HELP! Seeking the VERY best GPS unit under $300!

[Andre Marc]

I get lost driving in a straight line..my Garmin just **** the bed...

Any suggestions on a really good portable GPS unit for around $300 or less?

Thanks!

 

[Steve Williams]

I get lost driving in a straight line..my Garmin just **** the bed...

Any suggestions on a really good portable GPS unit for around $300 or less?

Thanks!

Why would you buy one when you can use your smart phone

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

Why would you buy one when you can use your smart phone

Indeed! Why?

 

[Andre Marc]

Why would you buy one when you can use your smart phone

Good question, but I can't deal with a phone GPS. Too many phone calls and I like glance at a screen.

 

[Andre Marc]

Indeed! Why?

Too many calls, and I like a dedicated unit.

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

Too many calls, and I like a dedicated unit.

Got ya. Fair enough.

 

[amirm]

I have not looked at the for a few years after adopting to smartphone but at the time the Garmin touchscreen units were fantastic. Very responsive and very reliable. Was yours a touchscreen that went bad?

 

[Andre Marc]

I have not looked at the for a few years after adopting to smartphone but at the time the Garmin touchscreen units were fantastic. Very responsive and very reliable. Was yours a touchscreen that went bad?

Hi Amir:

Actually the one that just died was a touch screen Garmin. Agree it was very good. I don't mind another Garmin.

What I find frustrating is the model churn, from all the manufacturers, it is hard to keep up.

I'm pretty anal when it comes to directions, because I just can't anywhere without them.

 

[Mosin]

Hi Amir:

Actually the one that just died was a touch screen Garmin. Agree it was very good. I don't mind another Garmin.

What I find frustrating is the model churn, from all the manufacturers, it is hard to keep up.

I'm pretty anal when it comes to directions, because I just can't anywhere without them.

I'm like you in that regard. I have a Garmin that I bought last year at Wal-Mart for $130. It's easier to use than a phone GPS app, or the one built into my wife's car. It is also very accurate with free map upgrades for life, so it's a no-brainer, in my opinion.

 

[Andre Marc]

I'm like you in that regard. I have a Garmin that I bought last year at Wal-Mart for $130. It's easier to use than a phone GPS app, or the one built into my wife's car. It is also very accurate with free map upgrades for life, so it's a no-brainer, in my opinion.

I totally agree ..the phone is a phone... I prefer a dedicated device...not to mention gps kills the battery.

 

[DaveyF]

Andre, agree with the Garmin advice. OTOH, you could trade in your car and get a new one with Sat-Nav, LOL. The female voice on most of these is almost worth the price of entry IME Plus you never have to wonder where the heck you left the darn Garmin in the first place

 

[garylkoh]

The GPS on the phone has one small advantage - it will re-route you (in real time) around trouble/traffic jams/etc. The couple of times I've ignored the phone telling me to get off the highway when I knew that I still had a long way to go, I've lived to regret it. Once you've tried something like Waze, you'll never look back.

The disadvantage of the GPS on the phone is that where there is no coverage, you're essentially lost. So, when I know that I won't be in urban areas, I will carry my Garmin as well as my phone.

 

[treitz3]

I too use two. Garmin and smartphone simultaneously. Hands free driving at it's safest level possible when "life" gets in the way.

Tom

 

[Andre Marc]

Andre, agree with the Garmin advice. OTOH, you could trade in your car and get a new one with Sat-Nav, LOL. The female voice on most of these is almost worth the price of entry IME Plus you never have to wonder where the heck you left the darn Garmin in the first place

Ha, hey Davey, yes those voices are something else! My lease is up in May..so I will be shopping!

Actually I never take the Garmin out of the car..

 

[Andre Marc]

The GPS on the phone has one small advantage - it will re-route you (in real time) around trouble/traffic jams/etc. The couple of times I've ignored the phone telling me to get off the highway when I knew that I still had a long way to go, I've lived to regret it. Once you've tried something like Waze, you'll never look back.

The disadvantage of the GPS on the phone is that where there is no coverage, you're essentially lost. So, when I know that I won't be in urban areas, I will carry my Garmin as well as my phone.

Waze is good..but it always worries me when I see people driving while holding their phones..

 

[garylkoh]

Waze is good..but it always worries me when I see people driving while holding their phones..

When you rent a car, you don't have much of a choice of how to mount your phone. However, every car so far has a dashboard, and something like this works well. With a cellphone, I also sometimes just put it in front of the speedometer. Never hold your phone while driving.

 

[JackD201]

My Garmins are great on the open road but enter places with lots of tall buildings and they go haywire. Happened in downtown SF and in NYC.

 

[garylkoh]

My Garmins are great on the open road but enter places with lots of tall buildings and they go haywire. Happened in downtown SF and in NYC.

That's the other advantage with the cellphone GPS systems - they use not only GPS satellite, but also wifi and cell-tower information, plus the acceleration sensors keep you on track even in a loooooonnng underground tunnel.

 

[Andre Marc]

When you rent a car, you don't have much of a choice of how to mount your phone. However, every car so far has a dashboard, and something like this works well. With a cellphone, I also sometimes just put it in front of the speedometer. Never hold your phone while driving.

View attachment 18616

I must say this looks good.

 

[wisnon]

In Europe TomTom wins hands down due to High Definition traffic.