| teamTMS |
My MDX was broken into in late March and my Garmin StreetPilot 2610 was stolen along with my V1 and my over-the-head Plantronics cell phone headset. :3:
I am now in the market to look for a replacement NAVI (portable). Any recommendations?
I looked at the current Garmin StreetPilot and said to myself ... there has got to be cheaper ones now.
Does anyone here have a newer model NAVI and willing to share some first hand information on it?
I was going to pick up one at BestBuy to try out, but then found out that if I didn't like it and returned it, BestBuy will charge 15% restocking fee. :mad:
The one thing about my old StreetPilot 2610 that I did not like was that when I go into a tunnel or the lower roadway of a bridge, the navigation is completely lost. It doesn't even save the "next turn" information for me to know which exit get out after the tunnel. I'm looking for something that can help me in those situations.
Thanks in advance for recommendations. |
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| jhue |
quote:
Originally posted by teamTMS
I looked at the current Garmin StreetPilot and said to myself ... there has got to be cheaper ones now.
Sure you can go cheaper, but do you really want to?
I've got a Garmin StreetPilot i3, which is one of the very cheapest and smallest portable GPS units.
I now regret not having gone for something with a larger screen. I thought a 2620 was a lot more money but it would have only been $130 more ($450 vs $320 on Ebay).
I like the nav system in my Prius way better than any aftermarket GPS. It calculates routes so much faster than my i3. This is especially noticeable when recalculating routes while the vehicle is moving. By the time it's done, I've driven far enough that it has to recalculate again. The PDA-based models are supposed to be even slower - can't imagine how anyone can tolerate that. I'd still have a portable model even if every car I owned had a nav system, simply because they're so damn useful when travelling on business or when on vacation.
I do like the ability to create my own custom POI lists and download them to the i3. Now the nearest "Hooters" location is just a few button clicks away - no need to do a search by name.
If you want to read a bunch of good reviews of different portable GPS units, take a look at gpsinformation.net. |
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| G. COLTON |
I think that the newest Garmin 276c is quite a good unit. However, it is not cheap! It can even be bought with voice if you think you need that.
It is the newest edition of the 176c that I have. I just finished a 2100 mile trip and would not have swapped that unit for any built in that I know of.
The big problem with the built in models is that you cannot sit at your computer and plan the trip the way you want to drive it. For instance on this just finished trip I wanted to drive on A1A as long as I could down the East Coast of Florida. If I let the unit do the caluclation it kept trying to send me out to I-95.
If you fly to your destination and use a rental car you have another good reason for a portable GPS. You can have all of your travels already programmed and loaded before you leave home.
G |
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| teamTMS |
quote:
Originally posted by G. COLTON
I think that the newest Garmin 276c is quite a good unit. However, it is not cheap! It can even be bought with voice if you think you need that.
It is the newest edition of the 176c that I have. I just finished a 2100 mile trip and would not have swapped that unit for any built in that I know of.
I cannot find your unit on the Garmin website. Can you provide a link and/or photo? Thanks. |
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| teamTMS |
quote:
Originally posted by G. COLTON
Go to
http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap276c/
George
Interesting that this model is listed under their Marine products. What is the difference between them and their Autmotive products? |
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| G. COLTON |
Really not muuch difference except that the products that are for auto use have available the land charts and the mounting brackets/bean bag holders for the automobile use. Also the auto power cord. The 176c that I have and the 276c come with the land and sea charts. It have it all. You do not have to purchase the sea charts if you do not want them.
You just load whatever area it is that you are going to be visiting. I did have to buy an upsize chip for mine to cover all of the land area that I wanted. The 276c comes with a larger chip standard.
I like these units better than the built in navigation systems because of their flexibility. I can sit here at the computer and plan my routes and whatever personal deviations I want. Can do a lot of alternate plans that way.
I just finished a 2115 mile trip through Florida and already have my next trip laid out in the computer. When we are ready to leave I will load it into the GPS. If while on the trip I want to work on some variations I can take the unit into the hotel/motel with me and play to my hearts content.
Whatever you get, be sure that the screen is large enough to be easily seen.
Good luck.
George |
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| teamTMS |
| So the only difference between the Marine models and the Automotive models is the charts? What about the power adapter for the car? Does the Marine models come with that? If they are the same, I guess I'll look to see which costs less. |
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| G. COLTON |
You can buy the whole "kit and kaboodle" like I did or just get the kit that you need for marine or automobile.
The power cord and the "bean Bag" mount are all that you need for the car. Of course you need the USB cable to hook to your computer, but I imagine that comes with the basic unit. The unit is also completely portable as it also had internal batteries.
George |
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| teamTMS |
quote:
Originally posted by 2muchfun
Garmin Nuvi!!!
Can you tell me more about the Gamin Nuvi? I see it on the website but was wondering if the extra cost is worth it. In particular, I am wondering how well does it track when it loses the GPS signal (like in a tunnel)? Does it remember the next turn (ie. which exit to use at the exit of the tunnel)? |
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