza · #2 03-02-2010, 02:39 PM

MatticusMania · #3 03-02-2010, 02:41 PM

Who is your cell phone provider? Im with Verizon and have the Voyager. My GPS costs $1.99 a month and is built into my phone.

hover · #4 03-02-2010, 04:17 PM

get a droid phone, and it's free, using Google Maps.

MJ5150 · #5 03-03-2010, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hover

get a droid phone, and it's free, using Google Maps.

That's what I use. In fact, I just sold my Magellan on craigslist the other day for $150.

As for accuracy, it has never lead me astray on the Droid, or my Motorola Q. It's even accurate when I'm walking down the street.

-Mike

MakiSupaStar · #6 03-03-2010, 09:01 AM

iPhone uses google maps too. The 3G and up also have good accurate long/lat coordinates too. I'll be putting that to the test on the lifeguard boat this summer when I go diving for scallops.

blendermassacre · #7 03-03-2010, 09:06 AM

The overall problem with GPS systems, is the map updating software. My sister got a Tom Tom for her birthday one year, and 1 month later, I borrowed it because my wife and I were going to L.A. and directions would be nice. We were in a convertible and it kept telling me to go outside and away from buildings because it couldn't connect. I called the tomtom people and they said it was because I needed to pay to update the map, on a one month old Tom Tom. Jerks.

that being said, my G1 phone has google maps which rocks, and can get you around on public transit, as it did for me in chicago. It was awesome. If google put out a google maps gps, they would slay the market.

McHaven · #8 03-03-2010, 09:11 AM

I've been happy with my Tom-Tom. Its been reliable and hasn't gotten me lost yet, except for when I miss the turn. "Turn left at the next intersection" Which intersection? The one I just went through?!

blendermassacre · #9 03-03-2010, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McHaven

I've been happy with my Tom-Tom. Its been reliable and hasn't gotten me lost yet, except for when I miss the turn. "Turn left at the next intersection" Which intersection? The one I just went through?!

The one my sister got worked fine in Arkansas (where she bought it) and Kansas City, but L.A. was no deal, making it even more frustrating.

onlyoneZ · #10 03-03-2010, 05:56 PM

I drive 75,000 miles per year and have used Tom Tom and garmin (sometimes even side-by-side). I still have a Garmin. Easier to use and more accurate directions. I use mine everyday. The Garmin support has been good. I had one die on me and they were helpful and got a new one back to me after I sent it in an very short time (I received it 9 days, not business days, but 9 days after I shipped the bad one off to them.). I don't work for them, but the experience that I have had with them have made me a very enthusiastic customer.

I recommend getting one with text-to-speech. It is a feature that tells you the name of the street to turn on, such as, "turn left on Main Street. " instead of just "turn left."

IotaNet · #11 03-03-2010, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onlyoneZ

I drive 75,000 miles per year and have used Tom Tom and garmin (sometimes even side-by-side). I still have a Garmin. Easier to use and more accurate directions. I use mine everyday. The Garmin support has been good. I had one die on me and they were helpful and got a new one back to me after I sent it in an very short time (I received it 9 days, not business days, but 9 days after I shipped the bad one off to them.). I don't work for them, but the experience that I have had with them have made me a very enthusiastic customer.

I recommend getting one with text-to-speech. It is a feature that tells you the name of the street to turn on, such as, "turn left on Main Street. " instead of just "turn left."

Totally Agreed.

I'd go to Best Buy and get the best one that $300 would buy. I'm on my second Garmin and have been totally pleased all the way around.

tplyons · #12 03-03-2010, 07:40 PM

Got my dad a Garmin Nuvi 255wt for Christmas and I've stolen it from him. Beats the pants off my mom's TomTom go720.

IconBasser · #13 03-03-2010, 07:44 PM

the Mio Moov m400 is a solid little system, does everything that the Garmin Nuvi's do, and you can get em for $99 (at least here at radioshack, where I work). Has an easy interface, too.

Kwesi · #14 03-05-2010, 01:00 AM

+1 on a Garmin Nuvi. Probably the quickest most intuitive GPS on the market right now for their price. My friend got one for around $150 (not on sale) that is a breeze to operate and perfectly reliable in every situation I've seen it in. The selling point for me is that it reroutes missed turns/exits about a second after you miss them so you don't have to wonder where you're going for a minute or two.

Atoz · #15 03-05-2010, 02:26 AM

I have a Garmin Nuvi 255w. It only cost me about $120, and it's got a wide screen, text-to-speech, and built-in traffic updates. I'm happy with it.

T-Bird · #16 03-05-2010, 02:48 AM

Hi.

Given the different locations and different map/software requirements we have this may or may not apply to You.

It's Garmin for me. I've tried other ones briefly, but I rely on Garmin. A cheapo, runt of the litter ATM no less

.

The NŨVI 200 I bought about a year ago was 72€ (99€ list) with a free map update. Funny though, the map update costs 127€ and the NŨVI 200 about 99€ still.

A few problems, or "features" rather at this price point IMHO.

Needs a map .
No compass.
Now these may sound silly, but for an outdoors person it's a PITA. Whenever You're outside the standard road maps coverage, no accurate position information or location. I could live without the compass, but the need of a map is just silly (the older ones didn't need one).

Of course, outdoors maps are available, 199€ a pop, whole Finland 750€ IIRC. NO THANK YOU.
The coastal maps about the same IIRC.

I'd buy a Garmin If I were on Your shoes. Despite the expensive maps.

Regards
Sam

**Eric Perry** · #17 03-05-2010, 05:50 AM

My BlackBerry has Google Maps, Sprint Navigation, and I also purchased the Garmin app for it (like $80 or so). For me, the Garmin app easily outperforms the others, and was definitely worth the money. The free ones work okay, it's just that the Garmin works better.

Phalex · #18 03-05-2010, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atoz

I have a Garmin Nuvi 255w. It only cost me about $120, and it's got a wide screen, text-to-speech, and built-in traffic updates. I'm happy with it.

+1! I got one for my wife this past Christmas. It hasn't tried to kill her once!

(I had an issue with a borrowed GPS on the Dan Ryan through Chicago once. I swear it wanted me to cut across five lanes of traffic and crash into a bridge abutment!)

onlyoneZ · #19 03-05-2010, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phalex

+1! I got one for my wife this past Christmas. It hasn't tried to kill her once!

(I had an issue with a borrowed GPS on the Dan Ryan through Chicago once. I swear it wanted me to cut across five lanes of traffic and crash into a bridge abutment!)

Oh, you have to go into setting under avoidances and check bridge abutments. Might want to check to see if avoid guardrails is checked or not, too.

kissmybASS01 · #20 03-05-2010, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tplyons

Got my dad a Garmin Nuvi 255wt for Christmas and I've stolen it from him. Beats the pants off my mom's TomTom go720.

Another +1 for the Garmin. I've got the same one and it works great. Not so good when it comes to newer developments, but overall does a great job. I've got mine currently set-up using the "female Austrailian English accent" voice

.

Another plus is that when you arrive at your destination, it tells you which side of the street it should be on - which is definately a plus if you're using it at night or in a blinding snowstorm lol