Navi ??? for Garmin or TomTom users

[Kmvreter]

Long story short...

We were out test driving vehicles for my wife. A salesman supposedly "didn't have the particular trim level of the car available" so we took a test drive in the luxury model (I think he was hoping she would fall for the higher priced better ride; man is he mistaken.) Halfway through the ride he flips on the indash Navi to demonstrate it. Later, as we walk away, my wife says "I want Navi so I won't get lost." I say, yes, we can do that with a portable unit we can both use. She agrees.

So now I'm in the market for a GPS Nav unit. I've been researching on the web and in the stores. I'll decide on the model depending on features but I have some basic questions for those with user experience.

Does screen size matter? Are you keying in on the voice directions more than looking at the screen?

Which has the better, more accurate, mapping (Garmin of TomTom?) How often do they provide map updates and what is the cost?

Why does the TomTom seem better rated and is far cheaper than Garmin for comparable features? What am I missing that makes the difference?

 

[juneau92]

I recently returned a Garmin Nuvi 660. Biggest (or perhaps smallest) piece of $700 plastic crap I've ever seen. Very limited in what it could do. Very simple, very basic unit, minimum mapping details, very few features. No auto zooming, no topography, no choice of map onscreen data display, undetailed maps. Small widescreen with constant green bar across the top, which you can't get rid of. Even if the green bar just says "Ready to Navigate", it still takes up more of the already small screen real estate. Can't get rid of the buttons or info on the bottom of display either, if you don't want to see it. It's small, and very portable, which is good. Cheap plastic casing on the Garmin Nuvi's. No internal hard drive, so I guess this is what you get, but for $700?! Should be $250 or so for what you get.

I now have the Lowrance iWay 600C. Completely waterproof, can be used in a boat, or other wet, dusty, dirty or harsh environment. Heavy duty, industrial quality, shock resistant, great for 4x4ing in our 4Runners! 30Gig internal hard drive. Very fine, quality made unit. Has a 640x480 resolution screen! 640x480 VGA!! Gorgeous screen, 5 inches diagonal. Displays satellite photographic images of earth with map overlays, as well as inland and coastal waterways with depth contours. Once you have satellite imaging, with overlaid mapping, there is no going back! Also displays on-map topography (nice for offroad travels in our 4Runners). Display is configurable, just drag and drop what you want, where you want. Plays MP3s, same as all the rest (with huge 5Gig of space for MP3s). Also displays photos, if you want, which look very nice on the 640x480 VGA screen.

Same price as Garmin, except you actually get your money's worth with this heavy duty, industrial strength, versatile unit.

Check it out here: http://www.lowrance.com/Products/Automotive/iWAY600C.asp

Or, you can view the manual for it, if you're curious to see what all it can do here: http://www.lowrance.com/Manuals/Files/iWAY600c_0160-191_020807.pdf

Garmin's are overpriced and overrated for what they offer, IMO. Sorry don't know much about TomTom or other brands.

 

[sharp4runr]

Here is my review on my Nuvi 350: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?threadid=15455&highlight=nuvi+350

Here are some features I looked for:

Built-in power supply (not limited to only in car use)
Portable
Plays MP3s
Text 2 Speach (Says the street name when giving directions)

Screen size: Bigger of course is better. I don't rely on the visual map as much as the text, so a smaller screen turned out fine. Plus since portability was a concern for me, too big of a screen would make it a hassle. I sometimes travel for work and I've used the Nuvi to navigate me around the city (while walking) and it does great. If I were to use this only for the car though, I'd try to get as big as a screen as I could afford...

I bought my Nuvi on 12/2005 and I haven't seen a map upgrade for it yet. They are suppose to release every 1.5-2 years and cost about $100.

Check out these forums for more information: http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/default.asp?CAT_ID=2

 

[Boston_Runner]

The Garmin Nuvi is rated very high on most of the web sites that I have seen. It has the best reciever on the market as of now.

 

[dingo]

I actually received my Garmin Nuvi 350 today from Amazon. Pretty cool unit. It was actually sharp4runr's review that got me on this unit. Thank's, sharp! Got it for $398 with free shipping.

 

[dingo]

Oops, forgot the pic. Sorry for the grainy phone camera pic (I was at lunch break)

 

[CNI]

Sams Club carries the Nuvi 370 ($599 thru 670 ($872). I looked at 660 in the store today.

 

[sharp4runr]

I actually received my Garmin Nuvi 350 today from Amazon. Pretty cool unit. It was actually sharp4runr's review that got me on this unit. Thank's, sharp! Got it for $398 with free shipping.

Can I get a kickback for that review, 'cause I didn't realize how much they had dropped in price since I purchased... Someone get the smelling salts STAT!

 

[toto]

I've got a Garmin StreetPilot 2720. If you don't need the MP3 player and the other non-nav features of the Nuvi, then the StreetPilot line is more durable and is nicer for actual automobile navigation functions with daylight-readable screens and additional buttons that don't take up any screen real estate. Price is lower, too. The 2720 seems to be on closeout finally for $429 before rebates at NewEgg.com or amazon.com. Was over $1100 when it first came out.

I'd highly recommend the StreetPilot 2720. I had the Generation 3 Toyota/Lexus navigation (circa 2004), and I think the StreetPilot software is better for driving. It's more oriented toward telling you where you're going, as opposed to just where you're at.

 

[toto]

Screen size isn't as big a deal as you'd think. While the factory 7" screen is nice, the 3"-4" screens are fine. You wouldn't want something bigger than that on the dashboard anyway. If you're following a route, it will talk to you, and also make sure you get a model that has text-to-speech capabiltity to say the street names.
(Without T-to-S, it will say "Turn Left Ahead". With T-to-S, it will say "Turn Left Ahead on Main Street".)

Garmin offers map updates once a year for $75. You're entitled to the then-current version of the map on the day you buy it. For example, if they have released version 8, but you buy the unit and it has version 7 installed on it, they will give you version 8 free.

 

[SciRunner]

The Nuvi 350 is nice. It locks on to satellites really quick, even on rainy and stormy skies.

I found something odd with the 350 on a recent trip. I was travelling on the Harbor Tunnel in Baltimore and I noticed the unit still tracks my vehicle movement. Maybe the unit automatically knows a tunnel is ahead and assumes your moving. It was odd watching the icon drive on water (in this case under water).

 

[jharris2]

I bought my Nuvi on 12/2005 and I haven't seen a map upgrade for it yet. They are suppose to release every 1.5-2 years and cost about $100.

Then you missed the version 8 upgrade....Garmin publishes a new one every year.

Personally, I like the Nuvi series. It's compact and perfect for business trips because it fits easily in the briefcase.

As far as the maps go, I believe that virtually all manufacturers use Navteq mapping data, so the underlying maps are basically the same.

 

[rx900]

I would recommend TomTom. I have the 2004 Navigator but I haven't gotten any new maps yet. So far, Tomtom hasn't let me down.

Oh and it's loaded on my Treo 650 so no need to carry extra electronics (aside from the bluetooth antenna):beer:

 

[sharp4runr]

Then you missed the version 8 upgrade....Garmin publishes a new one every year.

:bonk: DOH! Anyone got a copy that they can hook me up with? If not, no sweat. They've made a ridiculous amount of changes in this area so hopefully the next update will include the new mixing bowl ramps...

 

[toto]

Garmin is pretty tight about license codes, so a "backup" copy of a CD wouldn't do you any good. They'll even send you the CD for nothing if you ask - what you're paying for is the license code.

 

[jharris2]

Garmin is pretty tight about license codes, so a "backup" copy of a CD wouldn't do you any good. They'll even send you the CD for nothing if you ask - what you're paying for is the license code.

Exactly. You can call Garmin and they will send you the CD. Just be sure it's City Navigator NT. GPSPassion has details.

 

[Uneek]

I would recommend TomTom. I have the 2004 Navigator but I haven't gotten any new maps yet. So far, Tomtom hasn't let me down.

Oh and it's loaded on my Treo 650 so no need to carry extra electronics (aside from the bluetooth antenna):beer:

Same here for the most part. But I hate it when the Treo and the BT GPS receiver loses it's connection. Then I'm about as good as lost. IMO, this is where in-car nav shines, it's always spot on with your location and doesn't take any time to figure out where you are. I'll admit the Tomtom software and my GPS receiver is a helluva lot faster than my Magellan Roadmate 700 GPS, but it doesn't hold a candle to in-car nav.

 

[imprttuner88]

I use the LG enV and it has built in VZ Navigator. I have used this for about 6 months now and it is extremely accurate. I have yet to find a street it didn't know, gives you plenty of warning on when turns are coming up and even shows how many feet till you get there, etc. This is the first Navigation device/program I have ever used so I have been extremely happy with it, as well as the fact I dont have to keep up with anything else since it is my phone. And it is portable!

My .02.........

btw, I love Navigation now, don't know how I used maps for so long, good luck on your search.

 

[hermes]

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/newreply.php?s=&action=newreply&threadid=27189

Most important thing is to look for SiRF Star III chipsets. They are quick & accurate in less than ideal conditions (i.e. cities, tree canopy, etc.)

The Tom Toms are very nice, but the base maps aren't as accurate for the US as they use Tele Atlas. They are stronger for European Maps. Look for NAVTEQ maps if driving in US. Garmin & Magellan use these.

The larger Nuvis are nice, but very expensive. I didn't like the smaller version so I went with the Streetpilot c550 and it is great for what it does getting you where you need to be in a car. Once you use the speech directions the screen becomes less important.

Bluetooth, MP3, traffic receivers, etc are extra features that only you can decide if they are worth the money.

I have an older Garmin 60cs that I can use for a portable unit. This one handles topos, altimeter, etc.

 

[gizmopt2002]

I've got a Mio DigiWalker C310X that I got for $150 on BF. WELL, WELL, WELL worth the money, in fact the company skyrocketed into success overnight. Very soon they are rolling out new map updates for free. To be honest, the only reason I would get the Garmin, is for its trip data, eg miles traveled, time used ect. This has been very accurate and has the SiRF Star III chipset, along with additional SD slot, preloaded maps, MP3 player, and its hackable, because it runs off Windows mobile. IT uses Teleatlas maps, because Navtec is exclusive to Garmin and some Magellan. I don't know about other GPS' but if you travel alot, you'll love this GPS. When you fly you can use it and it locks into a signal with in 45 seconds. I love to see elevation, speed, and where we are. I say get Garmin, TomTom isn't all it's hyped up to be, FWIW you can even put TomTom onto the Mio. Good luck on your quest.