Which Gps?

[Eagle]

Tom Tom, Magellan, or Garmin?

 

My daughter gave my wife a Tom Tom for Christmas a year and a half ago. I've used it twice, so I guess it could be said I'm "familiar" with it (sort of). No experience with either of the other two. I would use it occasionally, so I don't need top-of-the-line. I'm looking for more of an entry-level or lower mid-tier unit.

 

If they're all about the same, I'll either go with another Tom Tom since I (sort of) know it already, or buy strictly based on price. Any recommendations to steer me off that course? What you y'all use and like -- and why?

[Bornindesert]

I use the iPhone 4 it works right from your address book, search engine, Siri, email or text. The map app talks, does everything a Garmin will do as long as you're in a service area it will update the map. Outside of service it continues to navigate off its locator. IMHO, devices like TomToms are becoming obsolete when you can have the same functionality from your cell phone.

 

Now I still use a Garmin when I'm hiking or hunting because cell service is spotty in most places I go. It is still my choice over the iPhone out in the boonies.

[87manche1]

I have a garmin love it. I used to have a tom tom when it was warm out it would lock up like crazy. The addresses where always down the street from where it said it was. After 2days I returned it. Now I drive allot for work and always far away. So my experience my be different

[Eagle]

The two times I used my wife's Tom Tom, both times there were errors. On a trip to New Jersey, it told us to turn left into the motel when we were still five miles away, and not even in the right town yet. On a trip to Massachusetts to pick up some MJ parts, the turn instructions didn't match the street names. I finally got where I was going by turning left where it said to turn right, driving a couple of blocks, and then letting it recompute the route. Not ideal.

 

Any Magellan users out there?

 

Any other feedback on any of the three brands?

[Automan2164]

Eagle, now that you have a smart phone, I would just use the Navigation service that came with the phone. It's free, you will always have it on you, and it requires no subscription updates. Most phone GPS apps are ran/developed by big names in GPS. I have the Google navigation, and it works great.

 

Rob

[87Warrior]

I have to agree with Rob. The pre installed Google navigation on smartphones works quite well. The big plus with using the smartphone as a GPS is the maps are online and updated regularly. Plus, the cost is right: free.

 

I do understand the want/desire for a pure GPS navigation unit. Prior to having a smartphone, I used a Garmin gps unit. It worked very well and never lead me astray. Granted that could be due to the fact I was using it in the metro area Garmin products are designed, tested and produced. The device still works fine today.

 

On top of the Garmin product working well, their customer service is great. I had (still have) a handheld unit that was about 5 years old when it quit working. I contacted Garmin and shipped it to them for repair, expecting to pay for the repair. They ended up sending me a brand new replacement. That was 6 years ago and it is still working today.

[87manche1]

Watch out using ur phone as a gps it will drain ur data usage fast. I do like my Google maps but I have to limit it.

[mpace6a]

One thing about using your phone as a GPS, if you don't have data, your google maps won't work. There are map apps out there for free, like Orux maps, that you can download maps of specific areas to your phones memory card, and then it will still work without your data connection, just the GPS.

And I had a tomtom as well, and can't really say too much good about it either. Pretty much the same issues as everyone else, and it constantly needed updated maps installed on it, and it would freeze up alot. Not a brand I'd recommend. Never heard a bad thing about garmins, old, new, handheld, or otherwise.