My girlfrind is driving from California to Georgia in less than a month and I was going to get her a GPS. What GPS would you get and why? What add ons would you get? Are there any pitfalls that need to be avoided? Thanks for the advice. It is much appreciated.
|
I love my Garmin zumo. Of course choices were more limited for me as it had to be weatherproof and motorcycle mountable.
The nuvi is probably more what you need and they're way cheaper. Some are even bluetooth enables so you can route your cell phone through them for hands free calls. (I keep meaning to get a helmet compatible headset myself, but it's probably best to leave it as is.) Accessory wise, just be sure it has a DC power cable and worry about tricking it out later.
|
Well... the lady who crashed into me last summer said her GPS said to go straight.
It was a left turn only lane.So... I wouldn't trust them too much. :)
Go to AAA and get a travel map for the trip.Make sure she has a real map as a real source and use the GPS as an accessory to the map.
See I have never gotten lost with my TomTom, neither here in the states or Europe.
That said, My Mother constantly gets lost with her Garmin
|
Well... the lady who crashed into me last summer said her GPS said to go straight.
It was a left turn only lane.
Yeah, that sounds like she had other "issues"! I mean, it may have said to go straight, but if it was obvious one could only turn left, (or was in a left-turn lane) well...
That said, I love my Magellan...
It was invaluable after I moved to a new city a year ago...
-That One Digitalelf Fellow-
|
|
I'd go with Garmin, if you really want to surprise her you can record your voice using the computer program that can be downloaded from Garmin so you can tell her where to go.
Also, just make sure after having one she doesn't start constantly relying on it, a friend of mine has been driving to our GMs house for over a year now and cannot get there with the GPS ... its almost a straight shot with about 3 turns total. Drives me nuts. . .alright end rant.
|
|
I would suggest before you decide, take a look at them, try to get a Demo.
Why?..
I find the Garmins UI annoying as hell, and love the TomTom UI! But my mother is the exact opposite.
Also look at Map upgrade Prices. TomTom updates their maps every few months and you only get a very small discount to get the new map. They do smaller upgrades for free, but after a few months *I think maybe 6* you need to pay for a new one. Which I find annoying! I am unsure how the other companies do Map upgrades.
|
|
I looked at TomTom's site to compare upgrade prices.
TomTom:
Single, onetime update, $59.95
Year subscription with up tp 4 updates in one year, $39.95
Obviously the subscription is better, even if you're only going to use one of your four updates. I'm honestly not sure why they even offer the onetime with those prices.
Garmin:
Single, onetime update, 49.95
Lifetime subscription with up to 4 updates per year, as long as you own the device, $89.95
Less obvious, but I still think the subscription is the better choice.
Also the initial update of the device when you buy it is free with Garmin. I assume the same goes for TomTom, but can't say for sure.
|
|
I looked at TomTom's site to compare upgrade prices.
TomTom:
Single, onetime update, $59.95
Year subscription with up tp 4 updates in one year, $39.95
Obviously the subscription is better, even if you're only going to use one of your four updates. I'm honestly not sure why they even offer the onetime with those prices.Garmin:
Single, onetime update, 49.95
Lifetime subscription with up to 4 updates per year, as long as you own the device, $89.95
Less obvious, but I still think the subscription is the better choice.Also the initial update of the device when you buy it is free with Garmin. I assume the same goes for TomTom, but can't say for sure.
With your Intial Map of TomTom, you get a few free updates before it coist you money to get a single buy again, but you do get a small discount if you already own the map. Also $59.95 is not the price for all maps, though that is the price for the USA/Canada Map, for all of Europe it will cost you alot more! *Close to $200*.
|
I absolutely love my Garmin Nuvi. Its economical and I think the basic get from point A to point B is all you need in a GPS. I drove 5000 miles in August with it through parts of the midwest that I have never driven before. Be warned, it may take you away from interstates onto little roads. Once you start down its path, you may find yourself in the middle of nowhere.
It is especially helpful for finding gas and restaurants on your route. The estimated time of arrival accounts for time zone changes and daylight savings time.
Occasionally, it may pick what it thinks is the better route to save 1 minute but instead costs you more time due to small town stop lights. As others said, take a map or use mapquest to do a sanity check.
Also, I suggest taking a short trip with it before the long trip in order to develop trust in its ability to get you where you are going.
I hope she has a safe trip.
And remember - there are FAWTLers along the way to help out at moment's notice.
As much as I preferred the TomTom interface, the navigation software had a habit of crashing whenever I attempted to get directions near Boston, or anyplace in New Jersey. Since my TomTom software on my phone did the exact same thing, I have to assume that it is an issue with the software, not my particular device.
My Garmin is reliable, but I *hate* the voice, and it is seems unwilling to use a toll road, even when doing so will save a boatload of time.
Of the two, I'd take the Garmin.
Thanks for all the input. We ended up buying the Garmin nuvi 855 GPS. She will have it for about a week or so before the trip. That way she can get used to it and update it. She also has a map and will have printed directions to here.
Edit - and we did go for AAA.
|
|
As much as I preferred the TomTom interface, the navigation software had a habit of crashing whenever I attempted to get directions near Boston, or anyplace in New Jersey. Since my TomTom software on my phone did the exact same thing, I have to assume that it is an issue with the software, not my particular device.
My Garmin is reliable, but I *hate* the voice, and it is seems unwilling to use a toll road, even when doing so will save a boatload of time.
Of the two, I'd take the Garmin.
Check your Navigation > Avoidances settings. I think it's set to avoid toll roads by default.
My girlfrind is driving from California to Georgia in less than a month and I was going to get her a GPS. What GPS would you get and why? What add ons would you get? Are there any pitfalls that need to be avoided? Thanks for the advice. It is much appreciated.
1. Garmin all the way;
2. Get one with free lifetime map updates. A single update can make that feature pay for itself.|
|
A GPS is no substitute for a driver that is situationally aware.Um... my brain hurts. I have no idea what you think a GPS is used for, but I think you're wrong.
Allow me to help you:
Well... the lady who crashed into me last summer said her GPS said to go straight.
It was a left turn only lane.
A GPS is no substitute for a driver that is situationally aware.
My apologies. I didn't realize your brain was so fragile.
-Skeld
PS: All in good humor, of course. I should have quoted Fray in my original brain-hurting post.
|
|
A GPS is no substitute for a driver that is situationally aware.Um... my brain hurts. I have no idea what you think a GPS is used for, but I think you're wrong.Allow me to help you:
Well... the lady who crashed into me last summer said her GPS said to go straight.
It was a left turn only lane.A GPS is no substitute for a driver that is situationally aware.My apologies. I didn't realize your brain was so fragile.
-Skeld
PS: All in good humor, of course. I should have quoted Fray in my original brain-hurting post.
Ah, well yeah. Guess you're right... And that really hurts my brain. :-/
Get her a smartphone and use google maps for turn by turn navagation.