[TiAg335i]

I'm trying to get my father an in-car portable GPS system that is fairly intuitive, easy to use, and has (preferably) free and automatic map updates. I don't need all the extras like voice recognition, traffic, etc...just something basic that is easy to use and reliable.

Thanks for any help.

[darkcloud]

TomTom, anyone really. There all the same GPS wise then just deciding which options are important to have.

/thread

[JayKay335i]

Garmins never failed me. I'm not sure if you can even get a crappy GPS at this point?

My mother uses a Garmin. So they must be rather intuitive.

[pmeloche]

I'm quite satisfied with my Garmin Nuvi 650.

[CollinsE90]

Garmin all the way, get the 4.5 inch screen with voice directions

[BMW F22]

Look on slickdeals.net. Sometimes they have awesome deals on Garmin and TomTom nav.

Here you go for a nice deal on a tomtom- http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2472762

[DougLikesBMW]

I'd go with TomTom.

[shipill]

Garmin

[SilverII]

garmin.... beats the bmw oem cic

[NYCGarbagePrince]

Just wait till you get to a red light and ask the person next to you for directions. What's a gps?

[Memphis1]

I found a tom-tom with lifetime updates and something else for like $300... Pretty cool

[Feyd]

Run.... run as fast as you can from Navigon. Mine is the most horrible piece of shit ever.

[talisman311]

Garmin all the way.

I left Circuit City Roadshop after 5+ years as an installer and backup sales guy in 2008. We had the highest rate of returns for TomToms at the time because they were so terrible. Our customers were very satisfied with Garmin and rarely had a return. In the articles that I read about them during the time, Garmin was up top followed by Magellan. Since that time my family now owns 3 Garmin GPS units and I'm happy with them. I highly recommend the 255WT as it's only priced around 100 dollars and comes with FM traffic which is free and works well in large cities that supports it. Additional bonus is that it has text to speech for road names. All said and done, it's a very solid basic GPS.

As for map updates, I don't think anyone will provide free map updates; however, Garmin does offer a lifetime subscription of free map updates for a single unit. I haven't bothered comparing other companies since I was involved in the business years ago, so take that for what it's worth.

[CollinsE90]

Originally Posted by talisman311

Garmin all the way.

I left Circuit City Roadshop after 5+ years as an installer and backup sales guy in 2008. We had the highest rate of returns for TomToms at the time because they were so terrible. Our customers were very satisfied with Garmin and rarely had a return. In the articles that I read about them during the time, Garmin was up top followed by Magellan. Since that time my family now owns 3 Garmin GPS units and I'm happy with them. I highly recommend the 255WT as it's only priced around 100 dollars and comes with FM traffic which is free and works well in large cities that supports it. Additional bonus is that it has text to speech for road names. All said and done, it's a very solid basic GPS.

As for map updates, I don't think anyone will provide free map updates; however, Garmin does offer a lifetime subscription of free map updates for a single unit. I haven't bothered comparing other companies since I was involved in the business years ago, so take that for what it's worth.

looks like we had the same job haha, never saw Garmins come back and saw plent TT's come back

[talisman311]

Originally Posted by CollinsE90

looks like we had the same job haha, never saw Garmins come back and saw plent TT's come back

Those things were such a piece of crap!! My friend got one and eventually ripped it off his windshield and threw it in the back of the truck like he was trying to strike out a batter. I will give them credit that they have one top-notch marketing team though. It reminded me of when I got my AVIC-N1 in the early 2000s.. I would've been better off driving blind-folded.

[number335]

I have a bottom of the line Garmin Nuvi 200 that I like a lot better than my stock bmw Navi. The thing is so easy to use.

[talisman311]

255WT, 80 bux @ Best Buy
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Garmin+-...2854&cp=1&lp=1

[Dmitriy@AUTOcouture]

Jon, I hardwired a Garmin Nuvi 255wt (i think) to my wife's sentra... That thing rocks - great navi, better than the stock bmw lol... Hardwiring is a bitch though, you gotta get the right cable off the internet.

[Chewy734]

Garmin. The 265wt is nice. They also have it at my local Costco, which makes it even better.