Thread: GPS Reviews Please

Considering picking up a car GPS but I am really not sure on what to get. I would like to get a Garmin because for hunting I use a Garmin and absolutly love it. I would like the price to fall between $100 and $150 but may increase the range to $200. Basically Im wondering what you all use and what you think of them or if you have any suggestions on what I should get feel free to give them.

Not to derail your thread, I found my phone has a better and more often automatically updated GPS than the Garmin I had bought a couple months earlier.

Satelite view and all. Thinking maybe you could save some coin and use a tool that is already in your hand.

Honestly if I had a smart phone I would go that route. But I do not have a smart phone (probably the last one in the world without one). That is why I am just thinking of getting the GPS unit.

Ahhh then look for lifetime updates on maps and traffic is always nice to have.

Alright. Yea Im kind of leaning towards the Garmin Nuvi 2595LMT right now. That has the maps and stuff. I see that I can buy a new one or get a manufacture refurbished one. Is either fine or should I stay away from refurbished?

i have a older garmin. got it because of my boats gps. figured its got to be as good. no complaints, it works, logs miles, has a speedo in it, does toll roads only or no toll roads, also does commercial trucks routes, what used it for 99% of the time.

garmin charges for updates tho, and you get one free update when you buy it. then it tells you to update it after a year or so. i also got a refurbished one off e bay, cost me like 240, at the time new was 300.

How much are these updates? And are they really needed?

Roads change..

That is true. Totally spaced that.

They usually charge $50 an update and they are needed because the roads are always changing. I have a tomtom but I would go with a garmin with lifetime maps. Best buy has the one you were looking at for 129 right now - Garmin - nüvi 5" GPS with Lifetime Map Updates and Lifetime Traffic Updates - NUVI2595LMT HD KIT

ive yet to update mine, but have been on one road, looking at the gps, i clearly i was on a new chunk of highway just added cause it showed me driving cross country for a while.

$129 for that is a pretty cheap price. The refurbished ones are more than that. Thanks for all the input.

Originally Posted by BillBoost37

Not to derail your thread, I found my phone has a better and more often automatically updated GPS than the Garmin I had bought a couple months earlier.

Satelite view and all. Thinking maybe you could save some coin and use a tool that is already in your hand.

X2

I have a Mio GPS and love it (about 4 years old). We bought a Garmin about 2 years ago and hate it. We have nicknamed it the "always lost. Garmin told us to do a few things and they did not seem to help. We got smartphones about a year ago and don't worry about GPS anymore. The phones GPS is better for the most part and is in your pocket all the time.

I have a Magellan GPS with life time updates. So far I haven't found a road it doesn't have. It gets an update every 4-5 months. Its my second Magellan and I love em both

Several years ago I got my Grand-pa a TomTom, it was very nice. Very accurate, but no updates outside of 6 months and they were like $100 last time I had looked, but again this was many years ago.

A friend had a Garmin, but it got us lost about 4 times trying to go to a place we actually knew how to get to. Just used it for kicks and grins, he took it back after the trip was over. Had it updated and everything. It was aweful.

I personally use my phone for anything as Bill said, its 10xs more accurate and always with me, but if you don't have one you don't have one. Look around, go to best buy and play with them, see how you like them and make a smart decision. Or take the money for the GPS and go upgrade phones.

I have a magellan as well, but no updates came with it. I would highly suggest lifetime updates!

I'm really happy with mine otherwise tho.

Get the cheapest widescreen Garmin you can find, unless they make ones with a faster satellite lock now. I think I have the Nuvi 255 or something like that. It freezes up in a two spots in Pottstown, PA for some reason (I just googled it, and other people have a problem in the same spot lol). Other than that, works flawlessly.

As for Garmin's updates, they're only updated when the city/township updates their maps, which is probably every 30 years outside of major cities. And they're very easily pirated, if that's the kind of thing you're into. But whatever comes loaded on the thing will be fine for the lifetime of the device. No need to pay the $60 or whatever - you won't see your money's worth.

The Magellan I've used kinda sucks - the Garmin is easier to configure and navigate through menus. I'm told TomToms are useless inside the US, but are quite nice for Europe. Dunno if they're any better yet.

I disagree with the Magellan being hard to navigate and program. I find then easier and have used a garmin and just didn't like the layout

I have a Garmin and its good. It came with my car when I bought it (dealer promotion). It got me from Toronto to Orlando and back so I would say its pretty good lol.