Author Topic: What Make of automotive GPS do you Use? (Read 1109 times)

Angry Chicken · « **on:** July 27, 2011, 09:14:20 am »

I've been meaning to post this for the last couple of days, and it kept slipping my mind. I just returned the 1st GPS that I bought because it didn't have some rather obvious features that I needed. I did my original research back-a$$words and subsequently purchased another unit from a different brand name that had those missing features (and like the original unit) had lifetime traffic and maps updates bundled. Sweet deal.

Just wondering what you peeps are using? If I've missed a brand that you think should be on the list, let me know.

Jaeger · « **Reply #1 on:** July 27, 2011, 09:20:19 am »

Well don't be so coy - what were these obvious and essential features the first unit lacked?

I have a built-in nav for my Sonata and my wife has a portable Garmin - a pretty basic model that does all she really needs it to do.

Jaeger

Angry Chicken · « **Reply #2 on:** July 27, 2011, 09:23:47 am »

Quote from: Jaeger on July 27, 2011, 09:20:19 am

Well don't be so coy - what were these obvious and essential features the first unit lacked?

I have a built-in nav for my Sonata and my wife has a portable Garmin - a pretty basic model that does all she really needs it to do.

Jaeger

The 1st one that I bought couldn't be configured to display my direction of travel. Duh! Also, when reviewing points of interest (POIs) it would only tell you the POI's distance, phone number and URL of a website (if available) but wouldn't tell you where it was relative to your current position. Pretty useless if you want to see if that next shopping mall is along your current path or requires a diversion.

tpl · « **Reply #3 on:** July 27, 2011, 09:24:47 am »

I have a Garmin Nuvi 350 I keep the battery charged but haven't used it for 2 years. Mrs tpl is driving to and around Nova Scotia with a friend from the UK in Sept. and she will take it with her. Probably we'll preload it with POI and places to stay and so on.

I find that printing a page from Google maps works just as well.

5 Wheel Drive · « **Reply #4 on:** July 27, 2011, 10:02:19 am »

Garmin 250W for me. It's a fairly basic model, but it does what I need it to.

random006 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 27, 2011, 10:12:46 am »

The few times I've used any kind of GPS it has been via the built-in map app on my iPhone 4.

Other than that, I use this marvelous invention called "paper". See, this thing called a "printer" can put "ink" of different colours on it in the form of whatever is on my computer screen. I can even buy already printed "maps" as they are known, with all the roads and other geographic markers displayed plainly and simply.

Seriously, the best tool that I've found for reasonably up-to-date map info has been google maps and before that, "MapQuest". I know that none of the paper maps will show current road conditions (traffic, accidents, weather,...) but that would be true whether I had a GPS unit or not. More often than not, there is no viable alternate route so I'm stuck anyway. If I need the Trans Canada to go from A to B, then that is what I will be taking unless forced off of it by detours.

TopGun · « **Reply #6 on:** July 27, 2011, 10:57:43 am »

I have a TomTom One XL-S in the car..works very well. When I tried them out, the TomTom just seemed to be more intuitive when inputting addresses.

Items that Garmin might do better: I think it tells you what side of the street your destination is on...which I hadn't noticed until I was in a friends car...very handy. Also, on the TomTom map version I have, it seems to use the pre-Toronto amalgamation name as the Town name. Thus, I have to know if a street is in Toronto, or North York, or Etobicoke..which is a little annoying at times.

Gardiner Westbound · « **Reply #7 on:** July 27, 2011, 11:12:24 am »

I have a Magellan portable unit. It's satisfactory, but map updates at $80 are a ripoff. My next GPS will be a Garmin with free lifetime updates.

The Tom Tom brand is off my shopping list. It reportedly sells data to police departments to aid placing speed traps.

Zombie · « **Reply #8 on:** July 27, 2011, 12:12:28 pm »

Navigon 2120.
It has a large easy to read display but the touch screen isn't that great. The model I have is 6 years old so I'm guessing they have made some improvements.

**Edit** apparently they don't make units anymore in NA, they only provide software for smart phones and PDA's.

life in the slow lane · « **Reply #9 on:** July 27, 2011, 12:16:52 pm »

Quote from: Gardiner Westbound on July 27, 2011, 11:12:24 am

I have a Magellan portable unit. It's satisfactory, but map updates at $80 are a ripoff. My next GPS will be a Garmin with free lifetime updates.

I have a Magellan also, and it works OK, but don't like the fact the the updates are expensive. The website seems to list just the US model numbers, as mine is not listed, so I e-mailed customer support to ask if the map update (not that I was going to buy) was for my model also. NO reply, and I sent the email two months ago.

Next GPS will definetly be a Garmin. Have a Garmin GPS for golf and love it. Customer support is great.

Guy · « **Reply #10 on:** July 27, 2011, 12:53:14 pm »

Garmin 1490, large 5" screen. Live Traffic, great feature.

initial_D · « **Reply #11 on:** July 27, 2011, 01:02:54 pm »

Been using a Garmin for the last 4 years. Its map is better than the one in our 09 CX-7.

I usually read a paper map before a trip, have an idea of the routes when I drive. Rarely just use the GPS instructions.

2latecrew · « **Reply #12 on:** July 27, 2011, 01:51:23 pm »

I have a Garmin 350 that I use about 4 times a year when I go to Toronto. It does the job but I refuse to pay to update it and I've always been disappointed in the extra feature I paid for to go to the 350 Blutooth. Not that I expect stellar sound quality but even after updating the firmware it still drops the connection to my Blackberry way too often.

I will never touch another TomTom GPS again. The darn thing froze on me after about a month and their tech support was so ignorant rude and unhelpful I hung up on them. They had the audacity to email me a customer service survey.

Was your problem resolve by support? NO
Was your problem resolved? YES
How was the issue resolved: Returned POS TOMTOM and Bought Garmin.

my2cents · « **Reply #13 on:** July 27, 2011, 01:56:40 pm »

For Educational Purposes Only

It is possible on a Windows CE device to have Garmin, Tom Tom, Navigon, Igo, etc. on one device along with video player (watch cartoons or whatever) music player, games, pdf, excel, word, calculator etc etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8Wa6ZJUZj8&NR=1

By the way - the Omnitech is a Staples brand and cost $80. No longer available I don't think.

Maps are where you buy them or find them.

EV Dan · « **Reply #14 on:** July 27, 2011, 04:43:49 pm »

I use TomTom every single work day and every feature makes sense to me. The latest one (go 630) I got in Wally for $118. It doesn't have free updates, except the first one but is worth every dollar. It is a matter of opinion, but I think if VW had to design a GPS by themselves they would end up making a TomTom and Hyundai would make a Garmin. Same nice looking box outside but everything else is different.

Basic Garmins, just like with cars, are built for mass consumption.

Funny how ppl complain about TomTom selling traffic data but they don't mind their devices telling them where traffic light cameras are.

dr_spock · « **Reply #15 on:** July 27, 2011, 09:29:45 pm »

I have a Jensen which appears to be running Windows CE underneath the covers. I also have built-in map app on the iPad.

Angry Chicken · « **Reply #16 on:** July 27, 2011, 09:50:05 pm »

Quote from: Guy on July 27, 2011, 12:53:14 pm

Garmin 1490, large 5" screen. Live Traffic, great feature.

Yup. That's what I bought. Garmin Nuvi 1490LMT. $200.

I also bought the Garmin EcoRoute HD bluetooth sending unit which connects to your car's OBD II diagnostic port and displays a bewildering array of realtime data including oil and inlet air temp, timing, fuel consumption, etc., to the GPS display. It also lets you view engine codes and reset them too. Necessary equipment for gearheads like us.

Linky --> https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=38354&ra=true

Reason for editing: Added link

TopGun · « **Reply #17 on:** July 27, 2011, 10:24:57 pm »

Quote from: Angry Chicken on July 27, 2011, 09:50:05 pm

....connects to your car's OBD II diagnostic port and displays a bewildering array of realtime data including oil.....

That's amazing!

Especially good for RX-8 drivers! Oh crap...it has fuel consumption too...can you turn that off?

Julie · « **Reply #18 on:** July 27, 2011, 10:46:56 pm »

Have an older Garmin nuvi with the bigger screen. Great value for money. It has sometimes frozen up but always works again after a reboot. Not a big issue. It's a great nav system.

Bimmer has nav. New iDrive. The nav is great, sometimes better than Garmin (earlier warnings, more detail on some more complex turns, picks up satellite much faster, doesn't get as confused in downtown Toronto (those are benefits of in-car nav). Con: doesn't say side of street most of time.

Now I have an Android with googlemaps navigation. No database. Uses the "cloud" (web). Has locations just built and not in the databases of other GPS providers. This is the future.

mmret · « **Reply #19 on:** July 28, 2011, 12:05:05 am »

TomTom One. Ancient (4-5 years). Hasn't been updated even once. Went into "no-man's-land-grey-zone" on a stretch of the Trans Canada through NB. Questionable accuracy (SirfStar 2 I believe). Even paid a small fortune for it at the time...seems like I bought it just before the massive price drops came.

Usually it sits in the center storage in the TSX. Doesn't see a heck of a lot of use.

The MB has built in navigation. Haven't had the chance to use it much. Voice control is a total scam and its basically a massive hazard to try and enter a new destination while driving. Unless you have the destination pre-programmed its best to pull over and enter manually.

That said I think you can say things like "nearest restaurant", "nearest gas station" etc. which is easy enough to do while driving.

Poll

What make of automotive GPS do you currently use or are considering for purchase?

Author Topic: What Make of automotive GPS do you Use? (Read 1109 times)