Best Deal GPS Unit

plowjockey · #1 01/22/13, 06:00 PM

Retired MIL, is a recent transplant from MT, where she has known those very few roads, very well, for many years.

Now in IN, she still struggles to understand the county road naming structure and freaks out, in the "big city", usually getting lost, requiring phone support, to get back on track.

We'd like to help her out with a reasonable priced automotive GPS, with features like a larger screen, voice directions and pre-configured destinations, such as HOME.

Anyone have any GPS models with features that they like/dislike?

Huntinfamily · #2 01/22/13, 06:25 PM

We had a Tom-Tom and didn't care for it. Was confusing to operate and the volume wouldn't go loud enough for me. We now have a garmin nuvi and love it. It is simple to operate for my technologically challenged self and you can pre set locations (like home) simply. I think we bought it at best buy for $65.

Sawmill Jim · #3 01/22/13, 07:24 PM

I got the Garmin large screen it was $125.00 it does all you just ask about .Always set the home setting a few house off as if stolen they can't find you with it . Also remember they aren't 100% accuate as in if thy change a street to one way and the GPS updates are off.

foxtrapper · #4 01/23/13, 05:21 AM

I've got/had Garmin and Tomtom units. Pros and cons to both.

Tomtoms biggest advantage is the quick one button ability to flip between the driving view and map view. Garmins take several button pushes to do this, going through the menues.

Voice goes to Garmin. Both mangle words, but the tomtoms mangle them more.

Accuracy goes to Garmin. Tomtom does a much worse job of locating a specific house or business address, sometimes up to half a mile off.

Garmin has more information on its screen.

Inputing an address or business to go find, tomtom wins for ease of use. Garmin wins for actually having it.

Overall, for just plunking it on the dash and letting it guide you home. I'd say the tomtom slightly edges out the Garmin. If you like to work with the unit, like looking around the area of a route for other ways to drive, I'd give it to the Garmin.

frogmammy · #5 01/23/13, 10:13 AM

I have a Garmin Nuvi with lifetime map updates. LOVE it!

Bought one for my daughter. First LONG trip they took, their truck died FAR from home. Her husband found out what was wrong with the truck, but didn't have the tools to fix it, or the needed parts...and they hadn't seen a town for AGES.

DD started playing with the Garmin, found a parts store that would deliver, AND when she asked if they had a few particular tools for the repair, they offered to LEND them when they bought the parts.

Fellow delivered the parts (and tools) and stood there talking to the family as DD's hubby repaired the truck...then offered the hubby a job, because he repaired the truck so quickly!

Oh, and they didn't charge anything for delivering the parts, or for the use of their tools!

Yeah, go with Garmin!

Mon ....PS...and make sure she has an Indiana PAPER map for backup.

blufford · #6 01/23/13, 12:05 PM

I never had a unit before but needed one for a new job. I went to Walmart and bought the cheapest one they had, Garmin Nuvi for about 100 bucks. It didn't take long to catch on to how it works. I think the hardest part was learning how to use the suction cup holder on the windshield.

Sawmill Jim · #7 01/23/13, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blufford

I never had a unit before but needed one for a new job. I went to Walmart and bought the cheapest one they had, Garmin Nuvi for about 100 bucks. It didn't take long to catch on to how it works. I think the hardest part was learning how to use the suction cup holder on the windshield.

Super glue will hold it