I have a Kenwood GPS system (dash install) in my Explorer and love it. Six years old now and will move it over to my next car as well.

Are you concerned that there is no odometer?

 

I'm on my second Garmin, it's a great GPS. One hint with these Garmins, if it ever refuses to open and operate, plug it into your computer USB port and it will come back around. Don't ask me how it works but it does, maybe the battery is too low to pick up the cigarette charger. Mine will freeze up occasionally, just shut off and turn it back on. I'm a bit directionally challenged, the GPS saves my butt for my job in S. Cal. Mine shows the speed limit of the road I am on, the speed I am driving and has some type of trip log with the average speed. The only feature I don't like is that it comes on automatically when I start the car and it is plugged in. My direction Babe gets annoying when I am going across the parking lot to a stop and robm she's telling me to go the other way...

 

Are you concerned that there is no odometer?

Actually, there is an odometer. Technically it is called the "trip meter" but as long as you don't reset it, it will keep your cumulative miles.

 

Go with a Garmin 255w
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=13431&ra=true
Can be found for $100. or less.

 

I have a Nuvi 750 w/o the Blackberry stuff and it has saved us many stops to look at a map - and of course, being male WILL NOT ask someone for directions :drool: . The worst place for start up is my own neighborhood, 18 miles from the NY State Capital along I-87!!!! It tends to search for sats. Anywhere else - absolutely great. The speedometer/odometer is a heluva more accurate then either vehicle. I even put a power point in my '31 so I could use one there. I've used a Magellan in a Hertz rental and they too seem pretty good. Not heard much about Tom-Toms - everyone I've spoken to has a Garmin. Now if the $120 map updates weren't so expensive......... ain:

Dave W

 

Our first GPS was a Garmin and we have no complaints about it other than the annoying "recalculating" . When we needed another one I bought a Tom Tom. First off the interface sucks. Second I have also experienced lost satellite reception frequently. Thinking there was problem with the satellite systems I plugged both the Garmin and the Tom Tom in at the same time. Sure enough I get the lost signal message on the Tom Tom but the Garmin keeps working fine. Just goes to show you how much advertising works ain: .


Dave: do not pay for the map update on the Garmin, it ain't worth it. I cannot tell a bit of difference, even roads that have existed for several years are still not on it after the upgrade.

Vince

 

I have a Garmin Nuvi 1450 and love it-we bought it primarily for my Grandson's obsession with geo-caching, but it has worked very well and I am very happy with it-now, if I could just get that woman on there to shut up! We Male's know exactly where we are going!

 

Dave: do not pay for the map update on the Garmin, it ain't worth it. I cannot tell a bit of difference, even roads that have existed for several years are still not on it after the upgrade.

Vince

Have a Garmin nuvi 250.......been good...I also use it for a speedo in my truck, since it is out by so much

Glad I didn't go for the updates.........They either wanted $69 for one update or over $100 for lifetime......I can get a new one around here for $99.......I drove from here to Arizona without the update.......only noticed once when a road wasn't there or changed.....I can live with that.

 

One item that I did have to change was the OEM battery. Take it off of the windshield bracket to add some addresses the @#$% would be dead in about 5 minutes. I bought a new one off ebay along with the tools for less then $15. The change out took less then ten minutes and the new battery works like a charm - regardless of the fact that Garmin says you can't do it unless it's sent to them along with $80.

Vince - updates!! It crossed my mind - for about 3 seconds.

Craig - As far as Agatha giving me h3!! and recalculating, I just ignore her protestations

Dave W

 

When I first looked at opening this thread ( as a Moderator ) ... I said this has no place in General Hot Rodding , but saw that CBOY was the original poster. He should know better I will have to move this thread.

But after reading the post ... I agree with CBOY

It does belong here ...

I have a Garmin also. My brother had a Tom-Tom, used my Garmin 1 time and went and bought his own Garmin. I just returned from a 2,500 mile ( one way ) trip to Los Angeles and the Garmin was invaluable while in LA.

I also like using the Garmin to check my speedometer and get them dialed in correctly.

 

Here's my Garmin Nuvi 1300 mounted in the sedan delivery with the speedometer display activated. (For those who may not be familiar with GPS units, most of them provide your speed in a small box on the map screen. But if you touch that small box, a much larger speedo display will appear on the screen along with other trip information.)

I selected the 1300 because it had one of the larger speedo display screens (some are much smaller so be sure to at least see a screen shot of what each model will look like). When the car is moving, the MPH appears as a digital number which fills that circle you see on the left. So it is very easy to see and read.

I'm glad many others have chimed in with their own experiences. Should be helpful to others in the market for a gps or speedometer.

 

I have a Mio Moov M-400, and it worked out of the box.. my dad uses his for a speedometer in his '66 Charger because ATM the speedo is broken

 

Another thing to consider. Most if not all of the car stereo manufactures have models with built in GPS. If your putting a new stereo in your ride, get a radio with the built in GPS then you could get a 7in screen instead og 3 or 4in. The voice would be coming over your stereo not competing with it. No wires dangling around. Depending on the model some will play DVD movies as well. Some models are bluetooth compatible witch in areas with handsfree cellular laws means you wouldn't have to wear a bluetooth headset or have another wire going up to a bluetooth visor unit. Some company's like Pioneer even have stereos that will tell you the g force going around corners or accelerating. Isn't electronics wonderful?

 

WOW this was great info. I been looking into getting one of these. In my line of work you would think i would have had one years ago when they first came out . I never knew they had a speedometer feature. Now after reading what you guys have said it looks like its a garmin for me . Great post

 

I have a Garmin Nuvi 660 that's about 4 years old now, and I am completely satisfied with it.

I use the GPS frequently at work to calibrate electronic speedometers.

You can also buy in-the-dash GPS analog speedometers.

 

Gps

Hi,i also have a Garmin Nuvi,works great,but,SOMETIMES it likes to take you around in a circle back to where you started from..the update is a joke,i paid the $69.00,and i had to download it,problem was,i had dial up,at that time, and the download took 14 hours,i tried about 3 times,and i was always getting cut off,before the DL was complete,i said,BS,so now i use it without the updates,but,i kinda keep one eye on a map,so i have a general idea of where i want to go.

 

Is there a certain time of day where the GPS system seems alittle eratic???? The reason i ask is because at work the GPS on my finish blade shuts down exspecially around noon to 1 pm. Now im sorry if im comparing apples to oranges here but i would think after all we are picking up the same satelite. I need at least 5-7 +++ satelites for the system to operate in the way it was intened for .

 

Is there a certain time of day where the GPS system seems alittle eratic???? The reason i ask is because at work the GPS on my finish blade shuts down exspecially around noon to 1 pm. Now im sorry if im comparing apples to oranges here but i would think after all we are picking up the same satelite. I need at least 5-7 +++ satelites for the system to operate in the way it was intened for .

I've not had that problem - and have used mine from Maine to Florida.

 

I have a Rightway it don't have some of the features as TomTom or Garmin GPS, But it's been pretty good so far. I want a Garmin or TomTom but the wife got me this but it has taken me on some pretty good trips with no problems. But i think one of the other two would do better as far as options go anyway. JMO Think it cost $100 or less.



Cole

 

have to be very careful with some of them and 1 ways.. both my Mio Moov and my grandparents older Garmin doesn't acknowladge 1 way streets. ended up getting lost in the middle of Albany Ny one day coming back from Bennington Vt... said to go down the wrong way on a 1 way right near the capitol. and the detour feature screwed it up.. ended up just finding my way back to state street, because I knew if I found state street, I just had to be going in the right direction on state street to get where I needed to be

 

If you are in Europe and don't mind a rebuilt 2007/8 unit, go for it. Any of the Garmin products do what the advertise

 

Now I'm interested in brand Garmin Nuvi 255w.

I've got one, I love it! for some good deals, circuit city was bought out, mail order/internet only. I have seen the Garmin go for around $110.

http://www.circuitcity.com/indexcc.asp?SRCCODE=CCDGOOBR1&cm_mmc_o=mH4CjC7BBTkwCjCECjCE

 

I have the Nuvi 1300, was going to buy the 255w at Target on sale but were sold out. They offered a rain check or the 1300 for $97 so I opted for the 1300.
They work great, have some minor quirks, nothing serious.
From what I found the 1300 has the same features as the 255w...except the 255w includes Mexico and Canada maps, where the 1300 is the US only.

 

From what I found the 1300 has the same features as the 255w...except the 255w includes Mexico and Canada maps, where the 1300 is the US only.

You don't want to go to Mexico anyway ain:

Vince

 

I just bought a TOM-TOM 350MT (I think thats the model) Has free maps for life and has traffic which routes you around jams. Has work flawlessly.