GPS car use opinions

[phantom]

Any of you fellas or fellesses got any constructive up to date advice on GPS for use in a car. I know its not about bikes , that's why it is in this forum and as most of you aren't hard bastards who never drive a car someone must have something useful to say. I know there is mention of good/bad GPS sytems in a previous thread but anything vaguely to do with IT dates very quickly. I am interested in a good reliable unit for use by " her indoors " that can be transferred between the car and the truck, is easy'ish to use by someone who doesn't enjoy unnecessary bells and whistles and gives accurate directions as she finds her way around the backblocks

Cheers P.

[P38]

I use a Garmin Zumo 550.

Comes with a bike cradle and a car cradle.

The Bike cradle is semi permanent, the car cradle sticks to the windscreen and plugs into any ciggy socket and can be moved from vehicle to vehicle in seconds.

Very easy to use on both the bike and the car but it is expensive.

If I was gonna get one for in car use only I'd buy either a
Garmin Nuvi 660 or a Garmin Street pilot C320
or a Navman S90i.

All easy to use with touch screen options and excellent maps.

Check them out at Dicksmith. http://www.dse.co.nz

They are avalible at plenty of other places too.

[samnz]

I've got a no-frills Navman S30. Does the trick - no bells n' whistles but gets me to where I need to go.

It's small, loud and has an audio-out so I can slip it into my jacket pocket, throw in some earphones and still get directions on my bike. Obviously no visual, but that's ok cause there's plenty of warning.

"In 500 metres at the traffic lights, turn right - then turn left"

Then again at 100m out from the lights it will give you,

"Turn right - then turn left"

Tomtom gave me too many reminders to "Turn right" whereas Navman gave plenty of warning 500-600m out, then one to execute the turn.

I've tried the Text to speech ones but found the street names (esp. maori names) a bit blah. I often missed the street name so I found myself looking at the screen anyway!

Navman software is pretty good with 2007 pre-installed but a couple of Christchurch roads haven't been updated like town end of Blenheim Rd.

The window mount is the best I've used so far. Just push and clip to mount: clip and pull to dismount. It has a ball head to pivot and twist. I use it driver's side as opposed to centred like some. And being a 3.5"screen, it has a small footprint to fit in small spaces.

Battery lasts for approx 5hrs (never used it for more than 2 myself), otherwise use it all day when plugged into ciggy lighter. If I'm just heading in and around town in the car I don't even bother plugging it in.

The info on screen is more than enough for me. DTG (Distance to Go), TTG (Time to Go), Current speed, Current Time. Peripheral Street names, Next turn, POI's (I only have mine programmed for schools and Petrol Stations) mainly for safety for the school indicator and Petrol Stations make good reference points when driving en-route.

No speedcameras, speed zone indicators or customisable POIs, but I get by.

Also tried Garmin Nuvi 260 and 310. The former has text to speech but no earphone jack, 310 has a retractable antenna which is a pain in the arse and flimsy.

Tomtom One had me doing "U turns" - plenty of features though, but still - I wouldn't use them. One of the most user friendly units though with easy menus.

Try some out before you buy. Get a salesperson who knows what they're talking about. Check out the warranty (Navman have 2 years).

There are negatives on every gps in-car navigation system whether it be software, features, price or - whatever. You'll never get a 100% happy punter. There are some things I wish the S30 had, but I'm stoked with it.

Sam

[CookMySock]

I know its not about bikes

KB isn't about bikes, its about people who own bikes.

edit: must get me one of those gps thingys

DB

[Bren]

edit: must get me one of those gps thingys

DB

i got one....its the most expensive piece of crap i ever got, aint doin that again.

Problem is the unit never shuts up, and whats more it has a tendancy to scream...worst thing is the constant nagging!

[CookMySock]

Problem is the unit never shuts up, and whats more it has a tendancy to scream...worst thing is the constant nagging!

Look at the sticker on the back and see if its firmware version ends with a capital "F".


DB

[Nordy]

I use a garmin GPSMap 60Cx which has car mounts avaliable, very easy to use, has free auto routing maps avaliable. Its easy to use and it works well under trees and in citys with lots of building cover as it has a high sensitivity chip.

I got mine off a dude in CHCH KiwiGPS@paradise.net.nz who brings them in himself. GME are no longer the Garmin dealers for NZ as Garmin are creating an office in Aussie to do it themselves. Hopefully my guy will then become an offical dealer. If you email him and tell him what you want out of a GPS he will suggest the right one . Hes good like that. When I was first looking I went into DSE to enquire about the garmins they sold. They very quickly turned the conversation to Navman and I very quickly left. I talked to someone about it who knew about garmins and he gave me that email.

[-df-]

Navman S30 would be perfect for you...unless you want the larger screen, then a S50 would be perfect...price has just dropped I think as well.

[-df-]

They very quickly turned the conversation to Navman and I very quickly left.

Just wondering what your reasons were against the Navman unit? Always good to hear opinions.

[Nordy]

There are free maps and free autorouting maps avaliable for garmin, and garmin have handheld units that work really well under trees (high sensitivity chips). great for mapping out the mountain bike trails.

I now have two garmins. the GPSMap 60Cx and the Forerunner 405 HRM which both use the same maps (the forerunner on the pc for after the walk/ride to plot out where i was)

[Street Gerbil]

I've been using a Garmin StreetPilot III+ for about 7 years now. It served me well in America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. IMO just about any type of autorouting Garmin unit with voice prompts (very useful feature) is a worthy investment. NZ maps are reasonably good too.