GPS Recommendations

[newoldtech]

I'm thinking its time to fold up the old map. I'm just looking for a basic GPS to get me from one place to another. I don't need anything fancy. Whats the best basic model out there? What do you need to spend to get a quality portable model. Also do you have to worry about someone seeing it and breaking in your van to get it, or are they so common that they are not stealing them anymore?

[fishintime]

We have both a Garmin 200w and a Tom Tom easy I think it is. The Garmin is a few years old and the Tom Tom is a few months old. My wife and I both like the Garmin better. Bigger screen as my eyes aren't geting any younger, the map has more addresses listed our at least in the KC area it does, and I like the points of interest better on the Garmin. These units are older now and would guess you can pick them up cheap.

[pageyjim]

I've had Garmin and Tom Tom. Garmin seems to be better built. I prefer the Tom Tom features. The problem with Tom Tom's is they fall from their mount and hit where the charger attaches and eventually fail. I have seen Tom Tom's from around $99 on sale. Garmin usually a little more. With all the crap in my truck the GPS is my last worry but they are pretty common.

[rojacman]

I've had Garmin and Tom Tom. Garmin seem to be better built. I prefer the Tom Tom features. The problem with Tom Tom's is they fall from their mount and hit where the charger attaches and eventually fail. I have seen Tom Tom's from around $99 on sale. Garmin usually a little more. With all the crap in my truck the GPS is my last worry but they are pretty common.got a garmin for my b-day and it's great , gets me anywhere , even a semi remote farm in Wisconsin. The first upgrade is free and the upgrades after that are reasonable & can be downloaded from their website with a camera cable. they want big bucks for my wifes car upgrade disc , plus an installation charge , I'll stick with my garmin......Jack:D

[cjpwalker]

Ditto the garmin... I got a Nuvi 205 on sale for super cheap at walmart.com. Its not the wide screen, but I wanted cheap so I would be sad if stolen or broken. It's pretty accurate - new neighborhoods obviously don't show up. But its easy to use, and it beats almost driving into the ditch trying to read a map.

[timebuilder]

After one year, my Garmin 755t has a battery that will not take a charge. The battery is not user-replaceable.

Garmin makes good equipment, but compared to their aircraft equipment, this unit is not user intuitive.

I am constantly finding that the most recent database does not include highway interchanges that have been in use for over six years.

Last year, there was an automatic update sent out to units. I believe the traffic FM service was used for this. At any rate, there was a bug in the program, and they accidentally shut down thousands of GPS units. The worst part was the fact that you had to package up the GPS and send it in to customer service to have the unit unlocked! Almost three weeks without the unit. Not fun.

As I begin my hunt for a new unit, a replaceable battery type will be number one on my list. Perhaps they have fixed some of their problems now. Unfortunately, I have not found the "Apple" of the GPS world, yet.

[t527ed]

Garmin 205w for a good cheap unit, got 1 for about $90 on Amazon.

[GGALLAND]

Anything Garmin!

[mrpogo]

If your looking for cheap and functional you could also try a rightway they are on the low end of the spectrum price wise. Works well has lots of features and wont break the bank. Last time I checked the rightway 200 was running 79.99 on their website rightwaygps.com . I had a Rightway 100 but it was stolen out of our van in the driveway one night when we forgot to lock the doors. It was a good unit and worked really well and never got us lost. I now own a Tomtom XL325-S its a wide screen unit my Mom bought me for Christmas last year. It has the basic functions and works very well we have used it on several trips and has never let us down. They run about the same price as the rightway.

[Diceman]

I gave my older Garmin to my daughter after I updated the maps.
Got a new one for about $175.
They are the best IMHO

[All-Good]

I love my Garmin Nuvi and have had it for 4 years, my first got stolen but I replaced it in kind.

[Diceman]

I love my Garmin Nuvi and have had it for 4 years, my first got stolen but I replaced it in kind.

Didja set the security code?

[cturman]

I would recommend the Garmin Nuvi with traffic. It cost a bit more but easy to use and will re-route around traffic back ups.

I think you have to pay for the traffic yearly.

[rojacman]

Didja set the security code?i've got one too , could you take a few minutes to elaborate on that????.....Thanks , Jack:D

[MontanaBighorn]

CLICK HERE (http://inlinediesel.com/tech/desk) to see what i use. i also have several garmin 255WTs in several of my trucks and my employees seem to like them, but i like my setup linked to above better.

[hotrodrob]

Yeah ive had a couple garmins and will stick with them. you can get them pretty cheap now. as for a target for thieves it doesnt matter what brand you have they will take it. we had 3 company rigs recently get smash and grabbed downtown during the middle of the day. they took gps, a little change for the meters and a cell phone.