Thread: Moving From Maine to Cali (Bay Area)... Need advice on GPS

Hey guys,

So I live in Maine and just took a teaching job out in the Bay Area of California (San Lorenzo). From what I hear it is not the most glorious of places but that there are some nice places near there I should hopefully be able to settle down into... (I leave in a week and don't know where I am living yet!!!)

Anyways, onto the point... I am driving across country and do not nor have I ever owned a GPS unit. I figure this little device should come in handy during my trip. I am actually thinking I will need my GPS more once I get relocated in the Bay Area as opposed to the actual drive across country.

Being said what do you guys recommend? I have heard good things about the Garmin Nuvi 255W.... BestBuy has it priced at 180.00 at the moment.
Garmin - nüvi 255W GPS - NUVI 255W

The other unit I am looking at is this one...
TomTom - XL 350TM GPS - 1ET0.019.04

TomTom350TM... the reason I am eying this one is that it is priced at 150.00 right not and says it includes lifetime free map & traffic updates.

I know nothing about GPS units, never used one, and especially know nothing about updating them. Being said the lifetime free updates with TomTom sounds initially appealing and is less money.

At the current time I do not need or care about offroad mapping ability in the GPS unit, I want a unit that will get me across country and will help me learn to navigate the Bay Area.

Cheers,

Josh
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Originally Posted by TJoshX

Hey guys,

.....snip...
Anyways, onto the point... I am driving across country and do not nor have I ever owned a GPS unit. I figure this little device should come in handy during my trip. I am actually thinking I will need my GPS more

There are two things.
Screen size and screen size.

After that is memory and map updates.
Memory can be important for a coast to coast trip.
Map updates can be a tangle make sure to charge,
register and download any update ASAP.

Do not leave it out where it can be seen. They
have legs...

Go for the newest model.... After $100 they can
all keep you from getting lost. Do not ignore
classic paper maps and a pad of paper.

Thanks for the quick response. If anyone else can chime in as well I appreciate it.

Beyond that, I realized I meant to post this in the "Conversation" forum, I'm not sure if it belongs here or not. If a mod wants to move it feel free.

Josh

Garmin has a great reputation. Tom Tom is an economy brand but I can't speak from experience. Have you tried Consumer Report?

I have a Garmin Nuvi and both my daughters have them as well.I like it and use it constantly,as we like to travel.It will always get you there,but sometimes it will use some goofy side-roads and you find out as you get to know an area,there is sometimes a better way.As another member said it's always a good idea to have the paper maps of all states you will pass thru,because on the GPS unit,you only get to see a small portion at a time due to the small screen.

Consumer Reports Magazine likes both Garmin and TomTom.

I have experience using my friend's Garmin. Only twice in the past four years did it direct us to make a left turn into oncoming (one way do not enter) traffic.

If you purchase a GPS that requires a paid subscription for updates, I suggest you ask if that Garmin on sale has the latest map update or if it's one of last year's models that they're trying to sell off before stocking the newer ones. It can be pretty annoying when you're in unfamiliar territory late at night searching for a gas station or restaurant only to find an abandoned building. Garmin wanted $80.00 to update the map in my friend's GPS.

Lifetime free map updates would be v-e-r-y tempting.
Namaste,
Morty -_-