Author Topic: After market GPS systems (Read 24925 times)

roundupready · « **on:** April 20, 2006, 07:39:19 pm »

Hi,

Now that the weather has finally turning nice and warm. My thoughts are turning to planning car trips. One toy that I'd be interested to get is to purchase an after market GPS system.

Does anyone have any experience, opinion on a good after market GPS system? I'm looking for detail maps/directions, ease of use, adding new maps in the future, etc.

Thank you for any advice you can provide.

nefcanuck · « **Reply #1 on:** April 21, 2006, 01:15:03 pm »

Quote from: roundupready on April 20, 2006, 07:39:19 pm

Hi,

Now that the weather has finally turning nice and warm. My thoughts are turning to planning car trips. One toy that I'd be interested to get is to purchase an after market GPS system.

Does anyone have any experience, opinion on a good after market GPS system? I'm looking for detail maps/directions, ease of use, adding new maps in the future, etc.

Thank you for any advice you can provide.

I've been using a Garmin Quest for about a year now. It's fairly inutitive and the voice navigation is fairly well done.

The display can get washed out in bright sunlight depending on where you mount it and your direction of travel but it is a clear display otherwise (Even with polarized sunglasses) Adding new maps is as straightforward as using the supplied software and USB cables. Now the Quest only comes with 115MB of free internal memory but I've loaded all of Ontario and most of NY state and that was only 36MB or so.

The Quest can also be used on its own outside the car thanks to its internal rechargeable battery, useful for finding addresses when parking isn't nearby.

Any other questions, please ask away

NefCanuck

skypoint · « **Reply #2 on:** April 21, 2006, 01:16:15 pm »

I use a Garmin iQue 3600. PDA sized so it fits easily in my pocket, works as a PDA and also as a Sat Nav. Maps updated annually, easy to use (handwriting recognition using its own handwriting system), good directions and detailed maps. It doesn't seem to have some of the new housing developments around Milton, but it does store the location of the nearest Tim Horton's, which is critical.

The amount of times that conversation has gone:

"Let's go to Tim Horton's!"
"Where the **** is the nearest one?"
"Let me look in up in my sat nav...."

And best of all... you can load a British English voice onto it for the spoken directions

safristi · « **Reply #3 on:** April 21, 2006, 01:49:20 pm »

..O.K Guv wots a friggin' Tame Horkins then......I need a PINT.....cor look ata Knockers on that one...easy does it there tha' Fish&Chips haven't digested yet mate...slow it down a bit.........

Trainman · « **Reply #4 on:** April 21, 2006, 02:00:11 pm »

I use a Garmin GPSMap 60, as I need something that I can take in the bush as well.

I bought the Canada Topo series rather that streets/cities but you could load what you want.

Does not have voice capability and some of the other stuff on the other ones mentioned.

No issues with the screen washing out, I just turn the backlight up.

Can also get an external antenna if needed.

May not be quite what you are looking for but if you plan on using the GPS unit for hiking etc, it would be a good choice.

My only thought, GET COLOUR! or the map will be very hard to read.

initial_D · « **Reply #5 on:** April 21, 2006, 02:13:01 pm »

Quote from: Trainman on April 21, 2006, 02:00:11 pm

... as I need something that I can take in the bush as well.

Too much info, thanks for sharing tho.

www.Costco.ca sells a few models, I would buy from them. Easier to return it if not performing to the liking.

nefcanuck · « **Reply #6 on:** April 21, 2006, 02:15:14 pm »

Quote from: initial_D on April 21, 2006, 02:13:01 pm

Too much info, thanks for sharing tho.

www.Costco.ca sells a few models, I would buy from them. Easier to return it if not performing to the liking.

Easier to return but hella pricey. My Quest was $550 all in and it is usuable on its own outside the car thanks to its internal rechargeable battery. That's a great feature when you're driving to a destination in Toronto and have to park 500M away from the address because there's no nearby parking

NefCanuck

Prius · « **Reply #7 on:** April 21, 2006, 02:20:23 pm »

Tom Tom Go! is what I'd recommend. Slightly bigger screen than the Garmin C220, optional bluetooth for your phone and you can add your own alerts (e.g. red light camera intersections or particular speed zones)

initial_D · « **Reply #8 on:** April 21, 2006, 02:25:07 pm »

Very fast response, NefCanuck.

Not gonna fight with you for that parking space at the Mall parking lot during X-mas. I will lose for sure.

I am not too inform into the pricing of GPS systems. But personally I would mind paying 10% extra knowing that I would not be stuck with something I don't want 100%.

That is just me tho. In-store credit means I will have to spend a few extra hundred to buy something I don't want again.

nefcanuck · « **Reply #9 on:** April 21, 2006, 02:29:57 pm »

Quote from: initial_D on April 21, 2006, 02:25:07 pm

Very fast response, NefCanuck. Not gonna fight with you for that parking space at the Mall parking lot during X-mas. I will lose for sure.

I am not too inform into the pricing of GPS systems. But personally I would mind paying 10% extra knowing that I would not be stuck with something I don't want 100%. That is just me tho. In-store credit means I will have to spend a few extra hundred to buy something I don't want again.

I have the disabled parking as an option. Believe me at Christmas time I'm a man in demand

From what I've seen there are several "tiers" of GPS pricing. My unit was the older Quest model so it was at the lower ends of the scale (There were even cheaper models, but you get what you pay for

)

The ones that Costco sells seem to be the upper middle tier at close to $900 + taxes and they have the mp3 playback function, not something I was looking for at the time, but it might interest some people.

Yeah I did my research before buying my unit and I liked the rugged construction, esp. since I'm a friggin' klutz

NefCanuck

dorin · « **Reply #10 on:** April 21, 2006, 05:23:50 pm »

What's wrong with a map printed on paper? Is it really worth spending $500-$1000 for something that's onyl really useful when you drive somewhere for the first time?

wing · « **Reply #11 on:** April 21, 2006, 05:34:02 pm »

^ yes

I use an IQue serves me well.

UmroAyyar · « **Reply #12 on:** April 21, 2006, 06:49:44 pm »

Quote from: dorin on April 21, 2006, 05:23:50 pm

What's wrong with a map printed on paper? Is it really worth spending $500-$1000 for something that's onyl really useful when you drive somewhere for the first time?

Well, I do that and specially if going out of town, I take 2-3 alternate routes, in the city, its not a big deal. My acquaintances friends/family make fun of me at times for doing that, but I am not the one usually getting lost on the way.

I am more interested to use GPS on out of town trips though. I'll probably go dual use, a PDA with GPS software on it, so I can use it for both purposes. Not a dedicated GPS device for me, can't justify the cost and the slight use it would be put to.

johngenx · « **Reply #13 on:** April 21, 2006, 08:53:49 pm »

I've had a series of GPS units, never used in the car, but one of the best sources for all things GPS is in Calgary...

http://gpscentral.ca/

I've bought a couple Garmin units from them, and they are knowledgable, good service and good prices.

UmroAyyar · « **Reply #14 on:** April 22, 2006, 05:06:22 pm »

I just bought Garmin IQue 3600 for $301.67 on ebay. Retails for $589 here. Will update with the results after using it a bit. A friend of mine has the same and seemed ok to me. Anyone else got a PDA based GPS?

wing · « **Reply #15 on:** April 22, 2006, 06:21:57 pm »

^ I have hte same, I love it.

si · « **Reply #16 on:** April 22, 2006, 06:30:41 pm »

The TL's navigation system works well but I've mainly just used it in Vancouver.

Were I to move there myself I'd buy a portable system - however I'd always be worrying about theft from the car.

I don't think a portable GPS system is covered by any insurance - so you'd be out $500-$1000 for the unit and $300 for replacing your window.

roundupready · « **Reply #17 on:** April 22, 2006, 11:02:24 pm »

Wow. Lots of great information. Thanks everyone.

Yes. I totally agree that paper maps are cheaper and better in many ways, but like I said, it's an interesting toy

We've driven the TL & GS300, both with navigations and I really liked them. But the Legacy doesn't even come with a factory one as an option.

Do these aftermarket ones show details like street names? I'm looking for something that approaches the one in the TL. Portable ones are handy too as you can use it in different cars.

Sounds like Garmin is the more popular one. Are Tomtoms just as good?

Thanks again.

Prius · « **Reply #18 on:** April 23, 2006, 01:10:43 am »

some have bluetooth built into the nav, others have mp3s like nefcanuck said. Others are more techy with XM weather and XM Nav Traffic but that's useless in Canada.

A paper map doesn't show you nearby gas stations when you're lost somewhere and low on fuel
A paper map doesn't answer to requests of nearby restaurants when you're hungry.
A paper map doesn't help when it's rainy, dark, in an unknown place without a passenger and you can't see the curve ahead but the nav system says the road curves. Or heck finding a freeway exit.
A paper map doesn't give voice guidance to your destination.

While I agree some nav units are rather pricey, they do have their benefits. If you're just gonna use it as a map, then a paper one works fine. If you're gonna use it for the other features, it'll be worth every penny.

UmroAyyar · « **Reply #19 on:** April 23, 2006, 07:36:14 am »

Quote from: Prius on April 23, 2006, 01:10:43 am

some have bluetooth built into the nav, others have mp3s like nefcanuck said. Others are more techy with XM weather and XM Nav Traffic but that's useless in Canada.

A paper map doesn't show you nearby gas stations when you're lost somewhere and low on fuel
A paper map doesn't answer to requests of nearby restaurants when you're hungry.
A paper map doesn't help when it's rainy, dark, in an unknown place without a passenger and you can't see the curve ahead but the nav system says the road curves. Or heck finding a freeway exit.
A paper map doesn't give voice guidance to your destination.

While I agree some nav units are rather pricey, they do have their benefits. If you're just gonna use it as a map, then a paper one works fine. If you're gonna use it for the other features, it'll be worth every penny.

'tis the reason.

I was in Niagara Falls for a conference and we went to walmart to pickup diapers for our son and we got lost in the burbs, ended up pretty close to the US border. Getting lost was less scary than ending up in US.