Car GPS thing?

al3 · 12-15-2007, 02:49 PM

I want to buy one of those GPS things that are built into the new cars. I believe there are some portable units that will do many of the same functions. I'd like to find one that says "Turn left at next light" etc. if possible. I'm tired of trying to read Mapquest maps while driving looking for client homes.

I know computers, but don't know the first thing about cars or GPS gadgets.

Can anyone give me some suggestions. (Next car I buy will have one built in!)

Al

Krono · 12-15-2007, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by al3

I want to buy one of those GPS things that are built into the new cars. I believe there are some portable units that will do many of the same functions. I'd like to find one that says "Turn left at next light" etc. if possible. I'm tired of trying to read Mapquest maps while driving looking for client homes.

I know computers, but don't know the first thing about cars or GPS gadgets.

Can anyone give me some suggestions. (Next car I buy will have one built in!)

Al

Many cell phone companies offer that feature on some of the newer phones. I know Verizon offers it for about $10/month.

arnguy · 12-15-2007, 03:14 PM

Best Buy and Circuit City have them. I believe that Sears and maybe Target have them. Also, I recall that a friend of my family purchased one from Walmart a couple of years ago.

al3 · 12-15-2007, 03:29 PM

Originally Posted by arnguy

Best Buy and Circuit City have them. I believe that Sears and maybe Target have them. Also, I recall that a friend of my family purchased one from Walmart a couple of years ago.

Anyone have a brand name ... maybe model as well?

Al

Zydo · 12-15-2007, 03:46 PM

Garmin Nuvi 260

GPS Review : GPS Reviews is a very good site.

senior-advisor-indiana · 12-15-2007, 03:46 PM

Tom Tom

senior-advisor-indiana · 12-15-2007, 03:47 PM

Check out Circuit City's site. They have customer reviews on almost every product.

Expat · 12-15-2007, 04:17 PM

According to Consumer Reports, Garmin is about the best around

al3 · 12-15-2007, 04:27 PM

These puppies are expensive!

How do you get the address you want to go to INTO the machine?

What powers the machine? Batts or the cigar lighter in the car?

Do you have to buy some kind of radio or transmission service to get the directions for the satellite. What does it cost usually?

I don't know the first things about these. I need a newbie GPS site!

Al

NWInsurance · 12-15-2007, 09:47 PM

That is the problem with many of them if you have a lot of places you are going to.

I am looking into one that you can just hook into your lap-top. They run under 100 bucks. The bad part is that you have to take your lap-top with you (I do anyway's)

The good part is that you can preload the addresses when you are in your office and go from there.

Some of the more expensive ones may have a way to add data, via blue tooth, or USB? But I am not sure.

If you were going to 10 different addresses then it may be a pain to have to manually type all of them into that bugger.

As a side note. If you go to Mapquest they now will let you put in 10 different addresses and then they will calculate the best route. It works pretty good as it saves me the time of trying to figure out which place to visit first etc. and it saves money and time.

NWInsurance

Newby · 12-16-2007, 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by al3

I want to buy one of those GPS things that are built into the new cars. I believe there are some portable units that will do many of the same functions. I'd like to find one that says "Turn left at next light" etc. if possible. I'm tired of trying to read Mapquest maps while driving looking for client homes.

I know computers, but don't know the first thing about cars or GPS gadgets.

Can anyone give me some suggestions. (Next car I buy will have one built in!)

Al

Al,

I have used GPS's for several years now (both built-in and free standing.)

I would not go out of my way for a built-in one. They are obsolete quickly. Selling a car with a GPS which is a few years old looks almost as attractive as a car with a cassette player (I'm exagerating but you get the idea.)

The portabble units that plug in the cigartte lighter are just as good if not much better than the built-ins and they are MUCH easier to update.

I bought a Garmin 4-years ago and have been VERY VERY pleased with the features and performance. I also bought the 5-year warranty and have benefited from that. About once per year I have had small problems (usually the power cord starts shorting in and out.) Best Buys just tosses it in the trash and says "Go get the latest and greatest new model off the shelf."

The advantages of the non-built-in models are:
1. Can be used in all your cars (easily portable)
2. Can be used walking in an unfamiliar city (as long as it also has battery power)
3. Mounts higher (on the dash or windshield) and is safer and easier to glance at while driving.
4. Much easier (and cheaper) to upgrade maps and features than built-ins
5. They quit working...you just toss and get a new one. Try selling your 5-year old Mercades with a broken built-in GPS (or one that works but doesn't know about roads and businesses that have opened in the last 5-years) for top dollar.
6. Cost of admission with portables is very low. Top of the line units are $500 to $800 and good units can be bought for $250

al3 · 12-16-2007, 11:28 AM

Seem to be two leading brands. Garmin and Tom Tom?

I just need something simple. I don't need every bell and whistle. I'd like to stay under $200 if possible, since I'm not going to use it every day I'm in the car.

Al

Mr. Bill · 12-16-2007, 12:01 PM

A thomas guide is all I need....

arnguy · 12-17-2007, 12:02 PM

Al, Staples is having a sale on portable GPS devices (at least in the SE Pennsylvania area). They had an ad in the local Sunday paper for an Omnitech Portable GPS that was $299.99 is now on sale $119.99 after rebates, a Magellan Maestro 3100 GPS $299.99 now $199.99, and a Garmin Nuvi 1200 Portable GPS $299.99 now $249.99. The ad for the Garmin states that you save $100.00, so obviously there is a misprint in there. You can check these out on the Staples website.

Undercover · 12-17-2007, 12:08 PM

Stick with the Garmin or Tom Tom - both make very good units. A friend of mine as the Tom Tom 570? I think, and it works as well as my older factory system.

The reason I'd stay away from the cheaper brands is updatability. Garmin and Tom Tom have been around for a while and will likely continue offering updated maps and data (ATM locations, restaurants, etc.) for download. Not so sure about the other brands.

The Tom Tom that my friend has comes with a cradle to hook up to your computer with easy software to download your addresses (destinations) from your Outlook contacts or similar. Then you just stick it to your windshield and off you go.

arnguy · 12-17-2007, 12:13 PM

Is it true that the Tom Tom is available only at Indian Reservations throughout the U.S.?

Ins155 · 12-17-2007, 07:47 PM

Garmin Street Pilot C330 is what I have. Walmart has them under $300.00. I never liked MapQuest. When I've checked MapQuest it takes you off one roadway and onto another and then back on the first road again when you could have just stayed on the first road all the way to your destination. MapQuest is a waste.

dholl49948 · 12-20-2007, 02:37 AM

I picked up a Dell X50 PDA with GPS a year ago and have been extremely happy. Not only does it have GPS but since its windows based I can use it to keep track of my appointments, e-mails, music,internet … I bought it on ebay for about $300.00. If I ever have to look up yahoo directions again I might quit.

arnguy · 12-20-2007, 11:48 AM

Pep Boys is selling the TomTom for $149.99. That's $100 off the regular retail price.