Car GPS (aftermarket)

[ashatumar]

I'm in the market for a GPS system. I've got a real need for one as I've decided to hang on to my car for the next few years, and getting lost/driving while looking at directions is dangerously irresponsible and I'd like to cut the habit.

Christmas is coming, and a few people have asked what I'd like, and this is at the top of my list. I did an initial CNET run, and the search returned over a thousand reviews. What I'm really looking for is below (to my knowledge CNET won't let me break the search down to this level of detail):

Rerouting
Speech to text
Spoken directions
the more colorful/larger the display the better
mounting arm with optional detatchment
independent power supply (batteries), easily rechargeable from home
<$300 pricetag

Subscription model vs. DVD purchase are really the least important options, but the flexibility to pick one over the other is preferred.

Does anyone have any real experience with these? I'd be using them everyday and it would practically be another accessory for me (i.e. cell phone, wallet, watch, etc.).

[Twobit Whore]

I had a Tomtom for a while and it was pretty slick but I just didn't use it enough to justify keeping it.

It spoke directions and when driving if you turned off it would automatically reroute to your destination. You could download maps and junk but it came with all of the US + Canada and I think Europe included.

Screen was big enough, colorful, 2D or 3D modes and it had plenty of hotel/restaurant/golf course/movie theater type listings and suggestions built in as well.

The mounting was okay, it had suction cups so you could put the bracket on the windshield and snap the unit in. You could just take the unit itself off and put it in the included bag for storage/overnights. I believe it was rechargable via the lighter. I seem to recall using it unplugged some, but it's been a while so don't quote me.

[brekk]

my boss has a Garmin Nuvi.

it works well and quickly reroutes if we ignore it directions.

whatever you buy make sure to listen to the voice first, the Nuvi has the voice of an irritated woman, so we always joke that it sounds like his wife giving directions.

also depending on quality, do not leave the suction cup attached to the windshield unless its being used, my boss did, and the heat got to it and left a nice black ring on the inside of the windshield.

[ashatumar]

Originally Posted by brekk

my boss has a Garmin Nuvi.

it works well and quickly reroutes if we ignore it directions.

whatever you buy make sure to listen to the voice first, the Nuvi has the voice of an irritated woman, so we always joke that it sounds like his wife giving directions.

also depending on quality, do not leave the suction cup attached to the windshield unless its being used, my boss did, and the heat got to it and left a nice black ring on the inside of the windshield.

Listening to the voice is not something I had considered. But given the fact I'd have to listen to it day in and day out -- a great reccomendation. Thank you.

[Millie]

I have a stock first-gen navigation system that came with my 350Z. It sounds like an irritated British woman, and I often picture her scolding me because I am horrendous with following her directions, and I have a naturally abysmal sense of direction.

While I've never used an aftermarket system, I hear the Tomtom is supposed to be the best at what it does.

OnStar is an excellent service, as well, from what I've seen of friends who use it. But you have to call up a human and interact with him/her, which can be unreliable at times. On the plus side, a human operator can sometimes point out shortcuts or traffic patterns that a computer system can't. Of course, I'm sure that the OnStar subscription service isn't cheap.

[ashatumar]

Originally Posted by Millie

I have a stock first-gen navigation system that came with my 350Z. It sounds like an irritated British woman, and I often picture her scolding me because I am horrendous with following her directions, and I have a naturally abysmal sense of direction.

While I've never used an aftermarket system, I hear the Tomtom is supposed to be the best at what it does.

OnStar is an excellent service, as well, from what I've seen of friends who use it. But you have to call up a human and interact with him/her, which can be unreliable at times. On the plus side, a human operator can sometimes point out shortcuts or traffic patterns that a computer system can't. Of course, I'm sure that the OnStar subscription service isn't cheap.

Nope, $18.95 a month for their cheapest plan, which offers their most important feature:

Remote Door Unlock
Just give the OnStar Advisor your PIN and account number and they can send a signal to unlock your door (if available on your vehicle).4 (If you don't know your PIN, you can verify your identity with personal account information.)

[Astrocreep]

how often do you lose your car keys or lock them inside? in the 18 years ive been driving ive done that exactly zero times. i have extra copies of my keys laying around just in case and i can buy maps for a dollar or just map blast+print my trip for free on the PC while im home. i dont understand why people pay for these gadgets.

[Twobit Whore]

Originally Posted by ashatumar

Listening to the voice is not something I had considered. But given the fact I'd have to listen to it day in and day out -- a great reccomendation. Thank you.

The one I had had like 8 built-in voices, American and English men and women. It also came with a card good for 1 download of another voice out of dozens. You could also buy more I guess, not sure. I found one of the stock ones to be fine.. but some did suck too.

[ashatumar]

Originally Posted by Astrocreep

how often do you lose your car keys or lock them inside? in the 18 years ive been driving ive done that exactly zero times. i have extra copies of my keys laying around just in case and i can buy maps for a dollar or just map blast+print my trip for free on the PC while im home. i dont understand why people pay for these gadgets.

I've locked mine in my car four times in the last month. Remember I am in sales, so my travelling gets me in and out of my car at least 10 times a day.

I'm not saying I'm not scatterbrained about it, but I always try to take conscious inventory of the keys in my hand before getting out of the car. What I am saying is that it would be nice to have this feature.

As far as printing maps out and reading them, anyone will tell you it's dangerous. Have I been in an accident because of reading one while moving, no. Do I see the danger and know that I've gotten lucky? Yes.

Maps are also fairly imprecise from time to time. When you pass something, or when the directions take you short/long of your final destination, it becomes at the least a waste of time and at worst a danger in unfamiliar territory. If everyone had GPS, I wonder how critical am impact it would make on our collective carbon footprint?

[Neph]

I have a Tom Tom One, which is what I think Twobit had. It's a really good little gps system. Fairly cheap and not too many unnecessary frills that the expensive models come with (mp3 players, FM traffic receivers, etc). In terms of the voices, I'm fairly sure that you can change and download more with all the aftermarket gps systems out there. That said, I'd say play with different models not for the voices, but for which one has an easier interface.

[ashatumar]

Originally Posted by Neph

I have a Tom Tom One, which is what I think Twobit had. It's a really good little gps system. Fairly cheap and not too many unnecessary frills that the expensive models come with (mp3 players, FM traffic receivers, etc). In terms of the voices, I'm fairly sure that you can change and download more with all the aftermarket gps systems out there. That said, I'd say play with different models not for the voices, but for which one has an easier interface.

Three TomTom reccomendations so far; headed to CNET now to thin the herd a little further.

I checked Best Buy last night to see if I could play with any of these, and I didn't see any for sale in the "Mobile Electronics" section. Am I looking in the wrong area, or can anyone suggest some brick and mortar establishments where I can go to fiddle with these things?

[Twobit Whore]

Mine came from Wal-Mart. And yes, it was the TomTom One now that you mention it. Even had a touch screen interface.

[Neph]

I played with mine in a Best Buy. All the gps systems were by the car audio section at the one i went to.

[Aulirophile]

Originally Posted by ashatumar

I've locked mine in my car four times in the last month. Remember I am in sales, so my travelling gets me in and out of my car at least 10 times a day.

Does your car not beep when the door is open but the keys are in the ignition? Generally that loud annoying beeping sound is enough to make anyone remember.

Do you have a radio controlled door lock/unlock? Change the cars settings to not lock automatically when you're leaving the vehicle then always use the radio lock button to lock your car.

[Twobit Whore]

It's like 5 bucks. Just stick it under the car.