Recommend me a GPS that WORKS!

[Cawchy87]

I am currently in Minneapolis and I bought a cheap Magellan GPS and it wastes more gas then it saves me. Apparently I am driving on streets that don't exist and should be taking exits that only exist in the GPS.

I got $250. TomTom or Garmin?

I want:
1. Accurate maps
2. Fast GPS connection
3. Wide Screen (Preferred)
4. Points of Interest

I don't care about bluetooth or anything else.

 

[Juno]

garmin FTW.

my friend has a garmin nuvi 200 (or 220?) and it is really nice. one time, we were chatting and missing an exit but his GPS rerouted him to another exit.

i like it though.

 

[Kaido]

I have a Garmin Nuvi 680 and it's awesome. Use it weekly. Took me across the US just fine

also http://forums.anandtech.com/ca...atid=66&flcache=192167

 

[Baked]

1) maps.google.com
2) Type in address
3) Print

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Directions are simple in Minneapolis. If you know where you are, you're in Minneapolis. If you're lost, you're in St. Paul.

 

[Shawn]

garmin > *

I have a really old one and it still works fine.

 

[Cawchy87]

Originally posted by: Kaido
I have a Garmin Nuvi 680 and it's awesome. Use it weekly. Took me across the US just fine

also http://forums.anandtech.com/ca...atid=66&flcache=192167

My bad. Haven't posted here for a while. There are a lot of new forums since I first started.

 

[Pardus]

magellen 3250.. does it all.

 

[Jumpem]

Garmin Nuvi 350.

 

[Cawchy87]

Originally posted by: ActiveX
magellen 3250.. does it all.

I currently have the 3225 and I can't describe how terrible it is. A lot of lag on the screen itself too. It looks like I'm coming up to a turn on the GPS, but in fact I already missed it.

 

[Drekce]

I really like my Tom Tom Go v3

 

[Pardus]

Originally posted by: Cawchy87

Originally posted by: ActiveX
magellen 3250.. does it all.

I currently have the 3225 and I can't describe how terrible it is. A lot of lag on the screen itself too. It looks like I'm coming up to a turn on the GPS, but in fact I already missed it.

Had my magellen for a week now, used to to drive from NY to NJ.. approx 100 miles, directions were perfect, it announced the tuns and even made a bell sound before the turn. I haven't see any lag other than turning it on for the 1st time, you have to wait for the warning screen to go away. it doesnt play mp3s.

 

[Fritzo]

I have the Garmin 350- cool-ist-est gadget ever! A charge lasts about 4 hours, it fits in my pocket, and uses a standard mini-usb charger. + free updates!

 

[George P Burdell]

The newer TomTom models have a few interesting features (like Map Share) that put it over Garmin.

 

[Rubycon]

Trimble 61000-00

 

[mpitts]

I have the Garmin nuvi 660 and I love it. It is around $320-$330. You could get the 650 in your price range.

Definitely go Garmin. I have had a Magellan, TomTom and Garmin and the Garmin is far and away better for me.

 

[Eli]

I've had a Garmin C340 and currently use a Garmin C550.

Both were good. The C550 is far superior in just about every way, from Satellite receiption to POIs and everything in between.

 

[kranky]

Just got a Garmin 260 @ BB (there's a hot deal thread) for just over $200.

Garmin has the best maps. They also have a gazillion different models, which lets you buy only the features you want. The 260 has text-to-speech, the 200 is the same model without it. They also have a 260w (same model, but in widescreen) but it's a lot more (not worth the extra cost IMHO).

 

[kranky]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
I have the Garmin 350- cool-ist-est gadget ever! A charge lasts about 4 hours, it fits in my pocket, and uses a standard mini-usb charger. + free updates!

I don't think you get free updates. You might qualify for one if you purchase a new one that doesn't have the latest available maps, but not indefinitely.

 

[pontifex]

i have a tomtom 1, the newest edition. Other than telling me my address is about 300 yards from where it actually is it works great so far.
oh, one other thing it does is when i used it once on my way to work, it told me to take a road i don't use instead of my normal route (not sure if it would be faster or not because i haven't tried it). on the way home, it told me to use my normal route and not the one that it told me to use to get to work.

 

[Aimster]

Nokia N82

 

[Bootprint]

Might want to look at a TomTom, especially with the bridge out in Minneapolis. If you connect with TomTom Home it will update that the I-35W bridge will be block and the gps won't try and route you over it.

If you decided to go for a lower end Garmin like the 200W or 255W, you might want to wait until the 205W or 255W is out as it is this years model.

 

[CptObvious]

I think Garmin has the best routing algorithms out of the 3 major brands. Regardless of which brand you go with, make sure the unit has the SiRFstar III chipset.

 

[skywhr]

I got my wife a garmin 220 its sweet