Took a road trip to CT and back (from MD), and this thing was incredibly useful.
On the way up we hit a major traffic jam on the NJ Turnpike, I got off and took local roads for a couple of exits, bypassing the mess. No idea how much time I saved but the reduced stress was priceless.
While up there, we hit Blue Jay Orchard to go apple picking (best orchard I've been to by far by the way) and used NAV to find it. Last year we got lost and drove in circles, then finally got directions from a local. This year we drove right up, no hassles. It was great.
Beautiful, scenic roads up in New England, but lots of merges and splits, Y shaped roads, so you have to know which way to turn, it's tricky. The NAV was very, very handy. I used the maps plus it told me to "stay right" or "stay left" about a dozen times.
Hard to think I managed before without this thing.
I used the maps plus it told me to "stay right" or "stay left" about a dozen times.
The first time I used my Garmin was when I went to the Philly Auto show with Elm when they were introducing the 05 Legacy. We were leaving to come home and it told me to "stay left", which I did. Turns out it was for a couple of feet then we had to make a right turn which we missed. It got us home, just with a detour. That's when I learned that "stay right/left" can mean go straight, and check the map for where the next turn is .
GPS defintiely comes in handy, and it's great having a unit I can take on vacation. Definitely makes it easier getting around a strange city.
Getting ready to pickup our new car tomorrow. Explain to me how I may be able to use Bluetooth in the car because of the navi system. I am not saavy about these things. I do own a bluetooth adaptor for non-bluetooth phone. I don't use it much. Drains the power.
I am seriously shopping for in dash navigation....I kinda ruled out OEM navigation.....I short listed to Eclipse AVN 5435 Kenwood PNAV 7015 Eclipse AVN 5495
Any Camry Owners installed nav in their car.(Double din)Please share their experiences....
Hei, (that's finnish for hello) first time I recently imported a Prius to Finland, and the dealer told me that I couldn't get Nav software for my US model that will work in Europe. I'm looking for help the GPS is working as I am getting a display of a compass and the lat long is updated as I drive. It seems crazy not to be able to find out who is the OEM maker of the mapping software . . .
Toyota segments their business across the Americas, Europe, Asia and Japan. So it's unlikely the OEM nav sold in European Prius is the same as the one in America. In other words, there probably is not a European map disk available that works on the model sold in America. You could try asking in the Prius forums, though.
Can you recommend an aftermarket NAV to be put in my wife's 2001 Camry?
I prefer NAV that does not require to be installed in the dash. Even for a portable NAV, I prefer one that does not require to be plugged into the 12 V supply of the car. As Juice knows, I live in Maryland outside DC. Map coverage around DC and to the beach at Delaware or Maryland is important too.
I compared Garmin C320 and C330 on its website. The MSRP of C320 is about $590 and C330 is about $750. The major differences appear to be Alternative Map Availability and Speed Alarm. I think I can do with C320 to save some money. Would that be a correct selection? Or should I also look at another manufacturer?
Am I missing any other factors? I am new at this. Thanks.
personally, I like the C340 just for the benefit of having it tell you the actual street names.
But as far as the difference between the 320 and 330, their website tells me the 330 comes loaded with everything, while the 320 requires you hook up to your PC and load up what you need for your intended trip. Seems like the 330 is MUCH more convenient AND would give you the benefit of grabbing the unit and going, rather than thinking about where you are going, hooking up to your PC to load appropriate maps, THEN actually go. My wife is always rushing me out the door, so I have a feeling the 320 just wouldn't work out well for me.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Thanks for pointing out about C340. I just checked out Garmin website on the differences between c340 or C330 versus C320.
The website says C340 and C330 have pre-programmed internal memory that stores City Select maps, but C320 has only City Select CD-Rom uploadable. I did not know what is City Select CD-ROM. I take it means that with C320 I had to upload the maps from a City Select CD-ROM placed in a PC (I assume I have to buy the CD-ROM; is it costly?) in each city that I want to use the NAV. Or may be one City Select CD-ROM will cover most of the cities in the Eastern U.S.? If I have to upload maps, I agree that C320 is not convenient because the ultimate user, my wife, is not going to put up with that hassle.
That took me to the comparison of C330 and C340. The only major difference appears to be Text-to-Speech Voice Prompts found in C340, not in C330. Is that what you meant by "for the benefit of having it tell you the actual street names"? So C340 has a voice telling you what is the name of the street coming up that C340 wants you to turn into?
Thanks ahead for further clarifications from you or anyone else.
The C320 comes with the CD-rom. Everything else you observed is, to the best of my knowledge, correct. Based on the memory limitations of the 320, you would have to load it up with the maps you need each time (unless you exclusively drive in the same area).
Yes, the text-to-speech means it can actually read all the details of the directions to you, including the street names. So, rather than telling you "turn right in .5 miles," it will tell you "turn right in .5 miles onto Main Street."
Like you, I'm just comparing these on paper right now (also check cnet for reviews on some different units), so I don't have any real-world experience to share. Unfortunately, I think these are still a bit too pricey for me. If I could get something like the 340 for about $400, I might be sold. (comp-u-plus, according to pricegrabber, has the 340 for $620 right now, so I'm not too far from my wish ... maybe next year)
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
The C320 comes with the CD-ROM that contains the entire USA. I believe it also has all of Canada, as well as Puerto Rico. All this can be loaded onto a SD card. Check back a few posts and you will see Juice talking about his. I think the USA can fit on a 1 GB SD card. Also check around for vendors. There is a gps information website that will link you to numerous dealers.
I'm speaking as an owner of the Streetpilot 2610, so I don't have the cordless capability you are looking for. However, I can say that I have all of Canada, US (all 50 states) on a 2 GB CF card. You load once, and forget. The most I use the PC for now is to plan out way points in advance, as well as check out the possible routing choices.
BTW - the maps get updated about every 1 - 1.5 years. Mark
You pay $160 more for the pre-loaded maps. But keep in mind you still have to register to activate it, and later on you'll need to load updates, so you will still need to install the software on your PC. You don't really save much time in the long run.
If you are not a good candidate for a c320, then you're also not a good candidate for the c330. Outdated information (POI) are less than useless, they're actually misleading. Imagine driving out of your way to get gas or find that burger you crave only to find out it's not there. Oops.
If you don't think roads change that often - think about the Points Of Interest (POI). Restaurants, gas stations, stuff like that, they change all the time. You will want an update 2 years from now. I'm ready for an update already, and I've only had mine since summer. 2 exits on I-270 near me have changed.
My SD card was $70 and I basically loaded everything but the Dakotas. So I saved 160-70=$90 and I'm ready for updates. That's worth the hour or two I've invested.
Then, looking at c330 vs. c340, the street names have not been important because the NAV is so accurate, even at the city street block level. It says "turn in point-X miles, then turn in XXX ft". When it says feet, it's the next turn. You see the name of the street and the relative position on the screen.
Exception - if you are vision-impaired, the text-to-voice is a necessity.
We have not been left wanting. I'd take these upgrades if they were free, but these very minor (IMO) upgrades make prices jump upward significantly.
I used a shopping bot and found the c320 for $404 delivered. Service was slow, but that price makes it affordable to a lot of folks. You might already have a spare SD card from your camera, like I did, so I didn't even have to pay more for that.
I guess the 2610 is explained above. You load the Compact Flash card with the data, and store way points on the card itself. So you only carry the CF card inside when you want to enter addresses.
With the c320 it's different. First, it uses an SD style card. Second, it has a battery, so you bring the whole unit inside with you. This lets you enter addresses right on the touch screen in the comfort of your own home.
I entered every address in our mailing list. The cool thing is that those way points show up on the map! So as I'm driving by, it tells me that if I happen to be close to my dad's house, so I'll see a "Dad" on the map. Pretty cool.
Again - you end up spending a couple of hours setting it up, but it's worth it. That's the whole point, actually. You customize it, load all your addresses. It's more useful that way.
jayhawk and I are old friends (his wife used to work with me) so I've invited him over for a demo.
I promise to show what it can't do as well as what it can.
But this little $404 device is as good or better as the $2000 system built-in to the Tribeca we had as a loaner for a week.
Your post in the Tribeca forum on the Subaru NAV was what got me interested in NAV or GPS in autos. However, I do not think the factory NAV is worth $2000 per unit (the price I generally see advertized as options for certain cars or SUV nowadays). I assume you agree with me because I seem to recall that your wife's Tribeca does not have the Subaru NAV. I bet the after-market GPS units are making a killing on the factory GPS sales in general.
Besides Garmin, should I also look at other manufacturers? I have seen Magellan, Kenwood, Panasonic mentioned in previous posts in this forum.
BTW - My wife and I decided not to get Tribeca this winter (because its torque is not high enough for the kind of money Subaru is asking for). Its limited rear view is also a deal killer for me. Instead, I have gotten winter tires for her current Camry. Some posts in Tirerack.com said that front wheel drives with winter tires can perform better than all wheel drives with all season tires. I will find out whether it is true this winter.
Are the Garmin updates for C330 shipped as hard disks? So you can replace the hard disk in the C330 unit that you have? Or are the updates in the form of CDs, so you have to put the CD in a PC and upload the updates to C330 via USB?
I assume the updates are especially valuable for POI information. Juice: I can see why you want updates a few months after you got your C320 because you, like many, seem to enjoy using the POI information in your out-of-town excursion. The roads probably do not change as fast as the POI. But then according to Juice, two exits of I-270 north of DC have changed necessitating an update in his system.
Thanks advanced for your clarifications. Oldjayhawk
Thanks for your input. As an owner of 2610 (not cordless), do you know whether corded GPS in autos have a high theft rate? I am concerned of theft, so I am shopping for only cordless GPS at the moment.
For you and other owners of GPS without the text-to-voice feature, do you look at the GPS screen while you are driving to find out where to turn? May be I should look at Garmin C340 with the text-to-voice feature because I don't think that my wife wants to take her eyes off the road to scan the GPS screen every now and then. However, I agree with Juice that the costs for these additional features (going from one Garmin model to a higher end model) do add up fast. I think Garmin is getting some of us just like auto manufacturers are doing with options in cars.
The one we had was a loaner, we don't own one. The loaner had NAV, and that's what perked my interest.
I'm not certain about the updates, but I think you install the software on your computer from a CD, and then download updates from the web. I haven't done this yet, but upgrades are free for 6 months after purchase, so I am entitled to one free upgrade.
With the c320 you hook up the USB and upload the updates to the NAV once you've downloaded them to your PC. At least I think that's how it goes.
I'll see if they get the two corrections to the exits on I-270 near me.
I'm OK with reading the street name from the screen when needed, the Tribeca didn't do this either, in fact I think most NAV systems don't. I actually use the distance feature to tell when to the turn, not usually the street name.
I'll glance at the map only if there are two or more streets very close together, to see which one it is. Even then, I look at the map itself, and count the number of streets until the next turn, not the name of the street. It can be hard to see street signs, but the NAV map is easy to see.
When you come over I'll show you what I mean. Even for "Y" type intersections, it tells you if you have to bear right/left or take a sharp turn.
Regarding theft of the 2610 - I do not know what the numbers are on that. I usually take the unit out at night, or just put it on the floor beneath the seat. I picked up a little carry case for it, so it is very easy to just take it into the house/hotel that I am staying at.
As for the map, I guess I do glance at it occasionally. As Juice said, it is hard to see street signs sometimes. That's why I find it easier when it just says "make left/right in xxx miles/feet". I have just added the Garmin to my scan of the car that I was taught in Driver's Ed many moons ago.
As for doing the upgrades: as far as I know all Garmin products get installed onto your PC and then you decide what to upload onto the memory card. The upgrades usually pick up on any road changes, but not always. When I am traveling in Brooklyn, there is an exit that used to be 2 - one for North, the other for South. About a year ago then changed it to only one exit. The latest version of the map software that I just purchased does not pick this up. On the other hand, Garmin is good that when something is wrong, they encourage you to visit their website and submit an error report. They have also improved with the map software. When I bought the 2610 about 2 years ago, they only included the continental US and parts of Canada. The latest version now includes all 50 states, as well as Puerto Rico, and all of Canada. That came in handy when I went to Nova Scotia/PEI last year. We were able to use it to find some remote lighthouses.
The updates are usually on CD, I don't think they are available in download form. The way it works is this: 1. You get the GPS which comes with a CD. 2. You load the CD program into your computer and log onto the Garmin site to "authorize" it with a code that comes with the CD. You also register your new unit with them. The CD contains files of city maps as well as a map installation program and the program that installs it on the computer. Garmin's site sends your computer a code that is stored on your computer. 3. When it's time for an update you request it from Garmin or the dealer you bought the unit from. They send you a new CD (as I'm in Canada it's easier to get it from the dealer as I don't have to deal with customs). The new CD has all the stuff the original had, just updated. It's free for the first update. Once two new updates are out after your original it's $75 per update. If I read Garmin's site correctly. 4. You put the new CD into your computer and use it - as your program has already been "authorized", the new CD works without requiring logon to Garmin. The authorization code is stored in your computer, and new CDs see it.
As for corded vs battery operated, I like the C3XX and other portable series (such as the Quest) because they are both. When I stop for the night, or even for lunch, I just place the GPS unit on the floor or in a storage compartment. It's just a simple plug-in bracket that holds the unit and connects power to it via a cig. lighter socket. The cig. lighter plug has the speaker built in. When plugged in the internal lithium battery is charged. There are two different mounting brackets available from Garmin for the C3XX series. It comes with one of them, as well as an AC charger. There are four brackets for the Quest series.
You can also check out the Tom Tom and Magellin units. I've looked at them only briefly, but others like them.
A little warning about lithium batteries - don't let them fully discharge. Charge them up at least once every 6 months. In other words, don't put the unit in the closet for a year or more without charging it from time to time - it could damage the battery. This applies even if you remove the battery from the unit. The batteries self discharge slowly, but if you wait long enough they will go dead and be unrecoverable.
"I prefer one that does not require to be plugged into the 12 V supply of the car"
I use my Garmin 330 mounted on my windshield without ever needing to plug into a 12 V supply. I don't want dangling cords floppying around my dash. I can do this because of the internal 8 hour battery. I keep it charged up in home so it's always ready for use. Even on an extended trip exceeding 8 hours, I still don't need to plug in to a 12 V supply because when I am on a long stretch of 2-3 hundred miles, I just shut it off until the next turn. The c330 is by far the better choice (over the c320) since you have all the maps needed. Be sure to get the in home charger which is not included (it should be). Best price I've found is at www.gpscity.com for about $550.
The c330 is by far the better choice (over the c320) since you have all the maps needed
A c320 with a 2GB SD card costs less overall and can actually store more, like maps for Europe for instance. It's a little more work, but you'd end up with 2 SD cards, and could load maps in Europe on the one that comes with the unit, and then North America on the 2GB card.
So the choice isn't that clear cut. I'd rather invest the time and effort, and end up spending less and having the spare SD card for when I travel to Europe.
You are right about being able to load a map of Europe on your c320. Of course if you don't plan on driving in Europe then having all North America pre-loaded on a C330 may be more attractive. BTW, the new Garmin c330 now has a slot for a SD should I chage my mind and want to drive in Europe some day.
Juice, I am glad to know that, for Y-type intersections, the NAV will tell you whether to bear right or left. The application I have on mind for my wife has a Y intersection. Good. The feature should help her.
Thanks for your info. Does your C330 announce that you should make a turn a certain distance (e.g. 200 ft in the U.S. and 100 meters in Canada) ahead? Garmin's web site says C340 will announce that the driver should make a turn at a named street ahead. But the web site does not say whether C330 would make the announcement (i.e. whether C330 issues voice turn alerts) in terms of distance. I know C330 does not make the announcements in terms of street names. I wonder whether C340 would allow us to switch from one mode (voice turn alerts in street names) to another mode (voice turn alerts in distance). Does anyone out there know>
I believe the early c330 model had just the hard drive, so it wasn't expandable. Now that the newer ones have an SD slot it's more flexible, you could buy maps for Europe and have them on the SD.
I was wondering about that because I got mixed messages about the c330. Make sure if you buy one it has the SD slot, if you want that flexibility.
The c320 gives the distance. First in tenths of a mile, then in feet. You should be ready to turn when they say the amount of feet, basically.
We've had it for a couple of months and have never made a wrong turn with the NAV, so for us it works.
"Does your C330 announce that you should make a turn a certain distance"
Yes, the c330 gives several voice warnings well in advance of a turn ("turn left in 500 ft, then turn left in 200 ft, stay left, stay right, take ramp right etc.) The c320 and c330 give the same advance prompts except the c340 will name the street (not a big advantage IMO). We just returned from a trip to Newport RI and were amazed at the accuracy of this unit. It even mapped parking lots. I will never be without a GPS again. The c330 is now listed for $551 at www.gpscity.com ($689 in Canada). Best Buy has it for $699 but they claim they will price match on line stores if the unit is in stock and sold by an authorized dealer (GPS City is an authorized dealer). Best Buy's price match policy is available on their web site so print it and take it with you. Otherwise, the sales rep may dispute their price match policy.
One of my (many and varied) requirements for my next car is one that has a factory Navigation system.
Is there a function on Edmunds (or elsewhere on the web) that allows you to search for cars based on features? I'm just looking for a current list of all the makes/models that have Nav as an available option...
The only thing I can think of is to look up a model you are interested in and then select the Competing Vehicles button (I used an X5 in this example).
You can also start with the Vehicle Comparison link and choose up to 5 models and then check the Features page.
In another few years it may be like air conditioning - unless you are buying a base model, you'll just assume your new car will have navigation.
Someone in the organization has figured out that 300 car models now come with navigation systems either as standard equipment or as an option.
"In a survey by J.D. Power & Associates of new-car buyers last year, 47 percent said they wanted a navigation system in their next car, up from 35 percent in 2000."
Please check with the Toyota dealership in Finland for the new DVD map disc for Europe and navigation computer located under the drivers seat. Since the computer is different for the US and Europe it must be replaced as it is not compatible with the US map disc.
Anybody know of a reliable source wher I can get a US version of the RNSE DVD navigation system. I dont want to buy off Ebay with stuff coming from Europe. How much would installation be? I live in NJ . Would be great if I ca find a local installer.
Has anybody checked out the Lowrance iway 350c? It's similar to the Garmin 320 series, but it includes an mp3 player, picture viewer, and plays the sound wireless via your FM radio.
Lowrance is a pretty good name in GPA; I used the Airmap 500 in my airplane. I think this is essentiall a smaller version of the iway 500c.
I've seen the Lowrance but haven't used it. The iway 350c and iway 500c are the same in terms of navigation I think. The 500c has a 20GB hard drive with 10GB available for music storage. Definitely the 350c looks like a good value. I think it is selling for about $400.
I ordered it for $404 a few days ago--just saw it on one website for 389. Since it can pipe your MP3s onto your radio and you can use it for your traveling pictures it might be a pretty good entry level portable--especially if it really can go 15 hours. It'd make a nice little viewer at lunch to see the pictures you took during the morning, etc. I was very happy with my AirMap 500, anyhow, and with Lowrance's support.
I prefer the Garmin's shape, though, looks a little more stable and flexible in how you'd use it.
You'll love the Garmin 2720. No battery but it is capable of several languages. English, German, British accent, French, Portuguese, Italian, Swedish, Norwegian, Dutch, Brazilian, Australian English and Spanish. Street price about $770.00
I have a 2006 Honda CR-V and want to install an in-dash system with incorporated Sirius. I have a portable Sirius with FM modulation now and there is a frustrating amount of static. I also just bought a portable Magellan RoadMate 800 which I will be returning next week. I am pretty disappointed in it. The screen is very small, the controls are not intuitive and the navigation itself is nowhere near as good as the factory system in my '03 Accord.
We are looking at the Pioneer AVIC-D1. The CR-V has a double height radio so I can fit a non-retractable screen. Any other suggestions? Has anyone else installed an in-dash unit they you liked?
I would also like to keep my steering wheel radio controls if I could. How do I find a reputable installer?
Is it too late to work something out with the dealer? Maybe in exchange for the old radio/stereo he'll do the installation for you, or give you a real cut rate.
I've decided that if I buy a car w/o a nav I'll try to get an installation like that thrown into the deal.
The c series does all those languages too, minus Portuguese. It's a bit of a gimmick, though, we only really use American English.
For that Pioneer - check out Crutchfield for add-ons, I think you need an adaptor to keep the steering wheel controls active, and it costs a hundred or two extra. Not cheap, but fully integrated is nice.
Hi Does anybody know where to buy a navigation system for Ford Escape, which will replace the factory CD player?
I am still hesitating between the build-in GPS and some standard external GPS.
There is a lot of advantages with build-in GPS. It looks much nicer than the hand held, it is more convenient to use. The draw back is that I can see onlt Hybrid having one, and I am not sure if it is possible to have it on my standard XLT 2006.
If somebody has a Escape with GPS build in, please share the dealer. Thank Pawel
what website did you order your iway350c it seems to be a good price , i looked at the iway500c nice big screen but the only thing it did not have a battery back-up , only 12v plug in thanks.
Comments
On the way up we hit a major traffic jam on the NJ Turnpike, I got off and took local roads for a couple of exits, bypassing the mess. No idea how much time I saved but the reduced stress was priceless.
While up there, we hit Blue Jay Orchard to go apple picking (best orchard I've been to by far by the way) and used NAV to find it. Last year we got lost and drove in circles, then finally got directions from a local. This year we drove right up, no hassles. It was great.
Beautiful, scenic roads up in New England, but lots of merges and splits, Y shaped roads, so you have to know which way to turn, it's tricky. The NAV was very, very handy. I used the maps plus it told me to "stay right" or "stay left" about a dozen times.
Hard to think I managed before without this thing.
-juice
I used the maps plus it told me to "stay right" or "stay left" about a dozen times.
The first time I used my Garmin was when I went to the Philly Auto show with Elm when they were introducing the 05 Legacy. We were leaving to come home and it told me to "stay left", which I did. Turns out it was for a couple of feet then we had to make a right turn which we missed. It got us home, just with a detour. That's when I learned that "stay right/left" can mean go straight, and check the map for where the next turn is
GPS defintiely comes in handy, and it's great having a unit I can take on vacation. Definitely makes it easier getting around a strange city.
Mark
The turnpike is confusing, you may have to go left or right depending upon whether you are in the express lanes or not. The map comes in handy.
-juice
Eclipse AVN 5435
Kenwood PNAV 7015
Eclipse AVN 5495
Any Camry Owners installed nav in their car.(Double din)Please share their experiences....
Lost is Finland
Can you recommend an aftermarket NAV to be put in my wife's 2001 Camry?
I prefer NAV that does not require to be installed in the dash. Even for a portable NAV, I prefer one that does not require to be plugged into the 12 V supply of the car. As Juice knows, I live in Maryland outside DC. Map coverage around DC and to the beach at Delaware or Maryland is important too.
I compared Garmin C320 and C330 on its website. The MSRP of C320 is about $590 and C330 is about $750. The major differences appear to be Alternative Map Availability and Speed Alarm. I think I can do with C320 to save some money. Would that be a correct selection? Or should I also look at another manufacturer?
Am I missing any other factors? I am new at this.
Thanks.
Oldjayhawk.
But as far as the difference between the 320 and 330, their website tells me the 330 comes loaded with everything, while the 320 requires you hook up to your PC and load up what you need for your intended trip. Seems like the 330 is MUCH more convenient AND would give you the benefit of grabbing the unit and going, rather than thinking about where you are going, hooking up to your PC to load appropriate maps, THEN actually go. My wife is always rushing me out the door, so I have a feeling the 320 just wouldn't work out well for me.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Thanks for pointing out about C340. I just checked out Garmin website on the differences between c340 or C330 versus C320.
The website says C340 and C330 have pre-programmed internal memory that stores City Select maps, but C320 has only City Select CD-Rom uploadable. I did not know what is City Select CD-ROM. I take it means that with C320 I had to upload the maps from a City Select CD-ROM placed in a PC (I assume I have to buy the CD-ROM; is it costly?) in each city that I want to use the NAV. Or may be one City Select CD-ROM will cover most of the cities in the Eastern U.S.? If I have to upload maps, I agree that C320 is not convenient because the ultimate user, my wife, is not going to put up with that hassle.
That took me to the comparison of C330 and C340. The only major difference appears to be Text-to-Speech Voice Prompts found in C340, not in C330. Is that what you meant by "for the benefit of having it tell you the actual street names"? So C340 has a voice telling you what is the name of the street coming up that C340 wants you to turn into?
Thanks ahead for further clarifications from you or anyone else.
Oldjayhawk
Everything else you observed is, to the best of my knowledge, correct. Based on the memory limitations of the 320, you would have to load it up with the maps you need each time (unless you exclusively drive in the same area).
Yes, the text-to-speech means it can actually read all the details of the directions to you, including the street names. So, rather than telling you "turn right in .5 miles," it will tell you "turn right in .5 miles onto Main Street."
Like you, I'm just comparing these on paper right now (also check cnet for reviews on some different units), so I don't have any real-world experience to share. Unfortunately, I think these are still a bit too pricey for me. If I could get something like the 340 for about $400, I might be sold. (comp-u-plus, according to pricegrabber, has the 340 for $620 right now, so I'm not too far from my wish ... maybe next year)
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
The C320 comes with the CD-ROM that contains the entire USA. I believe it also has all of Canada, as well as Puerto Rico. All this can be loaded onto a SD card. Check back a few posts and you will see Juice talking about his. I think the USA can fit on a 1 GB SD card. Also check around for vendors. There is a gps information website that will link you to numerous dealers.
I'm speaking as an owner of the Streetpilot 2610, so I don't have the cordless capability you are looking for. However, I can say that I have all of Canada, US (all 50 states) on a 2 GB CF card. You load once, and forget. The most I use the PC for now is to plan out way points in advance, as well as check out the possible routing choices.
BTW - the maps get updated about every 1 - 1.5 years.
Mark
If you are not a good candidate for a c320, then you're also not a good candidate for the c330. Outdated information (POI) are less than useless, they're actually misleading. Imagine driving out of your way to get gas or find that burger you crave only to find out it's not there. Oops.
If you don't think roads change that often - think about the Points Of Interest (POI). Restaurants, gas stations, stuff like that, they change all the time. You will want an update 2 years from now. I'm ready for an update already, and I've only had mine since summer. 2 exits on I-270 near me have changed.
My SD card was $70 and I basically loaded everything but the Dakotas. So I saved 160-70=$90 and I'm ready for updates. That's worth the hour or two I've invested.
Then, looking at c330 vs. c340, the street names have not been important because the NAV is so accurate, even at the city street block level. It says "turn in point-X miles, then turn in XXX ft". When it says feet, it's the next turn. You see the name of the street and the relative position on the screen.
Exception - if you are vision-impaired, the text-to-voice is a necessity.
We have not been left wanting. I'd take these upgrades if they were free, but these very minor (IMO) upgrades make prices jump upward significantly.
I used a shopping bot and found the c320 for $404 delivered. Service was slow, but that price makes it affordable to a lot of folks. You might already have a spare SD card from your camera, like I did, so I didn't even have to pay more for that.
-juice
With the c320 it's different. First, it uses an SD style card. Second, it has a battery, so you bring the whole unit inside with you. This lets you enter addresses right on the touch screen in the comfort of your own home.
I entered every address in our mailing list. The cool thing is that those way points show up on the map! So as I'm driving by, it tells me that if I happen to be close to my dad's house, so I'll see a "Dad" on the map. Pretty cool.
Again - you end up spending a couple of hours setting it up, but it's worth it. That's the whole point, actually. You customize it, load all your addresses. It's more useful that way.
jayhawk and I are old friends (his wife used to work with me) so I've invited him over for a demo.
I promise to show what it can't do as well as what it can.
But this little $404 device is as good or better as the $2000 system built-in to the Tribeca we had as a loaner for a week.
-juice
Your post in the Tribeca forum on the Subaru NAV was what got me interested in NAV or GPS in autos. However, I do not think the factory NAV is worth $2000 per unit (the price I generally see advertized as options for certain cars or SUV nowadays). I assume you agree with me because I seem to recall that your wife's Tribeca does not have the Subaru NAV. I bet the after-market GPS units are making a killing on the factory GPS sales in general.
Besides Garmin, should I also look at other manufacturers? I have seen Magellan, Kenwood, Panasonic mentioned in previous posts in this forum.
BTW - My wife and I decided not to get Tribeca this winter (because its torque is not high enough for the kind of money Subaru is asking for). Its limited rear view is also a deal killer for me. Instead, I have gotten winter tires for her current Camry. Some posts in Tirerack.com said that front wheel drives with winter tires can perform better than all wheel drives with all season tires. I will find out whether it is true this winter.
Thanks.
Oldjayhawk
I assume the updates are especially valuable for POI information. Juice: I can see why you want updates a few months after you got your C320 because you, like many, seem to enjoy using the POI information in your out-of-town excursion. The roads probably do not change as fast as the POI. But then according to Juice, two exits of I-270 north of DC have changed necessitating an update in his system.
Thanks advanced for your clarifications.
Oldjayhawk
Thanks for your input. As an owner of 2610 (not cordless), do you know whether corded GPS in autos have a high theft rate? I am concerned of theft, so I am shopping for only cordless GPS at the moment.
For you and other owners of GPS without the text-to-voice feature, do you look at the GPS screen while you are driving to find out where to turn? May be I should look at Garmin C340 with the text-to-voice feature because I don't think that my wife wants to take her eyes off the road to scan the GPS screen every now and then. However, I agree with Juice that the costs for these additional features (going from one Garmin model to a higher end model) do add up fast. I think Garmin is getting some of us just like auto manufacturers are doing with options in cars.
Oldjayhawk
I'm not certain about the updates, but I think you install the software on your computer from a CD, and then download updates from the web. I haven't done this yet, but upgrades are free for 6 months after purchase, so I am entitled to one free upgrade.
With the c320 you hook up the USB and upload the updates to the NAV once you've downloaded them to your PC. At least I think that's how it goes.
I'll see if they get the two corrections to the exits on I-270 near me.
I'm OK with reading the street name from the screen when needed, the Tribeca didn't do this either, in fact I think most NAV systems don't. I actually use the distance feature to tell when to the turn, not usually the street name.
I'll glance at the map only if there are two or more streets very close together, to see which one it is. Even then, I look at the map itself, and count the number of streets until the next turn, not the name of the street. It can be hard to see street signs, but the NAV map is easy to see.
When you come over I'll show you what I mean. Even for "Y" type intersections, it tells you if you have to bear right/left or take a sharp turn.
-juice
As for the map, I guess I do glance at it occasionally. As Juice said, it is hard to see street signs sometimes. That's why I find it easier when it just says "make left/right in xxx miles/feet". I have just added the Garmin to my scan of the car that I was taught in Driver's Ed many moons ago.
As for doing the upgrades: as far as I know all Garmin products get installed onto your PC and then you decide what to upload onto the memory card. The upgrades usually pick up on any road changes, but not always. When I am traveling in Brooklyn, there is an exit that used to be 2 - one for North, the other for South. About a year ago then changed it to only one exit. The latest version of the map software that I just purchased does not pick this up.
On the other hand, Garmin is good that when something is wrong, they encourage you to visit their website and submit an error report. They have also improved with the map software. When I bought the 2610 about 2 years ago, they only included the continental US and parts of Canada. The latest version now includes all 50 states, as well as Puerto Rico, and all of Canada. That came in handy when I went to Nova Scotia/PEI last year. We were able to use it to find some remote lighthouses.
Mark
They can even help the police track a stolen car if the GPS is on. If the police are willing, at least.
-juice
1. You get the GPS which comes with a CD.
2. You load the CD program into your computer and log onto the Garmin site to "authorize" it with a code that comes with the CD. You also register your new unit with them. The CD contains files of city maps as well as a map installation program and the program that installs it on the computer. Garmin's site sends your computer a code that is stored on your computer.
3. When it's time for an update you request it from Garmin or the dealer you bought the unit from. They send you a new CD (as I'm in Canada it's easier to get it from the dealer as I don't have to deal with customs). The new CD has all the stuff the original had, just updated. It's free for the first update. Once two new updates are out after your original it's $75 per update. If I read Garmin's site correctly.
4. You put the new CD into your computer and use it - as your program has already been "authorized", the new CD works without requiring logon to Garmin. The authorization code is stored in your computer, and new CDs see it.
As for corded vs battery operated, I like the C3XX and other portable series (such as the Quest) because they are both. When I stop for the night, or even for lunch, I just place the GPS unit on the floor or in a storage compartment. It's just a simple plug-in bracket that holds the unit and connects power to it via a cig. lighter socket. The cig. lighter plug has the speaker built in. When plugged in the internal lithium battery is charged. There are two different mounting brackets available from Garmin for the C3XX series. It comes with one of them, as well as an AC charger. There are four brackets for the Quest series.
You can also check out the Tom Tom and Magellin units. I've looked at them only briefly, but others like them.
A little warning about lithium batteries - don't let them fully discharge. Charge them up at least once every 6 months. In other words, don't put the unit in the closet for a year or more without charging it from time to time - it could damage the battery. This applies even if you remove the battery from the unit. The batteries self discharge slowly, but if you wait long enough they will go dead and be unrecoverable.
I use my Garmin 330 mounted on my windshield without ever needing to plug into a 12 V supply. I don't want dangling cords floppying around my dash. I can do this because of the internal 8 hour battery. I keep it charged up in home so it's always ready for use. Even on an extended trip exceeding 8 hours, I still don't need to plug in to a 12 V supply because when I am on a long stretch of 2-3 hundred miles, I just shut it off until the next turn. The c330 is by far the better choice (over the c320) since you have all the maps needed. Be sure to get the in home charger which is not included (it should be). Best price I've found is at www.gpscity.com for about $550.
A c320 with a 2GB SD card costs less overall and can actually store more, like maps for Europe for instance. It's a little more work, but you'd end up with 2 SD cards, and could load maps in Europe on the one that comes with the unit, and then North America on the 2GB card.
So the choice isn't that clear cut. I'd rather invest the time and effort, and end up spending less and having the spare SD card for when I travel to Europe.
Nice to have options.
-juice
You are right about being able to load a map of Europe on your c320. Of course if you don't plan on driving in Europe then having all North America pre-loaded on a C330 may be more attractive. BTW, the new Garmin c330 now has a slot for a SD should I chage my mind and want to drive in Europe some day.
I am glad to know that, for Y-type intersections, the NAV will tell you whether to bear right or left. The application I have on mind for my wife has a Y intersection. Good. The feature should help her.
Oldjayhawk
Thanks for your info. Does your C330 announce that you should make a turn a certain distance (e.g. 200 ft in the U.S. and 100 meters in Canada) ahead? Garmin's web site says C340 will announce that the driver should make a turn at a named street ahead. But the web site does not say whether C330 would make the announcement (i.e. whether C330 issues voice turn alerts) in terms of distance. I know C330 does not make the announcements in terms of street names. I wonder whether C340 would allow us to switch from one mode (voice turn alerts in street names) to another mode (voice turn alerts in distance). Does anyone out there know>
Oldjayhawk
I believe the early c330 model had just the hard drive, so it wasn't expandable. Now that the newer ones have an SD slot it's more flexible, you could buy maps for Europe and have them on the SD.
I was wondering about that because I got mixed messages about the c330. Make sure if you buy one it has the SD slot, if you want that flexibility.
The c320 gives the distance. First in tenths of a mile, then in feet. You should be ready to turn when they say the amount of feet, basically.
We've had it for a couple of months and have never made a wrong turn with the NAV, so for us it works.
-juice
Yes, the c330 gives several voice warnings well in advance of a turn ("turn left in 500 ft, then turn left in 200 ft, stay left, stay right, take ramp right etc.) The c320 and c330 give the same advance prompts except the c340 will name the street (not a big advantage IMO). We just returned from a trip to Newport RI and were amazed at the accuracy of this unit. It even mapped parking lots. I will never be without a GPS again. The c330 is now listed for $551 at www.gpscity.com ($689 in Canada). Best Buy has it for $699 but they claim they will price match on line stores if the unit is in stock and sold by an authorized dealer (GPS City is an authorized dealer). Best Buy's price match policy is available on their web site so print it and take it with you. Otherwise, the sales rep may dispute their price match policy.
Too bad it can't find an open parking space for us.
-juice
Is there a function on Edmunds (or elsewhere on the web) that allows you to search for cars based on features? I'm just looking for a current list of all the makes/models that have Nav as an available option...
You can also start with the Vehicle Comparison link and choose up to 5 models and then check the Features page.
In another few years it may be like air conditioning - unless you are buying a base model, you'll just assume your new car will have navigation.
Steve, Host
"In a survey by J.D. Power & Associates of new-car buyers last year, 47 percent said they wanted a navigation system in their next car, up from 35 percent in 2000."
Car Toys: Looking Every Place But the Road (technewsworld.com)
So somewhere around here, someone has a list. Maybe we can convince them to print it....
Steve, Host
Once you get in the upper 20s in price, just about everyone does.
-juice
If you tell us what kind of vehicle you are looking for, we may be able to throw out some names for you.
How much would installation be? I live in NJ . Would be great if I ca find a local installer.
Lowrance is a pretty good name in GPA; I used the Airmap 500 in my airplane. I think this is essentiall a smaller version of the iway 500c.
I prefer the Garmin's shape, though, looks a little more stable and flexible in how you'd use it.
We are looking at the Pioneer AVIC-D1. The CR-V has a double height radio so I can fit a non-retractable screen. Any other suggestions? Has anyone else installed an in-dash unit they you liked?
I would also like to keep my steering wheel radio controls if I could. How do I find a reputable installer?
Thanks.
I've decided that if I buy a car w/o a nav I'll try to get an installation like that thrown into the deal.
For that Pioneer - check out Crutchfield for add-ons, I think you need an adaptor to keep the steering wheel controls active, and it costs a hundred or two extra. Not cheap, but fully integrated is nice.
-juice
Does anybody know where to buy a navigation system for Ford Escape, which will replace the factory CD player?
I am still hesitating between the build-in GPS and some standard external GPS.
There is a lot of advantages with build-in GPS. It looks much nicer than the hand held, it is more convenient to use. The draw back is that I can see onlt Hybrid having one, and I am not sure if it is possible to have it on my standard XLT 2006.
If somebody has a Escape with GPS build in, please share the dealer.
Thank
Pawel
tidester, host
I am sorry, but which group is this? I though it is the Navigation / GPS Systems, isn't it?
cheers
Pawel
tidester, host
http://www.tigergps.com/index.html