Want one...

[TrickyDik]

Ok so I'm looking to pick up a GPS for my car. Looking to get something decent but doesn't need to have a ton of bells and whistles. Want something that doesn't cost much more than $150 and something that is slim but has a wide screen if possible (I'll consider non-widescreen editions).

Help me find one since I know almost everything there is in regards to the actual GPS satellite system (used to be a liason for the CG in D.C. working with the Air Force GPS unit), but have no idea what makes up a good car gps unit.

Andddddd....go!

EDIT: I want one now because I have a couple long trips this summer, one to Atlanta and even though I know the route, I've become lazy and want to pre-program the route and have some automated voice tell me where to turn when I need to instead of looking at a written sheet for memory.

[f1vlad]

If you're interested in MIO that Randall used to have, I can sell you that. Paid him $100, will sell for $100 or best offer.

http://www.soundadviceblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/enlarge.jpg

[TrickyDik]

No thanks Vlad. I'm looking for slightly newer.

[Robk0000]

stay away from tom tom, iway and theres one more i would also ask you not to get. Magellan is okay, expensive but its more userfriendly. My dad has an Lowrance and it SUCKS! My pioneer avic d3 is amazing voice recg and it can look up some address's by phone number which is pretty cool. but the in dash stuff is way over price so that narrows it down to pretty much the stuff you find at bestbuy, tweeter, radioshack...all cheap stuff.

Heres a list of under $300 that personally researched and thought were better than the others for the price. Basically, anything under $200 is not good, youre getting low quality stuff, the three i listed below are awesome and have really good reviews. The prices are new as well. Id search ebay or just get something cheap that will hold out. Stick with something with a reputable name, i would stick with magellan or garmin. THey have the highest rating when it comes to sateliitle coverage. Alot of the new models coming out like tom toms stuff has a 150 ft radius of where you can be, it just jumps the vechicle position on the closest road that is heading toward the destination. Many of the cheapos also do not account for one way streets. Get something reputable and spend the extra $50.

Garmin 350 (http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-n%C3%BCvi-3-5-Inch-Portable-Navigator/dp/B000BKJZ9Q/ref=br_lf_m_1000060391_1_1_ttl?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=electronics&pf_rd_p=359739301&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_t=1401&pf_rd_i=1000060391&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=11GW9CFJX6ETWT0VFMYN)$250
Maestro 4000 (http://www.amazon.com/Magellan-Maestro-4000-Widescreen-Navigator/dp/B000NMKHVW/ref=br_lf_m_1000060391_1_4_ttl?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=electronics&pf_rd_p=359739301&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_t=1401&pf_rd_i=1000060391&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=11GW9CFJX6ETWT0VFMYN)$230
Harman Kardon (http://www.amazon.com/Harman-Kardon-Widescreen-Portable-Navigator/dp/B000XU4IE6/ref=br_lf_m_1000060391_1_10_ttl?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=electronics&pf_rd_p=359739301&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_t=1401&pf_rd_i=1000060391&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=11GW9CFJX6ETWT0VFMYN) $250

[Kevin]

I have the garmin nuvi 260 and love it. I bought my dad the garmin nuvi 200 for $186 off walmart.com I have had mine for almost 4 months and no probs ever.

[wrxwaggy]

Check out this web site: www.abesofmaine.com

I purchased my Garmin on there for about $100 less than it was in stores. Also my g/f just bought a Nuvi 200 widescreen from that site and paid a little over $200...It is about $250 in stores for the one that doesnt have a wide screen.

[banned4life]

newer than the mio? the maps are upgradeable...

i also thumbs down tomtom. i am loving my garmin but your price point is pretty low. maybe look at the navigon 2100

[Robk0000]

garmin ftw. they make great boating, hiking gps's and fish finders that rock!

[Kevin]

Check out this web site: www.abesofmaine.com (http://www.abesofmaine.com)

I purchased my Garmin on there for about $100 less than it was in stores. Also my g/f just bought a Nuvi 200 widescreen from that site and paid a little over $200...It is about $250 in stores for the one that doesnt have a wide screen.


those are killer prices. never heard of that site I bookmarked it.

[wrxwaggy]

those are killer prices. never heard of that site I bookmarked it.

another cool thing about that site....a few days after i ordered my Garmin a rep for the site called to confirm my order and offer me a 3 year extended warranty that covers absolutely everything! He start at $50...i haggled with him for a few minutes and got the price down to $30 for three years...on top of the one year warranty Garmin offers. Same thing happened when my g/f purchased hers. Its a great site!

[Jon]

i have the tom tom LE that i got for christmas and there is nothing wrong with it. It works great. Has anyone even used a tom tom before? It's incredibly easy to use. It wouldn't be my first pick if i were to buy one, but it's a nice little GPS that i've had no problems with. Don't rule them out.

[starhm]

bump for the garmin nuvi 260. easy to use and even has that disgusted females voice when you decide to go a different direction! almost like the real thing...i have to check the passanger seat to make sure...:rofl:

[gtbensley]

i have the tom tom LE that i got for christmas and there is nothing wrong with it. It works great. Has anyone even used a tom tom before? It's incredibly easy to use. It wouldn't be my first pick if i were to buy one, but it's a nice little GPS that i've had no problems with. Don't rule them out.

My dad has one and I use it some and it seems to work fine. I think they are great for the money and very easy to figure out.

[TrickyDik]

Thinking about getting the Nuvi 260. I was looking at the 360 but the only differences are battery life, mp3 playback, and unlimited waypoints (with sd card). The 260 has 3 hours less battery life, and can only do 500 waypoints. No need to spend the extra dough. Maybe pick the 260 up tomorrow.

[TrickyDik]

I picked up a Garmin 200w today for a steal of a price, thanks to slight screw-up at best buy.

I'd like to eventually have this thing hardwired behind the dash next to my A-Pillar. Anyone know what I need and how to do it?

[jonny-rockets]

I have a Magellan Roadmate 1200, pretty sure it was $150. Works great, and is super slim. Only complaint would be that battery life is not as long as I would like, but I am a picky bastard with consumer electonics.

http://ployer.com/archives/2007/10/30/Magellan%20RoadMate%201200.jpg