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My wife got lost this morning in an unfamiliar area. Turns out she was "sure" that the place was near a certain road, and while the Garmin kept telling her otherwise, she refused to listen and got lost.
Well, turns out the GPS was right, and she only found the place when she decided to listen to the directions.
To err is human, I guess. NAV is not perfect, but it almost always gets you there.
piar: interesting. I'd rate the NAV on the Subaru I tried about equal to my Garmin GPS (StreetPilot c320). Have not tried a Tom Tom yet, but I too had heard good things about Honda's system. The Garmin loves taking short cuts.
-juice
I consistently hear acura has the best navigation system, but I want to know what makes their system superior. I want to know how far off the BMW and lexus systems are, or even compare it to some aftermarket systems. Does anyone know how I can get this information? Are there any comparison guides available?
Thanks!
-juice
The main reason why users rank the Honda system the highest, in my humble opinion, is because the navigation system can be operated while the vehicle is in motion. Other navigation systems from Lexus, Mazda, SAAB, Cadillac and Toyota do not allow complex operations to be performed while the vehicle is in motion.
To my knowledge, as I regularly follow this topic, there is not comprehensive review of either portable or factory navigation systems.
As always, the navigation system will direct you to an unknown destination. If you know a better way... take it. No system will ever be as adaptive as the human brain.
Portable units of course allow it, because they're not integrated. An advantage, I guess. The lawyer screen on the Garmin also disappears after a while even if you don't respond to it.
-juice
I was leaning toward Garmin, but the The Verizon cell phone looks pretty cool & for someone who may not use the GPS much looks like a good deal. Could use it for for over 10 months for the cost of a Garmin. That could be years for the occasional user.
Once purchased, are there "subscription" costs (monthly or annual fees, periodic upgrade fees...) for the handheld GPS units?
I tried the Verizon demo. It seems a bit complex, but due to lack of experience don't know who it compares to a GArmin. Anyone have experience with both systems that can answer the ease of use question?
Mucho Gracis!
I've had my GPS for about a year now, that would have been $120 already. I paid $405 for it but that is lifetime, no fees ever, unless I want to pay for new maps.
Other issues? Functionality, see if it has voice prompts, of course no touch screen so check out the menus and see if they are easy to use.
BlackBerry offers it, but again, I don't really want to pay a fee and the screen is comparatively tiny. It's about the size of the Garmin i series, and you can get one of those for less than $250. That's about 2 years' worth of service, so the Garmin is a better deal in the long run IMHO.
-juice
I'd do that rather than pay a fee every month, over time it'll cost you more.
Bernard: wow, that's going to be a tough one. You're using OE equipment on a different model, something probably very few people do. They usually either let the dealer do it all with equipment like that, or go aftermarket for the entire system.
Make sure the antennae also is getting power, there are two cables connected to it, right?
As for the mapping question, I would try calling whoever manufactures the NAV system for help, usually it's someone like Kenwood or Pioneer. The catch is they may only offer tech support for trained and authorized service technicians.
Maybe Crutchfield could help, but then again maybe not if you didn't buy it there. Or the dealer that sold you the parts?
-juice
I think they where talking about the TomTom Plus service which has TomTom Traffic (I think that's what it's called) which is a subscription based service (monthly)that you can get.
I looked around to make sure I got my facts straight- have you ever seen the mytomtomgo page? I thought that was helpful towards answer questions...
I noticed they put up a pretty good review of the newest one they have too the 910. Can't wait to try one of those out in the store!
There is no subscription fee outside of the basic cost of the unit (other than the aforementioned traffic service, but that is an option).
Where do you "test drive" the GPS? Best Buy has a display but not a very good one. They usually only have 1 or 2 that actually are working.
-juice
I know that Circuit City is selling the 910 (and maybe the 510) as of this week- so you might want to try there for a "test drive".
I have a geek buddy of mine that had a TomTom 700 he let me fool around with for a week or so (and I STILL borrow it more often than not
If you head over to C. City, lemme know what you think (is the diplay they have any better?)?
-juice
I'm pretty sure, now that I think of it..I've seen their logo on the google earth or google maps before.
Whatever, as long as the thing is accurate- I'm game!
Anyone have any experience using these??
Tips, suggestions and comments are welcomed!
Anyone have any experience using these??
IMO, the Garmin units are better, particularly in regards to the "freshness" of the maps. Garmin's customer service is also the best in the industry. I have a GPS V, which is an antique by this point, and they have still given me support for it free of charge.
Last year, when I'd owned the thing for 3+ years, I realized 3 days before a trip that I'd misplaced my mapping CDs (and had reformatted my computer). I called Garmin expecting to pay out the nose, and they actually sent me a full set of mapping CDs, next day air - for free.
I'm happy with my Garmin.
As for those freebie maps, you still need an antennae, it seems a bit piece meal to me, I'd rather have an all-in-one unit personally.
-juice
I've got enough going on in the car!
If I remember right, I think Tele Atlas provides a lot of Map data for GoogleMaps as well. I figure it Google sources their maps from them, they've got to be pretty good!
I mean cars that are really available on dealer lots and produced that way.
For example, theoretically, nav is available on some cars like the Camry XLE 4 cylinder with cloth seats, but in reality that is not a combination that the factory builds or ships so it is only available that way on paper.
Also, you cannot order a car from Toyota with just the options you want. Toyota sets mandatory option bundles for each region of the country. They change the option bundling occassionaly, but they control it.
It says NAVTEQ right on the Google Maps web page.
So the solution is you can use a Garmin or Tom Tom or Magellin etc. Some of them can even be integrated into your car, such as the Garmin 2650 which is connected to your odometer output (by a "qualified installer").
Funny, to read the forum, that sentence could say Toyota USA (or Ford or Chevy) has no accurate idea of what consumers want.
I want NAV to cost about what a handheld GPS costs. :shades:
Steve, Host
Google Earth is provided entirely by Tele Atlas. THAT is an awesome program! I love being able to manipulate the maps and whatnot.
In fact, I think I'm going to waste some time before lunch and play with it now.....
Besides the Honda Civic EX, I'm pretty sure the new 2007 Jeep Wrangler will have factory nav available and I don't even think leather will be an option, but the Wrangler will probably be too much of a gas guzzler to be a real option for me.
Mazda3 has optional nav, but it is always bundled with some kind of grand touring package which inludes leather, so that's off my list too.
Larry
I am certain about the Subaru Outback SE, as we have one. This was a mid-year model, available in only two colors (Diamond Gray and Seacrest Green.) Also comes with automatic climate control and 6 disc CD changer over the base outback. MSRP of option package is $2500, but that includes the cost of the auto transmission. Definitely does not have leather (or a sunroof.) We got ours in March; I don't know about current availability.
Even when the options list shows standard cloth seats, what usually happens is that the dealers just order all options on cars that have nav. They just assume that buyers who want nav always want leather and every other option to go with it and that will be how all cars are on the dealer lots.
So, you can't go by the website or what the brochure says.
Go for an SE.
-juice
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Companies like EagleRider are springing up everywhere and are more than just motorcycle rental or tour organizations. They are complete travel and concierge service companies tailored for the motorcycle market. EagleRider offers the personal service of your own in-house trip planner with customized itineraries focusing on the most majestic motorcycle touring routes.
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EagleRider self-drive tour customers rent a late model motorcycle, stay at first-rate accommodations, and receive a personalized Road Book designed with everything a rider would need including all mapped routing, suggestions for excellent restaurants, and interesting stops along the way. Round the clock roadside assistance and motorcycle concierge services come standard with your EagleRider rental, and customers can even choose to have a TomTom GPS navigation system installed with their personal trip routing for the ultimate in ease of travel.
EagleRider does all the planning and provides all the gear, leaving travelers the freedom to marvel at the scenery and experience the thrill of adventure on the road alone, or with the company of their own friends and family. Over a hundred self-drive tours are available out of every EagleRider location.
We have four cars, and this is the most economical way of having GPS available in any of them.
I should have it by next week, I can't wait to see how it works.
I have the c320. Yours adds a whole bunch of features. I might spring for one. We actually want a 2nd one because my wife and I argue over ours.
-juice
Mark
Here is a chart that compares what features all the C series have, look to the right:
http://www.garmin.com/products/sp550/
-juice
I bought the GPS for when I travel, but to get the traffic benefit I would have to be using it in NYC all the time.
Mark
I'm waiting for a good GPS kit for my BlackBerry 8700, that I have with T-Mobile. I don't think I can get the monthly service because it's a work phone.
Some new products are supposed to come out soon that add that capability with a one-time up front fee, no monthly fees. We'll see.
The c550 is $800 or so. The Nuvi 310 (cheapest BT from Garmin) is not out yet, but it should cost about the same as the UK model, so figure about $580. I can get another c320 like mine for $325, so that's a pretty big step up for Bluetooth.
-juice
My main concern, being in NYC, is keeping it hidden but not totally inaccessible, so it doesn't get stolen. I drive a Mazda Tribute, so no trunk to keep it in.
I'm in the 'burbs so I guess I take my chances. If I park in an urban area I'll hide it somewhere.
3 months of free service sounds great. Just enough time to see if you think it's worth it.
I get glare on my Miata, too. Makes it a lot less useful - so I rely on the voice commands. It's fine in my Forester, though, because I have tinted windows. I've never had a problem seeing the screen, or even with finger prints for that matter.
-juice
On the other hand, if I had the traffic update feature, I wonder how it would have routed me, and if it would have picked it up before I got stuck.
Mark
Next time.
Otherwise, it seems fine. The voice instructions are clear, the map is clear. Connecting to my Bluetooth phone was simple. The initial setup only took about 10 minutes, and was very intuitive.
This is my first GPS, so I don't have anything to compare to. But so far, it's doing what I expected of it.
-juice
The traffic information on navigation units is only as good as the data source. If you tried all of the local radio news reports, and didn't hear of the particular tieup, the navigation system will probably be in the dark too.
Mark