GPS question

[KubotaSteve]

My retired parents are going to start traveling around the country some. Their first trip is to visit some relatives in Brownsville, TX. My brothers and I want to get them a portable GPS system for the car. I'm looking for a nice system that doesn't hit the wallet too hard. I'm trying to stay around $500.
I'm going to research the consumer guides as well, but I'm looking for some real life experiences.
As always thanks for the help.

 

[dougj7]

Hi, I recommend a MIO c310x. You can read the reviews here:
Buy the Mio DigiWalker™ C310x GPS Navigation (C310X) and other GPS Navigation at circuitcity.com

 

[DocHeb]

We just bought an Intellinav All-in-One for $349. NewEgg.com had a $30 rebate, but for some reason they don't have them listed on their web site any longer - I wanted to buy one for my parents.

This unit is easy to use and seems pretty accurate. Just did a 2 day trip to Cleveland - the bed and breakfast we had reservations at somehow cancelled us - punched into the "Points of Interest - Lodging" and found a great place within 3 miles. Off-Route recalculations are rapidly calculated. We navigated for two whole days downtown and didn't get lost once. Two nice feature are the street names being announced out loud (rather than just "turn left 200 ft" it says "turn left in 200 feet onto Lorain Avenue"), and you can plan multiple-stop trips and modify the itinerary. I didn't find that on any other units in that price range.

For some reason, these units are packaged with MP3 Players and Photo viewers, and this unit didn't get great reviews for those functions - but I will never understand why you would use a GPS with a 1 watt speaker as a MP3 player, or why you would want photos to be displayed on your GPS as you're driving.

You just need to make sure that your common sense isn't turned off when you turn the GPS on. The only mistake the unit made on this trip is that it messed up the I80/90 and I280 intersection. It said the right instructions out loud, but the screen had the ramps messed up. Again, common sense helps.

 

[shvl73]

Hi, I recommend a MIO c310x. You can read the reviews here:
Buy the Mio DigiWalker™ C310x GPS Navigation (C310X) and other GPS Navigation at circuitcity.com

I just bought one today for the spouse, $199.99 at Staples. Seems like a good unit.

 

[shaley]

Take a look at the Lowrance unit at Bass profor 169.00 It has a great built in base map and changable maps and route planing you can upload from your pc.
This receiver was one of 3 under $400 units that was actually working inside the BPS store. I'm not normally a Lowrance fan and I don't use them on my boat but this is on my list of GPS units.

 

[thatguy]

I know my parents would have a really hard time figuring out how to operate a GPS system.. Good luck with yours

brian

 

[Oleozz]

Garmin has the Nuvi Navagation System, we have a friend that has one and he likes it. I read some internet reviews and they are supposedly easy to use, voice controlled, and accurate. You can find them on the internet for around $445.

 

[CurlyDave]

Garmin has the Nuvi Navagation System, we have a friend that has one and he likes it. I read some internet reviews and they are supposedly easy to use, voice controlled, and accurate. You can find them on the internet for around $445.

I just got one in the Wal-Mart in Grants Pass, Oregon for $448 about a month ago.

Probably available at the same price in other Wal-Marts.

A very nice unit, and easy to use.

 

[marimus]

I just got one in the Wal-Mart in Grants Pass, Oregon for $448 about a month ago.

Probably available at the same price in other Wal-Marts.

A very nice unit, and easy to use.

Dad just bought one of these, and he is having no trouble at all using it.
I would highly recomend the Garmin

 

[GaryM]

Recently bought a Garmin Streetmap C530 at GPS City - Garmin GPS, Magellan GPS, Lowrance GPS & RAM Mount Factory Authorized Dealer for $409. Nice unit with a touch screen. Not a unit for someone who's INTO GPS and wants all the extras like sunrise/sunset times and all that, but a nice unit for car navigation.