Which GPS would be good for me?

reddog12578 · 03-20-2008, 4:01 AM

I live in Houston/Tx and really don't know my way around the city to well. Looking to spend about $200-300 on a unit and not sure which to get. I have read a number of reviews and it has really put me off. I don't care about using it for anything other then what it's built for, no mp3s, movies or anything else that gets off the use of a gps. I don't own a laptop or a cellphone, so I need a unit with it all built in. Something I wont have to pay each month for services.
Features I'm looking for in a unit are
Most important accurate maps
map updates
easy to use and large enough touchscreen
at least 3 hours battery life
something that's NOT going to lag
car charger or cig plug a must
be able to recalculate route manually, and auto for missed turns
easy to read display

along with any other giving bits I might have missed. I hope this isn't to much to ask for in this price range. After reading reviews I'm lost on what to buy, as none of the reviews have come from where I live. Not knowing the city to well I try my best to take straight shots to where I go and try to avoid the highways, so I'm looking for something that can help me do this.

Thanks for any advice.

reddog12578 · 03-20-2008, 3:22 PM

I need to get one here within the next day or so, plz any advice on a good unit? Thanks

Andy · 03-20-2008, 4:25 PM

Hi reddog!

I'm am familiar with some of Garmin's line. I am curious why you need one to manually re-calculate a route. I can see where it is important for it to recalc it once you drive off route, but why a manual one?

Of all the features you mentioned, the manual recalc is the only one I'm not too sure on. You can go to Garmin's site and look at their map products. They let you zoom in and see what kind of detail they have on any area they support. This could be helpful in determining if their map data is up to date enough for you.

We have had many people hear complain about Magellan's tech support and issues with trying to get map updates. Garmin seems to update their stuff about once a year. I have always had great support from Garmin with some issues i've had with my 76S and other products.

Any of Garmin's Nuvi's will do what you want. With the exception of manually recalculating a route. Some of the newer models have track logs and handle multiple stops. All of the Nuvi's come with a cig lighter power cord. They have ones with wide screen which would be best for giving you just a little bit more map info and slightly larger fonts.

You might also look at the Zumo, it's out of your price range though. It has some nice features like being able to design a route on your PC, then upload it to the Zumo and have it navigate you on the route you designed, without it recalculating the route. I'm not aware of a Nuvi that can do that. Some can take pre-planned routes from a PC, but they will recalculate it before giving you navigation directions. My handheld 76CSx does that and it doesn't always pick the same route I designed on my PC.

reddog12578 · 03-20-2008, 9:16 PM

Means of avoiding highways and taking straight shots sometimes the path probably wouldn't go by this. None of those have monthly fees? Zumo is way more then I want to pay, at most I might go as high is 350 if I believe it's going to be worth it. Traffic is pretty bad around here so taking roads that aren't around highways is alot faster.

reddog12578 · 03-21-2008, 5:50 AM

Think of I'm going to go with the garmin nuvi 750, anyone have any opinions on this unit? thanks

dav · 03-21-2008, 5:18 PM

I have and like the nüvi 750. Seems like it is right on the ragged edge of how much you want to pay.

Although it does what you ask for highway avoidance, it does not include any traffic service.

I'm rather worried that current state-of-the-art consumer GPS units are all going to disappoint you.

If you spend a bunch and don't like it, you may be soured on GPS units for a long time. If you buy an inexpensive one (nüvi 200 or 200W) and accept it has more limited features, you may learn what you can realistically expect a more expensive unit to do and upgrade later.

reddog12578 · 03-21-2008, 5:34 PM

I needed it for monday start a temp job and didn't want to turn down $18 an hour. Bestbuy online was 369, course bestbuy here was 499, hit frys and it was on sale for 399.99(got the last one) and after maintenance warranty or what ever there called ended up $493.99. Would have been nice to come with AC charger and a case, hit walfart and got a nintendo DS case and it fits in like it was made for it. So far I really like it, I haven't had it DC. It did miss a street for some reason and also didn't know where walmart was odd enough as they both been there for 3 plus years. As long as it doesn't get me lost I'm happy with it.
Thank you all the advice

peegee5344 · 03-21-2008, 7:48 PM

You can't go wrong with Garmin.
Recent changes to overhead highways and the like may confuse the unit when in a new town, but hey,, paper maps would be the same.
Have had that occur in Milwaukee and Tampa but keep going and let 'er "recalculate",, you'll get there!

jimcarroll · 06-29-2008, 11:43 PM

Given the price information in the other quotes about Best Buy, Fry's etc, I thought it might be helpful to know that Sam's Club recently was selling the 750 for $249.

Max · 07-01-2008, 6:51 AM

wow, 249$ for the 750 now? thats insane...thanks for the info though

03-20-2008, 4:01 AM	#1
reddog12578 Join Date: Mar 20 2008 Location: houston Posts: 5	Which GPS would be good for me? I live in Houston/Tx and really don't know my way around the city to well. Looking to spend about $200-300 on a unit and not sure which to get. I have read a number of reviews and it has really put me off. I don't care about using it for anything other then what it's built for, no mp3s, movies or anything else that gets off the use of a gps. I don't own a laptop or a cellphone, so I need a unit with it all built in. Something I wont have to pay each month for services. Features I'm looking for in a unit are Most important accurate maps map updates easy to use and large enough touchscreen at least 3 hours battery life something that's NOT going to lag car charger or cig plug a must be able to recalculate route manually, and auto for missed turns easy to read display along with any other giving bits I might have missed. I hope this isn't to much to ask for in this price range. After reading reviews I'm lost on what to buy, as none of the reviews have come from where I live. Not knowing the city to well I try my best to take straight shots to where I go and try to avoid the highways, so I'm looking for something that can help me do this. Thanks for any advice.

03-20-2008, 3:22 PM	#2
reddog12578 Join Date: Mar 20 2008 Location: houston Posts: 5	Re: Which GPS would be good for me? I need to get one here within the next day or so, plz any advice on a good unit? Thanks

03-20-2008, 4:25 PM	#3
Andy Survey Says? Join Date: Dec 29 2006 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 532	Re: Which GPS would be good for me? Hi reddog! I'm am familiar with some of Garmin's line. I am curious why you need one to manually re-calculate a route. I can see where it is important for it to recalc it once you drive off route, but why a manual one? Of all the features you mentioned, the manual recalc is the only one I'm not too sure on. You can go to Garmin's site and look at their map products. They let you zoom in and see what kind of detail they have on any area they support. This could be helpful in determining if their map data is up to date enough for you. We have had many people hear complain about Magellan's tech support and issues with trying to get map updates. Garmin seems to update their stuff about once a year. I have always had great support from Garmin with some issues i've had with my 76S and other products. Any of Garmin's Nuvi's will do what you want. With the exception of manually recalculating a route. Some of the newer models have track logs and handle multiple stops. All of the Nuvi's come with a cig lighter power cord. They have ones with wide screen which would be best for giving you just a little bit more map info and slightly larger fonts. You might also look at the Zumo, it's out of your price range though. It has some nice features like being able to design a route on your PC, then upload it to the Zumo and have it navigate you on the route you designed, without it recalculating the route. I'm not aware of a Nuvi that can do that. Some can take pre-planned routes from a PC, but they will recalculate it before giving you navigation directions. My handheld 76CSx does that and it doesn't always pick the same route I designed on my PC.

03-20-2008, 9:16 PM	#4
reddog12578 Join Date: Mar 20 2008 Location: houston Posts: 5	Re: Which GPS would be good for me? Means of avoiding highways and taking straight shots sometimes the path probably wouldn't go by this. None of those have monthly fees? Zumo is way more then I want to pay, at most I might go as high is 350 if I believe it's going to be worth it. Traffic is pretty bad around here so taking roads that aren't around highways is alot faster. Last edited by reddog12578; 03-20-2008 at 9:27 PM.

03-21-2008, 5:50 AM	#5
reddog12578 Join Date: Mar 20 2008 Location: houston Posts: 5	Re: Which GPS would be good for me? Think of I'm going to go with the garmin nuvi 750, anyone have any opinions on this unit? thanks

03-21-2008, 5:18 PM	#6
dav Join Date: Jan 04 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 414	Re: Which GPS would be good for me? I have and like the nüvi 750. Seems like it is right on the ragged edge of how much you want to pay. Although it does what you ask for highway avoidance, it does not include any traffic service. I'm rather worried that current state-of-the-art consumer GPS units are all going to disappoint you. If you spend a bunch and don't like it, you may be soured on GPS units for a long time. If you buy an inexpensive one (nüvi 200 or 200W) and accept it has more limited features, you may learn what you can realistically expect a more expensive unit to do and upgrade later.

03-21-2008, 5:34 PM	#7
reddog12578 Join Date: Mar 20 2008 Location: houston Posts: 5	Re: Which GPS would be good for me? I needed it for monday start a temp job and didn't want to turn down $18 an hour. Bestbuy online was 369, course bestbuy here was 499, hit frys and it was on sale for 399.99(got the last one) and after maintenance warranty or what ever there called ended up $493.99. Would have been nice to come with AC charger and a case, hit walfart and got a nintendo DS case and it fits in like it was made for it. So far I really like it, I haven't had it DC. It did miss a street for some reason and also didn't know where walmart was odd enough as they both been there for 3 plus years. As long as it doesn't get me lost I'm happy with it. Thank you all the advice

03-21-2008, 7:48 PM	#8
peegee5344 Join Date: Dec 30 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 4	Re: Which GPS would be good for me? You can't go wrong with Garmin. Recent changes to overhead highways and the like may confuse the unit when in a new town, but hey,, paper maps would be the same. Have had that occur in Milwaukee and Tampa but keep going and let 'er "recalculate",, you'll get there!

06-29-2008, 11:43 PM	#9
jimcarroll Join Date: Jun 29 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2	Re: Which GPS would be good for me? Given the price information in the other quotes about Best Buy, Fry's etc, I thought it might be helpful to know that Sam's Club recently was selling the 750 for $249.

07-01-2008, 6:51 AM	#10
Max 'tis the season for seat time Join Date: Dec 28 2006 Location: Near Boston, Ma. Posts: 873 Blog Entries: 2	Re: Which GPS would be good for me? wow, 249$ for the 750 now? thats insane...thanks for the info though __________________ Nothing free is good, nothing good is free.

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