GPS from santa?

[Newfie]

Hey folks,

Don't know anyhting about them, but I think santa might want to get me a GPS nav system for my truck(s). Any reccos or ones to avoid?

 

[SkwerI]

Garmin is the best, Tom-Tom is good as well.

More money doesn't get you better navigation, just more side features. Your basic Garmin Nuvi250W will do most everything the higher priced units will do.

 

[pantheraba]

I have a TomTom and it does very well..not sure of the model, would have to go look...it's 20 degrees outside - later maybe.

A friend has a Garmin and does NOT like it...he said it often gave him convoluted instructions compared to the TomTom he got for his daughter.

The GPS nav system is very useful when it works right.

 

[darkstar]

You will love it.
Just know when to ignore it.
Most times they are awesome.
So much for long winded directions, turn left at the old blue mail box go one mile turn right at the yellow pickle yada yada....

 

[NeTree]

I've used a few Mike; I'm really loving the Tom Tom One XL I bought a month ago. About $240.

 

[Thor's Hammer]

I have TomToms in all my trucks, we even have all the electric company's substation co-ordinates programmed in.

Over here, garmin satnav units have not got a good rep.

 

[brendonv]

I have a Garmin 250 I believe. The more expensive ones tend to have a bunch of features you won't use (MP3, blue-tooth, etc.).

Mine hasn't let me down and I think my lady paid under 200 for it.

 

[lumberjack]

Another recommendation for Garmin's. I've had the 205 and the 265 (lowest and highest models at wally world). I kept the 205 and the extra Franklin and other billage.

 

[stig]

Over here, garmin satnav units have not got a good rep.

Over here meaning England, right?
Because over here ( Denmark) Garmin has come out first place in every test I've seen.

 

[blue]

i used a garmin for a week or so recently,took us the most retrded route across London.Came soooooooo close to launching it outta the window

 

[Thor's Hammer]

i used a garmin for a week or so recently,took us the most retrded route across London.Came soooooooo close to launching it outta the window

My garmin unit did exactly the same thing through manchester, and I was driving an artic at the time.

 

[SkwerI]

I've noticed several people here complaining about the routes chosen by the Garmins without offering any specifics or explanations. Whet I have found is that my Garmin will direct me toward the main roads (which are also some of the busiest roads) when in fact I know of other routes that are faster and have less traffic or stoplights. I figure this is the price you pay for having a computerized map pick your route for you.

There are some settings you can change that will affect the chosen route. You can choose between 'fastest' or 'shortest'. Picking the so-called fastest route will dump you on all the main roads, which in city traffic are far from being the fastest. Picking the 'shortest' route will sometimes route you through residential neighborhoods instead of keeping you on the main roads.

What I've found is that if I know about where I'm going, then I don't use the Garmin until I'm in the general area and then use it to pinpoint my exact destination. If you're on the South side of town and heading to an address on the North side of town, then the Garmin probably won't pick the way that you want to go. It won't teach you any new shortcuts in the area where you've been driving for 10 years. Mine also has settings for the type of vehicle you're driving, a passenger car or a truck/bus. Choosing the truck setting will not direct you onto streets with truck restrictions.

But if you're heading cross country from Florida to Justin's place in Colorado via Carl's place in Mississippi, then it's fantastic and you won't ever get lost or head 100 miles in the wrong direction. I found it extremely helpful driving at night as well, it showed side roads that I was approaching even when I couldn't see them.

 

[blue]

ours tried to take us the wrong way down 1 way streets,turn at no left/right turns re-routed us to go make the turns again,Garmin sucks in the UK

 

[darkstar]

Like i said you need to know when to ignore it .
So id really like one with some learning capacity.
Or maybe i need to try the tom tom

 

[Newfie]

Like i said you need to know when to ignore it .
So id really like one with some learning capacity.
Or maybe i need to try the tom tom

I know about that ignore it feature. My buddy has one in his 60K caddie. We were going to a lacrosse meeting one night and it tried to make us get off the highway at every single exit until we took the exit we knew we needed. At that point we started to follow instructions. Kind of aggravating after 40 miles and 3 resets. May have been some operator error as well.

Santa ended up getting me a Garmin nuvi265. Had excellent reviews and was 40% off. Thanks for the advice guys.

 

[sotc]

ours tried to take us the wrong way down 1 way streets,turn at no left/right turns re-routed us to go make the turns again,Garmin sucks in the UK

or maybe your traffic engineers do

 

[Mr. Sir]

I know about that ignore it feature. My buddy has one in his 60K caddie. We were going to a lacrosse meeting one night and it tried to make us get off the highway at every single exit until we took the exit we knew we needed. At that point we started to follow instructions. Kind of aggravating after 40 miles and 3 resets. May have been some operator error as well.

It sounds like the "Avoid Highways" feature may have been in use.

 

[SkwerI]

Brett's right. If you aren't aware of how it's set, then of course you're going to criticize which routes it chooses. You have to actually go through the setup process and choose your preferences.

I've seen enough people's personal computers to know that most people simply turn it on and start using it without ever getting their preferences set. Sort of like complaining about a vehicle's lack of visibility when you never adjusted the seat or mirrors.

Newfie, enjoy the Garmin. Check out the different voices on the voice prompt.