Car GPS

[lakngulf]

I have one of the old tomtom gps for my travels. It has worked ok but cost a lot to update the map. I am sure there are better ones out there. What is a good economical to moderately priced system for a car?

 

[KYDan]

I like the Garmin NUVI series, it has walking mode, is intuitive and has free lifetime map updates.

 

[CurlyDave]

Garmin Nuvi here also.

 

[Travelover]

If you do a search you'll see that this has been discussed a number of times. Can't go wrong with Garmin Nuvi. Some come with lifetime map updates. Also check out refurbs.

 

[Western]

We have 6 TomTom's , it is a PITA to update. We have only updated one of them in 7 years and since major roads aren't built every day, I haven't really found not updating a problem for our crews. There have been a couple of times where the GPS just plain got it wrong though, don't know if that is a TomTom issue or if it happens with other GPS units.

 

[George2615]

I also have a Garmin Nuvi 1490LMT. Comes with lifetime maps (which I just downloaded into mine). Mainly I use it as a hands free blue tooth for my cell when driving since its against the law here to talk on a cell while driving unless its hands free. Map upgrade took a few minutes to download and install. Shopped around online last year. Don't remember exact cost but it was under $300. You can get cheaper ones without the blue tooth.

 

[grsthegreat]

I have an Insignia cnv-20 that i used to absolutely love. It had google search feature thru an onboard cellular sims card. I could just type say "home depot) and it would find the nearest HD where i was currently driving.... I could type motel6 or whatever while traveling, it would find the closest one and list the phone number. if i hit the dial icon, it would dial it thru my bluetooth connection for me.

I could use that to find anything. I could also plan out my route on my computer and email it to my gps. When i got into the truck, the GPS would tell me new addresses have arrived, and there it would be,,,,my route.

So guess what happened last January.... Insignia decided to cancel all further support for all their GPS units...no more map updates., no more google search...no more cellular service at all. Its a $300 pile of crap now. Typical BestBuy policy of never warranting their goods.

Im looking at the Garmin units now, and i like the free updates for life (but the fine print states the free updates will last only until garmin feels the unit has outlived its usefulness or they decide to stop issuing further updates...whatever that means)

NO gps i can find has the google search features. I know smart phones have these...but i own a dumb phone. I dont want a smart phone no do i want the $100/mo bill for one.

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

Garmin Nuvi 2595LMT

 

[rsewill]

I know smart phones have these...but i own a dumb phone. I dont want a smart phone no do i want the $100/mo bill for one.

The smart phone sure does work well, though.

 

[Nick D]

I have a Garmin Nuvi and I love it. I bought lifetime maps a couple of years ago for a reasonable price. I would another one again when the time comes.

 

[Bigfoot62]

We have 6 TomToms . . . There have been a couple of times where the GPS just plain got it wrong though, don't know if that is a TomTom issue or if it happens with other GPS units.

We have 4 TomToms, and like them. My favorite is the XXL 540M. It has a 5" screen that's just a little easier to read without glasses. All of the "M" models come with lifetime map updates. (every three months) You can buy them new, on eBay, for just over $100. I think I paid $115 for mine, delivered.

It's a common problem, and it happens with all GPS units, especially in rural areas.

Nothing wrong with the Garmin. I've used one, and it's fine. The first GPS that we purchased was a TomTom for my daughter, and we just stuck with the same brand to avoid a learning curve.

 

[SpringHollow]

I bought my Tom Tom with free lifetime updates. They have good sales every so often. I really like it.

Ken

 

[lakngulf]

Thanks for the advice and experiences. I went with the Garmin nuvi 2555 with the map updates and traffic something. Five inch screen was on $20 more than the smaller one (4 inch ??)

Thanks for the help

 

[jmurray01]

I have one of the old tomtom gps for my travels. It has worked ok but cost a lot to update the map. I am sure there are better ones out there. What is a good economical to moderately priced system for a car?

An A-Z :thumbsup:

 

[RoyJackson]

It's a common problem, and it happens with all GPS units, especially in rural areas.

They can easily lose it in cities too...just went through that during a trip to Philadelphia.

TomTom here too...probably 3-4 years old (I think it's an XL model) and map updates (for the US) are free. Still works well, and I just can't see any reason to replace it.

 

[Bigfoot62]

They can easily lose it in cities too...just went through that during a trip to Philadelphia. . .

Roy, you're correct. I've seen that too. But, what I was referring to was, that in rural areas, they don't update the maps very often. For example, I live on a dirt road. It is a parish (county) road, and we have lived here for 27 years. However, if you try to put my address into any GPS, it doesn't exist. The FedEx and UPS drivers have that problem constantly.

 

[jmurray01]

I've just thought about it, and I'd better update our Garmin Nuvi 200W soon, as there has been a few new roads made just 15 miles away recently which obviously aren't on the GPS system.

 

[Pilot]

I don't have a GPS. But folks who follow their Magellan or Mapquest to come to our place get sent the long, wrong way. They follow Springwater to Hayden, down Hayden to Hwy 211, up 211 to Springwater and back toward us, following a triangle route when staying on Springwater would have saved them a couple miles.

I just use maps.

I'll be looking for a GPS for my airplane pretty soon, however.

 

[Pete Judd]

My Nuvi took me into a horse coral about a year ago in eastern Oregon, we were just trying to find our way back to the highway, and it took us down the wrong street. But used it today to find a house in Long Beach WA to score a free 100 gallons of diesel, and a 275 gallon tank.

 

[lakngulf]

My Nuvi took me into a horse coral about a year ago in eastern Oregon, we were just trying to find our way back to the highway, and it took us down the wrong street. But used it today to find a house in Long Beach WA to score a free 100 gallons of diesel, and a 275 gallon tank.

Our old TomTom takes us under the lake to get home. I went with the Garmin 2555 and their maps do the same thing. Oh well, I know where home is, even it they do not.

But it would be good to have it corrected. Does anyone know of a way to submit changes?