GPS Choices

[alaskaman]

We travelled x country with the small tom tom which my friend uses in her vehicle. sufficient would describe it. cost aobut $149.00. Served us well in downtowns etc. Without spending an arm and leg can you folks give me pointers on GPS which integrate well in our 4Runners?

Goals

voice activation
real time traffic
ease of use

Gracias.

 

[eskimochaos]

its those features that make the prices shoot up VERY QUICKLY. I would only get a Garmin...the 800 series and up features those options and start above $750 all the way up to 1k

 

[jharris2]

Voice activation drives the price way up. If you're willing to give that up then you have lots of options.

Real time traffic is not that expensive -- the receiver is about $100, and is often not included in the package with the GPS. (Be sure to check what's in the box before you order.)

The new Garmin 255 is about the least expensive you'll find with street-by-street voice prompts and traffic. The unit goes for $300 and the MSN Direct cable is about $100. It's not yet available (supposedly second quarter, so should be very soon), so I bought a 750 for my wife. The unit plus cable were $500.

 

[pickerdd]

I bought a Garmin Nuvi 760 as well as the MSN Direct receiver for my wife's car and we really like that combination. I decided we didn't need the voice recognition in the 800 series. The 760 has worked out very well.

Garmin just updated to the 2009 maps.

 

[alaskaman]

Thanks. In the suburbs of Philly the homes and trees are about equal in count. dark streets and winding extensive wooded neighborhoods. the tom tom was quite amazing in getting us out of the area to the airport and back again. I was quite impressed. my only issue was the suction cup mount which made me lower my eyes from the road to see it. other than that it performed well. I am going to look at the Garmin at Auto Radio in Sacramento as it is very popular here and about the same cost as the tom tom. during the trip we were wishing for another power port what with cells phones the tom tom and assorted electronic friends....has anyone compared the tom tom and the Nuvi or is there a review I am missing?

 

[pickerdd]

There are a number of GPS review web sites, such as GPS Magazine.

One of the reasons I chose the Garmin unit is the GPS mount they offer that rests on top of the dash. Garmin portable friction mount

 

[MAC4Runner]

I just picked up a Garmin Nuvi 760 on-line at Costco for $350 shipped. Short of voice recognition, this unit does it all. It's my first GPS but I have been impressed.

Here's a Link

 

[Kmvreter]

Here's a link to a good forum http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/default.asp?group=2

Personally went with Garmin.