GPS Advice

I'm looking to buy a GPS (first time), and I was wondering if anyone had any advice / suggestions on which models are better, what to avoid, etc.

I only want one because this summer I'm going to visit a relative who lives a couple hours from my main destination, so it doesn't have to have a lot of fancy features. Where I'm going is a lot of 2 lane country roads with not a lot around except fields, and I don't want to get lost. (I'm very bad with directions).

if you think thats going to be the only time you will want it you may want to look into renting one! http://www.gps4rent.com/ It may work out cheaper for you if thats all you need it for! Or try Craigslist/pawn shops/ebay

The boy and I have a Garmin and have had really good luck with it. We got it at Dick's Sporting Goods a few years back. I believe ours is the 255w. Right now our charger went out but thats no big deal to fix! And if you get a used one make sure you update the maps! If there has been any major construction in the past couple of years you can bet the GPS may not be 100% accurate.

I like my TomTom. I use it a lot in my cab, especially when I have to go to surrounding cities that I don't know much about. It has not gotten me lost yet, and it is very easy to use.

We have a Garmin and absolutely LOVE it! She talks to us and we call her Bambi.

The only thing I would suggest is to disable routes with dirt roads... Bambi has taken us down a few and it has not been fun!

Originally Posted by Kailie

We have a Garmin and absolutely LOVE it!

She talks to us and we call her Bambi.

The only thing I would suggest is to disable routes with dirt roads... Bambi has taken us down a few and it has not been fun!

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LOL thats awesome! I think we will disable all except dirt roads and see what happens!

Gary and I do love to turn highways off and go through the country in the S2 with the top down I have many many pictures of the country side from the passenger seat of that car!

I will definitely look into renting one, but I figured once I bought it I'd no doubt find other uses for it.

I've thought of a few questions:

Do you have to subscribe to a service to use it?
Does it cost to update the maps? (I've notice some of the TomTom you get lifetime map updates)
Is there significant differences between the TomTom and Garmin units?

I'm leaning toward TomTom simply because of the lifetime map thing, but I've read so many conflicting reviews I'm just getting confused

We have had a Tom Tom for a few years and and really like it. We are to the point where we could purchase updated maps; but it hasn't seemed necessary.

I like the idea of renting one if you don't think you will get a lot of use out of it.

Sorry; I didn't read all the replies so I didn't see your other questions.

No you don't have to subscribe to any services. My understanding is that basically we are able to tap into military run satellite technology; so at least for now it is free. Our Tom Tom is several years old; so we don't have free map upgrades. But if we get another I will deffinitely look for one that has free ones if they are available! But ours works fine so I don't see that happening any time soon. My cousin and her fiancee have both; I think she likes her Tom Tom a little better but I can't remember her reasoning why. Could be something as simple as the look of the model she got.

We like our TomTom....it's pretty basic as it came with our Dell computer. But it does what it needs to do.

I believe the garmin maps are $50. But unless you use it for delivery or something like that you really dont need to update every year.

I think some of the Garmins have lifetime map updates. Mine is a few years old and doesn't. But I can still use it and for the most part I haven't had any troubles with my 4 year old maps. I bought my mom a Garmin for her birthday in December, she's really happy with it so far, I think hers has the map updates thing too, and the unit was only about $120.

Whichever you decide to get, it will be a billion times better than printing out Mapquest directions!!

Honestly, I think it is 6 of one and a half dozen of the other. I've heard that TomTom is easier to understand but my daughter has a Garmin and I never had any problem using it.

Having said that, I was in the US at Thanksgiving and bought myself a TomTom which was on sale from $170 to $85. I bought it on the spot. I like to travel around a bit and like having the security of not getting lost.

Just don't get a Magellan. I have been through two of them, and they suck! Half the time they don't turn on and they don't even stick to the windshield.

Originally Posted by DarkMavis

IWhichever you decide to get, it will be a billion times better than printing out Mapquest directions!!

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The last time I went on a trip I printed out Mapquest directions to get there, but I didn't think about printing them out to get back I guess I was thinking once I drove it once I could just reverse them and get back, but it wasn't quite that easy. I was somewhere that I didn't have computer access too, so it was fun. I'm so bad with finding my way places. It also didn't help with my sis as navagitor and me saying which way do I turn?? And her saying wait! I'm not sure!

Right now I'm leaning toward getting a TomTom, but I'm gonna look around for the best deal I can find. I don't really need it until summer.

Thanks to all for your suggestions.

I have a Magellan Roadmate. (Maggie as I call her! lol!) I use it A LOT!!! I have to run Express Mail around our P.O.'s area...quite frequently in an area I know nothing about, out in the boonies. It's easy to use, I have been able to without reading the manuel that came with it. She walks me through every step.