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Garmin or Magellan?

grdad45
Wife wants a car GPS system. I have been looking at Garmin 750 and Magellan 1220, and am more confused than when I started. Any advice is needed.
Thanks
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Comments

8 comments

Date Votes
  • babun
    I got one of the cheaper Garmins and I love it !! My girlfriend has the
    higher end garmin and only thing I notice is the bigger screen. Most people don't need or use all the extra bells and whistles the high end ones have. For 99 bucks my low end gets me there!!bob
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  • savage170
    I like my garmin so far easy to use
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  • amblerrl
    garmin nuvi, and be sure to get the 5 w series as i cal it. 205W 0r 265W. bigger screens and they call out street names also. i travel with the red cross as a volunteer and the vehicles are equipped with them and i have my own that i use everywhere.
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  • Tailgunner1954
    With the Nuvi's, T is talk (pronounces street names) and W is widescreen.
    I prefer the "standard" size, as that's what fits best where I want it located (on the consul, by my right knee). Be aware that some states don't allow a windshield mount (vision obstruction) to be used (here in MI, you can get pulled over for anything hanging off your mirror too).

    I borrowed a Magellen, no complaints, but I only used it on one road trip.
    I purchased a older "Tom Tom" from a pawn shop (about 1/2 of retail) and the only "flaw" I found is that it couldn't locate a hotel in Saint Louis,MO unless I used coordanates (wouldn't accept the zip code)
    I purchased a Garmin 265T, and again don't have any real complaints about it. The 265T has a built in FM traffic moniter, that alerts you to backups along your route and gives you the option of avoiding them.
    Each one has it's pros and cons, but overall thay all work well.

    Edit
    us558
    I also know how to read a map, and have gotten around quite well with one, but the last time I looked Rand McNally can't locate the nearest chinese/italian/thai restraunt that's closest to A) your present location, B) your destination and they are seriously lacking when it comes to locating streets that are not considered "main drag" (what's the fastest way from where I'm at to a given address on a side street that's off a side street that's off a one way road?).
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  • 11b6r
    Garmin Nuvi. Took 3 minutes to learn to use. Really good little unit.
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  • v35
    Bought a Nuvi 200w last year and when I went to update it Garmin told me it had insufficient memory to get all of the USA so I had to settle for the eastern half.
    My next one will have more memory and a replaceable battery.
    Otherwise I like it.
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  • beantownshootah
    I've got a Magellan. My brother has a Garmin. Dad has Tom-Tom.

    I can't comment on the specific model numbers (since I don't know them, nor care), but all three are relatively low-end models, all are fairly easy to use and work fine, and are fairly similar in terms of function. There probably are minor differences, but I don't know what they are. Probably 95% of the time, it wouldn't matter. All three do what I'd need to do (which is tell me where I am and give me directions to where I need to go).

    I say, six of one, half a dozen of the other.

    I think with these things, less is more. As in, the less complicated they are, the more likely you aren't going to crash your car operating them while driving around!

    Other tips:

    If you want to cross the border into Canada or Mexico frequently, you may have to make sure your unit will map that before you go (mine won't, as I found out recently driving into Canada).

    Updating the database once in a while can't hurt, but you have to figure that NO database is EVER going to be 100% accurate, and you ALWAYS still have to use common sense.

    For example, my personal home address is NOT located on ANY GPS system I know of. (Which always makes for fun when people try to drop by, thinking their GPS will take them there!). The street isn't entirely new (its been there for at least 7 years) but I guess its just not important enough that anyone has noticed.

    Next thing, if you think you might want to use this unit ON FOOT (ie camping, touring, whatever), it might help if its small enough to slip in a pocket easily. So there, a big screen might actually be a DISadvantage.
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  • kimberkid
    I picked up a Navigon from on sale from TigerDirect ... works great and can be updated with new maps, points of interest and so on, but maybe that's a common thing.
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