I am looking to purchase a new GPS for my husband for XMAS. He has a Navigon now w/a small screen (3x2 1/2). I am looking to upgrade this old model, but don't want to spend too much (closer to $100-$150). I don't know what brand is better - ex. Garmin, Tom-Tom? Should I be looking for the larger screens (4x5)? Any help would be greatly appreciated - Thanks!!
we have a Garmin Nuvi and we LOVE it They have a lifetime update deal that's a GREAT deal , where you can get an up date a year.
It has life traffic updates re routes and I LOVE the exit view it gives shows what the exit looks like and what lane you should be in before you get there.
Right now the voice we have on it is an elf ( for the holidays) but there are several to choose from .
I got my Garmin at Best Buy and the salesperson there was really great at telling me the differences between the models of Garmins and Tom-Toms. The Garmins had more features for the same price.
I have had both and like the Garmin better. I think it has more options. Both are good brands though.
look at Target.com and Walmart.com or their circulars. They definately have great deals on GPS before Christmas. Last year I bought my hubby a Magellan instead of the super poplur Garmin Nuvi at the time, it went for $100 on special at our discount club BJs.com and he loves it, it is the bigger screened one, he and I both like the volume controls and the woman's voice that speaks the directions is very clear and understandable.
We've updated it a couple times by plugging it in to our desktop and works great so far and its been a year.
My friend has a Garmin Nuvi something or another and loves it and another friend has a tom-tom. So I think you'll be safe with either of the top brands and with all the sales going on you won't pay too much.
Good Luck
pammy
we have a garmin..and we love it ..bought it at best buy for around $150 and purchased the warranty for it.
I have a Garmin Nuvi and absolutely love it. It can go in my pocket if I am in a strange city and need walking directions. However, if you are in a hotel, ask the desk clerk for directions first. My son went to a restaurant which was just down the street from the hotel, but because the GPS picked up the one-way street, it took him around the block. He laughed and said, "I needed the exercise anyway". If he had gone out the front door and made a right (instead of a left) a half block down and a half block right, it would have been a shorter trip. That was 2-years ago. He still laughs about it.
I have a Garmin and no complaints here. Hubby has a magellan for work and it has taken him the wrong way a few times.
Look for one with "lifetime" maps. Updating the maps will cost you 65-100 -- some makers let you buy lifetime maps after the fact, others don't. Having one that updates are free is definitely worthwhile.
I've owned a Magellan and a Tom Tom. I preferred the Magellan.. oddly enough because of how it attached to the windshield more then anything. The Magellan had a suction cup that tightened nicely and was very secure. My Tom Tom just had a normal suction cup and it fell off ALL the time. Annoying as heck.
There are tons of deals on Amazon - I would just start looking there and reading reviews.
I have a Tom-Tom and I love it!! It was given to me by my parents when I moved to TX... I am horrible with directions and they knew I would be in desperate need of one.
I take it with me everywhere I go and it has never failed.
