Need new GPS asap

smib · October 27th, 2008, 09:02 PM

Well, much to her dismay, my girlfriend found out as she was on her way out the door from work today that starting tomorrow morning she will be moved to another city. Now aside from all of the personal reason why this sucks, the GPS we have, a Garmin c300 series, is pretty much useless in urban areas. So while we aren't running out to get it tonight, we do need to get something soon. If it helps, she used it to no avail in Hartford, and will be in New Haven from now on. We'd like to stay in the $100-150 area, and no real bells and whistles are needed. She just needs good reception in urban areas, with voice commands and the ability to actually say street names being nice abilities to have if we can get them in our price range.

Thanks for any feedback.

cl191 · October 27th, 2008, 11:40 PM

I had a Mio DigiWalker before and they are fairly reliable for such a cheap unit, the updated version (c230) will do text-to-speech and you can find it for around $160ish online http://www.mio.com/us/gps-navigation...0-overview.htm

If you want features of a highend unit and have a laptop, you can get a cheap $50ish bluetooth receiver and get a copy of Garman Mobile PC for another $60, with all those together, you will have something that's as powerful as a $500 standalone gps unit. https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=13484

Good luck with the move!

NooDle · October 31st, 2008, 12:47 PM

Mio C230 FTW. Leave the TomToms alone, they're crap and overpriced

I have one and it's exceptionally good for the pricetag (only 100 of my euro monies)
Great rerouting, very good in urban areas, and general OKness of screen, etc

smib · October 31st, 2008, 02:32 PM

Yeah, the laptop thing isn't viable for her, so I'll check out the c230. Of course, if she's getting a Mio, she should probably get the Knight Rider one.

matt2000 · October 31st, 2008, 02:46 PM

I think most people here would stand by the TomTom. Every time I've seen one used (or used one) it's been faultless and easy to use. A taxi driver in Glasgow managed to program his without taking his eyes off the road more than once, for about a second.

And I've never seen a mio in the shopses. Anyway, TomToms are far from crap, and I don't know about the rest of Europe, but they're very reasonably priced here.

smib · October 31st, 2008, 02:54 PM

I can get the Mio for $100, and looking at some reviews it seems like a good buy, but I want to make sure she doesn't get stuck with something that'll lose reception or otherwise crap out when she's in the middle of New Haven.

CrazyRussian540 · October 31st, 2008, 04:36 PM

You should get the KITT Mio.
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/20/k...tic-kitt-voice

But in all seriousness, I've been using an older Magellan RoadMate 700 for a while, and I really like it. Its a bit big and bulky, and doesn't have a built in battery.... but its never steered me wrong. You might be able to pick one up for really cheap used since its a bit old.

avanti · October 31st, 2008, 04:50 PM

keep it old school!

http://www.maps2anywhere.com/Maps/RandMcNally-connecticut-and-rhode-island-road-map-travel-tourist-detailed-cover.jpg

cl191 · November 3rd, 2008, 10:01 PM

I've used TomTom units before and they are fine, I actually have Tom Tom Navigator installed on my phone that I sometimes use too...even though I still prefer Garmins, but if you are looking for a budget unit, you can't go wrong with Mios. These days, most devices use SIRF III or MTK chipsets and they are extremely sensitive, I can regularly start my units inside my ground floor apartment and still able to get a fix.

MadCow809 · November 4th, 2008, 06:45 AM

TomTom XL S

you won't regret it

uli2000 · November 4th, 2008, 08:24 AM

I picked up a mio 520c a couple of months back on sale for $150. Maps are kinda old, though Mio is running a promo if you buy select models before Jan 31 I believe, they will give you a map update for free when it comes out in 2009. Plus, if you want, the mios are very hackable. You can even run other companies gps software (igo 8, GarminXT, Tomtom) with a little bit of work.

NooDle · November 4th, 2008, 08:57 AM

I need that KITT in my car...badly

October 27th, 2008, 09:02 PM	#1
smib Joined: Aug 31st, 2007 Last Online: 04:34 AM Location: Bristol, Connecticut Age: 21 Posts: 1,175 Car: 2008 Scion tC LFS Status: Rep Power: 29	Need new GPS asap Well, much to her dismay, my girlfriend found out as she was on her way out the door from work today that starting tomorrow morning she will be moved to another city. Now aside from all of the personal reason why this sucks, the GPS we have, a Garmin c300 series, is pretty much useless in urban areas. So while we aren't running out to get it tonight, we do need to get something soon. If it helps, she used it to no avail in Hartford, and will be in New Haven from now on. We'd like to stay in the $100-150 area, and no real bells and whistles are needed. She just needs good reception in urban areas, with voice commands and the ability to actually say street names being nice abilities to have if we can get them in our price range. Thanks for any feedback. __________________ PunisherBass: ANYONE with an IQ higher than a jar of mayo wouldn't be able to get through the scientology mumbojumbo without laughing their ass off. Clegg: PunisherBass, quit insulting mayo. "Sorry for the short replies, I can't use my left hand. In fact the whole left side of my body feels like it got hit by a planet. The right side is better, it only got hit by a truck." -Blind_Io

October 31st, 2008, 12:47 PM	#3
NooDle Joined: Jul 20th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Belgium Age: 27 Posts: 3,185 Car: 2004 Opel Astra 2.2DTI Rep Power: 45	Mio C230 FTW. Leave the TomToms alone, they're crap and overpriced I have one and it's exceptionally good for the pricetag (only 100 of my euro monies) Great rerouting, very good in urban areas, and general OKness of screen, etc __________________ James is cooler than anyone else in the world, ever.

October 31st, 2008, 02:32 PM	#4
smib Joined: Aug 31st, 2007 Last Online: 04:34 AM Location: Bristol, Connecticut Age: 21 Posts: 1,175 Car: 2008 Scion tC LFS Status: Rep Power: 29	Yeah, the laptop thing isn't viable for her, so I'll check out the c230. Of course, if she's getting a Mio, she should probably get the Knight Rider one. __________________ PunisherBass: ANYONE with an IQ higher than a jar of mayo wouldn't be able to get through the scientology mumbojumbo without laughing their ass off. Clegg: PunisherBass, quit insulting mayo. "Sorry for the short replies, I can't use my left hand. In fact the whole left side of my body feels like it got hit by a planet. The right side is better, it only got hit by a truck." -Blind_Io

October 31st, 2008, 02:46 PM	#5
matt2000 Hedgehog Sandwich Joined: Feb 17th, 2006 Last Online: 07:00 AM Location: Market Harborough, UK Age: 18 Posts: 3,682 Car: '77 Land Rover Series III LFS Status: Rep Power: 56	I think most people here would stand by the TomTom. Every time I've seen one used (or used one) it's been faultless and easy to use. A taxi driver in Glasgow managed to program his without taking his eyes off the road more than once, for about a second. And I've never seen a mio in the shopses. Anyway, TomToms are far from crap, and I don't know about the rest of Europe, but they're very reasonably priced here. __________________ 'I've spoken to the scientist in that article. He is convinced that the parrot is "just resting".' - Plissken "My daughter has... errr HAD one, and I was given one" - Scott

October 31st, 2008, 02:54 PM	#6
smib Joined: Aug 31st, 2007 Last Online: 04:34 AM Location: Bristol, Connecticut Age: 21 Posts: 1,175 Car: 2008 Scion tC LFS Status: Rep Power: 29	I can get the Mio for $100, and looking at some reviews it seems like a good buy, but I want to make sure she doesn't get stuck with something that'll lose reception or otherwise crap out when she's in the middle of New Haven. __________________ PunisherBass: ANYONE with an IQ higher than a jar of mayo wouldn't be able to get through the scientology mumbojumbo without laughing their ass off. Clegg: PunisherBass, quit insulting mayo. "Sorry for the short replies, I can't use my left hand. In fact the whole left side of my body feels like it got hit by a planet. The right side is better, it only got hit by a truck." -Blind_Io

October 27th, 2008, 11:40 PM	#2
cl191 Joined: Nov 9th, 2006 Last Online: January 6th, 2009 Location: San Francisco, CA, USA Posts: 174 Car: lawn mower Rep Power: 10	I had a Mio DigiWalker before and they are fairly reliable for such a cheap unit, the updated version (c230) will do text-to-speech and you can find it for around $160ish online http://www.mio.com/us/gps-navigation...0-overview.htm If you want features of a highend unit and have a laptop, you can get a cheap $50ish bluetooth receiver and get a copy of Garman Mobile PC for another $60, with all those together, you will have something that's as powerful as a $500 standalone gps unit. https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=13484 Good luck with the move!

October 31st, 2008, 04:36 PM	#7
CrazyRussian540 Joined: Mar 6th, 2005 Last Online: 07:03 AM Location: Shrewsbury, MA Posts: 1,344 Car: 1997 Audi A6 Avant 2.8 quattro Rep Power: 40	You should get the KITT Mio. http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/20/k...tic-kitt-voice But in all seriousness, I've been using an older Magellan RoadMate 700 for a while, and I really like it. Its a bit big and bulky, and doesn't have a built in battery.... but its never steered me wrong. You might be able to pick one up for really cheap used since its a bit old. __________________ "I beat a man on roller skates.... in an Aston Martin" - R. Hammond "You've just pulled the wobbly head off the former president of Nissan USA" - R. Hammond Vote for FinalGear's Most Evil-looking Car.

October 31st, 2008, 04:50 PM	#8
avanti Joined: Jul 22nd, 2005 Last Online: 07:19 AM Location: Milano, Italia Posts: 2,731 Car: 2 cars + 3 bikes Rep Power: 68	keep it old school! __________________ \|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\| Ride, Eat, Sleep, Repeat.

November 3rd, 2008, 10:01 PM	#9
cl191 Joined: Nov 9th, 2006 Last Online: January 6th, 2009 Location: San Francisco, CA, USA Posts: 174 Car: lawn mower Rep Power: 10	I've used TomTom units before and they are fine, I actually have Tom Tom Navigator installed on my phone that I sometimes use too...even though I still prefer Garmins, but if you are looking for a budget unit, you can't go wrong with Mios. These days, most devices use SIRF III or MTK chipsets and they are extremely sensitive, I can regularly start my units inside my ground floor apartment and still able to get a fix.

November 4th, 2008, 06:45 AM	#10
MadCow809 Joined: Feb 23rd, 2006 Last Online: 02:20 AM Location: Durban, South Africa / Los Angeles, California Age: 23 Posts: 3,117 Car: 2007 E87 BMW 130i LFS Status: Rep Power: 32	TomTom XL S you won't regret it __________________ Supporting : A.Priaulx, Kimi Räikkönen, J.Button, R.Kubica, P.Solberg, M.Hirvonen, J.Plato & M.Jackson FinalGear's Car/Bike Register 08/09 Currently looking for a car, got any suggestions? 08 Honda Civic Coupe 06 BMW 130i 05 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS 05 Ford Bantam 1.3i 95 Mercedes Benz E320 Sportline Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 @ 3Ghz (333 X 9 @ 1.44v ~ 35°c with ZEROtherm BTF90/92mm Cooler) \| DFI INFINITY P965-S \| Corsair XMS DDR II 800 6 Gb \| GeCube ATi HD3850 512mb @ 800/1000Mhz \| Seagate 500Gb + 500Gb + 750Gb + 1000Gb\| LITE-ON 20X DVDRW \| XION 600W PSU \| Logitech Z-2300 \| Logitech MX1000 \| Logitech G25 \| Dual 22" LCD Display @ 3360 x 1050 + Toshiba 40" HDTV @ 1920 x 1080 \| CoolerMaster Centurion 590 \| Vista 64 Ultimate \|

November 4th, 2008, 08:24 AM	#11
uli2000 Joined: Jun 18th, 2008 Last Online: January 3rd, 2009 Location: Ely, NV Posts: 12 Rep Power: 0	I picked up a mio 520c a couple of months back on sale for $150. Maps are kinda old, though Mio is running a promo if you buy select models before Jan 31 I believe, they will give you a map update for free when it comes out in 2009. Plus, if you want, the mios are very hackable. You can even run other companies gps software (igo 8, GarminXT, Tomtom) with a little bit of work.

November 4th, 2008, 08:57 AM	#12
NooDle Joined: Jul 20th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Belgium Age: 27 Posts: 3,185 Car: 2004 Opel Astra 2.2DTI Rep Power: 45	I need that KITT in my car...badly __________________ James is cooler than anyone else in the world, ever.

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