portable GPS for a car, suggestions?

7960 · 10-17-2007, 09:23 PM

Looking for a widescreen portable GPS for my wife for christmas. My only requirements are widescreen and text-to-speech, so rather than saying "right turn in 500 feet" it says "right turn on Oak street in 500 feet."

Any suggestions?
Widescreen seems to be consistently $50 more than regular...is it worth it?

I'm leaning toward TomTom ONE XL-S

TomTom ONE XL-S GPS Review

Any thoughts?

6SpeedTA95 · 10-17-2007, 09:30 PM

A lot of the guys at work use garmin

7960 · 10-17-2007, 11:31 PM

the cheapest garmin I can find with widescreen and TTS is over $500....... that's steep

JaJae · 10-18-2007, 12:15 AM

86th Street Photo & Video

7960 · 10-18-2007, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by JaJae

86th Street Photo & Video

good price.

do you own that?

JaJae · 10-18-2007, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by 7960

good price.

do you own that?

Nope, never used it. But figured I'd search the net for a Garmin model with the features you suggested at a decent price. I can't speak for its quality.

Here's a video review...
Garmin Nuvi 650 Reviews and Best Prices

7960 · 10-18-2007, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by JaJae

Nope, never used it. But figured I'd search the net for a Garmin model with the features you suggested at a decent price. I can't speak for its quality.

Here's a video review...
Garmin Nuvi 650 Reviews and Best Prices

Thanks a lot for finding that.

I need to get to a store so i can pick one up and figure out if the widescreen is worth the extra money.

Roonie · 10-18-2007, 11:51 AM

I have the Garmin Nuvi 660. Retails around $600. I love it and can't understand why I didn't buy one sooner. I have had it now for 3 months. The great thing about it is on trips you can bring it with you and it will navigate in any city in the US. We went to San Diego and used it to find everything. Extremelly user friendly.

7960 · 10-18-2007, 01:09 PM

Originally Posted by Roonie

I have the Garmin Nuvi 660. Retails around $600. I love it and can't understand why I didn't buy one sooner. I have had it now for 3 months. The great thing about it is on trips you can bring it with you and it will navigate in any city in the US. We went to San Diego and used it to find everything. Extremelly user friendly.

why 660?

why not 650?

do you use bluetooth?

Roonie · 10-18-2007, 01:12 PM

Originally Posted by 7960

why 660?

why not 650?

do you use bluetooth?

The 660 because this was the model they had a Costco where I bought it from. Yes I use bluetooth. It is great because it is hands free when driving. Bad when kids in the back are screaming and it is on speakerphone. Mine looks exactly like the 650 and same size. With Costco it came with the auto pack bundled msrp $740 and I think I paid around $530 for it.

Roonie · 10-18-2007, 01:23 PM

What I find really cool about it is it gets updated traffic information constantly. So I am driving down a highway to my destination and it detects that their is a back up of 10 minutes it will let you know and then reroute you through sidestreets. It gives the ETA always and it is almost exact everytime. I used it to go on a 3800 mile road trip and still the ETA's were right on even though they were 22 hours out. Lets say you need fuel you press the fuel sign and it will give you all the nearest gas stations and names within 20 miles or more, same with restaurants or whatever. It is all touch screen and very user friendly.

7960 · 10-18-2007, 01:26 PM

hmm, the traffic thing sounds neat and would be the first thing my wife would complain about not having if I got one without it.

dammit, i didn't want to spend that much.

Stylerod · 10-18-2007, 01:54 PM

Yeah, Garmin is the way to go. I have a Legend/C that doesn't have any talking or anything. But it's water proof and I use it for hiking, Geocaching and driving to unfamiliar places. My dad has one of the larger car type that talks. It's great. He is terrible with directions and this has been a Godsend for him.

Ardentfrost · 10-18-2007, 02:15 PM

If I were going to buy one, I'd go Garmin. My dad is in love with them, and I'm hoping I can coax him into buying my wife and I one for xmas

Roonie · 10-18-2007, 02:22 PM

Originally Posted by 7960

hmm, the traffic thing sounds neat and would be the first thing my wife would complain about not having if I got one without it.

dammit, i didn't want to spend that much.

The first time it did this I was like what the hell is this thing doing it must be broken, that is not the way to my destination. I ignored it and it automatically recalculates a new route and it kept doing this while I kept ignoring it. Finally after ignoring all suggested alternative routes I came to a complete stop on the highway and sat for 20 minutes. I could almost hear the Garmin saying I told you so dumbass.

Stylerod · 10-19-2007, 08:35 AM

Originally Posted by Roonie

The first time it did this I was like what the hell is this thing doing it must be broken, that is not the way to my destination. I ignored it and it automatically recalculates a new route and it kept doing this while I kept ignoring it. Finally after ignoring all suggested alternative routes I came to a complete stop on the highway and sat for 20 minutes. I could almost hear the Garmin saying I told you so dumbass.

Is that something you have to subscribe to? How does it get the information?

Yeah, my Garmin had a heart attack one day. We were going to the NC Outer Banks and they had built a new bridge to get across one of the waterways. My Garmin didn't know it was there and was screaming at me to turn left. It was almost like the "Bitching Betty" in a plane when it's about to hit the ground. When I finally got into the water (as shown on the screen) it just stopped all together. I'm pretty sure it was holding its breath.

Roonie · 10-19-2007, 08:56 AM

Originally Posted by Stylerod

Is that something you have to subscribe to? How does it get the information?

I don't subscribe to anything. It is part of the GPS signal. It shows updated traffic info in most cities. Maybe a special feature of Garmin?

7960 · 10-19-2007, 09:44 AM

Originally Posted by Stylerod

Yeah, my Garmin had a heart attack one day. We were going to the NC Outer Banks and they had built a new bridge to get across one of the waterways. My Garmin didn't know it was there and was screaming at me to turn left. It was almost like the "Bitching Betty" in a plane when it's about to hit the ground.

Is there no way to edit the map? Tomtom allows you to edit maps and (if you want) share them with the Tomtom community. I thought that was pretty cool.

And I checked... there are safeguards to keep you from fucking with the system and removing or adding shit to mess with people.

When I finally got into the water (as shown on the screen) it just stopped all together. I'm pretty sure it was holding its breath.

I LOLe

WickedLou9 · 10-19-2007, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by Roonie

I don't subscribe to anything. It is part of the GPS signal. It shows updated traffic info in most cities. Maybe a special feature of Garmin?

I think it's a broadcast signal, not part of the GPS system. I am pretty sure I have seen radar detectors that can alert you to traffic problems as well.

thomez · 10-19-2007, 07:55 PM

I want a GPS for hiking... it will be on the Christmas list