JTCB,
There are many different GPS - TomTom and Garmin seem to be the leading companies at this time.
The Garmin 250 is exactly what I intended to get - it is a basic GPS which provides excellent maps and directions because it uses the same chip set as the higher priced Garmin models - without all of the non essential add ons and without the price markup. At $ 240, delivered from Costco, the Garmin 250 is a good deal and it is intuitively simple to use. On my latest test run, the Garmin 250 took me to within 2 meters of the driveway of my intended destination and told me the address was directly across the street.
The wide screen models may look nicer - but they take up more real estate inside the car and this is not for TV viewing. I do not care too much what the street name is 500 meters to my left and right. I need the road I am travelling on and my next turn. The 250 has been criticized for not having text to speech ( which speaks the street name, rather than just saying ' turn left in 200 meters' ) but, I need only know where to turn. If I really need the street name, I can read it at the top of the screen and if I happen to miss the turn at a complex corner, the GPS will instantly re-route me to my destination.
In my opinion Garmin 250 is the lowest priced unit with the best value to features ratio - for my needs. Of course, other units may have more features but you will pay for them.
There is no monthly fee. You can update your maps every year or two - whenever you decide it is needed - or maybe in 2 or 3 years you will want to buy the latest / greatest model for a new low price.
With GPS, there are lots of choices - it just depends what you need/ want and how much you want to pay.
Thanks for the input. You are right. I am not watching TV so wide screen isn't really necessary. I thought text to speech is only available in higher models. So 250 also has it, the only difference is in the telling of "turn direction at X street" in higher models, and "turn direction in X meter" in 250.
I have a Garmin Nuvi 660, I bought that one because it was flat at the times that Tomtoms were dome shaped. The dome shaped tomtom would stick too much into the car, so the flat Nuvi would look better.
Now that tomtoms are also flat I would not easily choose a Garmin again. The device works good and routing is accurate. But a tomtom is easier to operate. Some basic things a tomtom can (such as route planning from a different starting point then your current location) are nearly impossible on a garmin.
I would opt for the tomtom one XL Europe.
Just my 2cts.
PS, My previous car had a built in (aftermarket) VDO Dayton system. Although sometimes slow too operate (6 years ago) it is still superiour when compared to non-fixed systems. The accuracy of a built in system is far greater and it doesn't need to get a fix when it's turned on.
Oh, and I never use text-to-speech, I tought I would. But when driving I don't like to look for streetsigns. And the speech is never really accurate and human-like (course it's still a machine) so I've turned it off. A simple left and right is enough to find mot destinations.
The advantage of buying from Costco is their unlimited return policy on most items.
You can try your GPS and if you do not like its performance, you can return it for a full refund. ( I do not abuse their goodwill and I can only recall having returned two items, in 15 years. )
I have the Garmin 250, and I like it a lot. I was considering the tom-tom but read all over the web that there map system is not as efficient as the Garmin. A flat unit is must to me since I bring the GPS with me when I leave the car and use it in cities in walking mode.
I have had a TomTom Classic (the round back one ) for about 3 years now, It has taken me with spot on precision all over the UK and across Europe down to the edge of Austria on a trip to Slovakia and this was on the basic supplied maps.
I get a speed camera location download every month (N.B. Don't use these in Switzerland as they can confiscate your sat nav) & I would recommend the TomTom to anyone.
Mine was fairly pricey when new (about £400) but they can be bought for just over £100 now. Several of the newer TomTom's have gone fairly slim now but as I use mine on the top of the dashboard size doesn't matter (who said that).
I dropped mine on a stone floor once, whilst on holiday, & possibly because of it's semi spherical shape it bounced up. The shock caused it to completely lose all information at the time but I pressed the internal reset 'button' and it powered back as normal so it appears to be quite robust.
When I bought mine TomTom support was not brilliant, hopefully they have changed now but I would not bank on it.
There is a TomTom forum but although some members are very helpful some are downright rude & abusive. (Not like this forum you're all true 'Gents'))
and to add my bit, I have the tom-tom 710, works a charm, also I got the brodit mount and the part they do to hold the 710.The Brodit mounts are really a very well made bit of gear....
I kinda like to hear it to announce the street name also instead of just saying in X meter turn direction. 350 has this feature, but also include features that I don't really need like mp3 player, Travel Assistant, 3.5mm headphone jack.
It's OK if you know the name of the street (and you know the name of the street you wan't ) but surely otherwise it's irrevelant & just meaningless information. Not a facility that I would use or want & might possible get on your nerves after a time.
Linear Mode
