Help with GPS choice

[Rubimon]

I've been looking at the Garmin Nuvi 650 for a long time, it's now $299 after rebate. Then I have noticed the Nuvi 360 for $249 . They are pretty close feature for feature. The 650 has the wide screen, but the 360 has hands free bluetooth calling. Anybody have an opinion. Part of me likes the bigger screen but it might be a disadvantage in a Jeep where I may have to toss it in my pocket when leaving the Jeep.(Or at least hide it)

Look forward to your advice. Feel free to toss in a different model in the debate.

[lunkhead22]

I bought the Hp 310. I personally love it. It has blue tooth, games plays movies, amazing screen. Some reviews say people don't like it. I Think for the money its the best you will buy. 250 online... look it up

[wayland1985]

I don't see how useful the bluetooth could be in the Jeep. Noise comes to mind.

I say go with the wider screen. :yup:

[bikerglen]

I've been looking at the Garmin Nuvi 650 for a long time, it's now $299 after rebate. Then I have noticed the Nuvi 360 for $249 . They are pretty close feature for feature. The 650 has the wide screen, but the 360 has hands free bluetooth calling. Anybody have an opinion. Part of me likes the bigger screen but it might be a disadvantage in a Jeep where I may have to toss it in my pocket when leaving the Jeep.(Or at least hide it)

I like the wide screen of the 650, but I went with the 360 because the smaller size was easier for me to travel with since I do quite a bit of airplane and rental car type travel for my job. If you drive on trails any, a 60CSx or Quest model is nice, but not as easy to use on the street as a Nuvi.

[jgarner]

What are you needs? Do you need it to do normal road information or do you want something with topo's that can do waypoints and things like that?

[MJS_Jeep_888]

We bought my wife a Nuvi 3?? last year, and it's saved our butts when we were lost out in the middle of forest trails, at least 3 separate occasions. It's a solid GPS and gives 99% good directions; it's also very simple to use. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a GPS. I can't speak for all of the bells and whistles, but the Garmin has done everything we've asked of it. Good luck - I know it's a tough decision!

[Rubimon]

x2 - are you looking for a GPS for nothing more than street directions, or do you intend to use it on hikes, trekking, geocaching, etc?

!c

Since the majority of my driving is on the road that would be the need I would most want to satisfy. For hiking etc. I have a small garmin to do waypoints etc. Like bikerglen said the smaller 360 is nicer for portablility. I picture myself lugging it around when I dont have a top on my Jeep, which is most of the year. I will also throw it in my wifes car from time to time.

Crossover models are nice but seem to be a little like boat/cars. Good on the trail, but maybe lacking some of the nice road features like names of streets etc.

I guess the main dilema would be would I miss the size of the widescreen to enjoy the size of portability, or is the smaller one just fine? The 360 is also $50 less which is always nice too.

[jgarner]

I have the Garmin Colorado 300. It is a great handheld unit, screen is a little larger than most handhelds. I also have it loaded with the Garmin street maps, which is the same load as the portable units for the cars. The good thing about it is I can switch my SD cards and go from streets to topo in under a minute. The downside to the handheld units are the size of the screen however and no voice recognition, which makes them harder to use while driving. I would say if it is going to be used mainly for on highway driving definately stick with one of the Nuvi units.

[[N]UGE]

whats your price limit? thats what is going to determin which models to look at. I have the Garmin 7200 and love it and wouldn't go with another option. But it was a steep price. Very happy with it though.

[mcds99]

This is for humor purposes but it's a real store. :D:rotflmao1::eek2:

http://www.thecompassstore.com

[mt3]

i bought the Garmin 360 in august. i think it is a great unit. the bluetooth handsfree is pretty good ... i used it with the top down and at speeds less than 45-50mph, i had no problem with it. i like that it is little and that i can pop it into my pocket when i get out of the jeep. i think because in the wrangler, we are so close to the dash/windshield, that the larger, wider screen isn't necessary. i have no problems with the smaller screen.

but either way, Garmin Nuvi line is the way to go!

[Conradfreedumb]

http://www.jk-forum.com/showthread.php?t=28135

[Rubimon]

This is for humor purposes but it's a real store. :D:rotflmao1::eek2:

http://www.thecompassstore.com

I have one of these but it doesnt give me street names!:naw::rotflmao1:

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/thecompassstore_1983_432805

[JackMac4]

If your primary concern is navigation, I'd go with the Nuvi. If you just occasionally use it for turn by turn and want better topo and portability for Hiking, I'd go with the Garmin 60CSX.

[Rubimon]

Ya, my daily job requires me to look up residences for appointments. The old map thing still works for me but is so last century. Plus the ole eyesight is great up close but they seem to be printing all the street signs fuzzy these days.:naw: A pair of glasses might help, but they don't talk to ya!:rotflmao1:

Oh Magoo, you've done it again.:rotflmao1:

[GadgetFreek]

I just ordered the Nuvi 660 a few hours ago. Got it from amazon for 379.99 delivered. Has the widescreen and Bluetooth. Not sure how handy the bluetooth will be in the Jeep but it will be great in the wife's soccer-mom-mobile (Expedition). Currently have a TomTom GO 910 but it is just too big for my tastes and I have never really heard anything negative about the Nuvi's. Good luck.

[JEP THNG]

I just started looking into a gps as well...has anyone seen the WorldNav by TeleType? It looks like it has a ton of features and the US version is $139...plays video, but not sure on the bluetooth...anyone know about this???

[dyolfknip]

I have had a Nuvi 360 since the summer and LOVE it. It has never failed me. I use the bluetooth also and unless you are on the highway you should have no problems. Although I don't like using it with the top and doors off cause I don't want to be "that guy" seen talking to his jeep ;) (screams douche IMHO)
Oh and you can download a JEEP as your vehicle! And it looks like a pearl Greystone one! ;) That sold it for me. Although I am sure you can do it for all the Nuvis now. I see the 6XX series now at Costco for the same price I paid for mine but cant justify the wide screen. My ONLY complaint is that the screen doesn't like polarized sunglasses. It can be hard to see with them on, but really not that big of a deal.

EDIT: The wife just read this and reminded me that it couldn't find Hooters in Niagara Falls.....lol ;) In all honesty though the maps could be updated a bit more often.

[flyer415]

i have a nuvi 680 and love it. The bluetooth works well - can even see my complete contact list from my phone. Put in a 2 gig sd card and moved all my music to it and now play it through the radio. The songs mute when a call is made and starts playing where it left off when the call is over. Even put on every redlight camera in North America as well as all the hot spring locations.

The 60Csx is for geocaching and the snowmobile.

[dyolfknip]

Even put on every redlight camera in North America as well as all the hot spring locations.

How did you do that? Link>?

[JackMac4]

i have a nuvi 680 and love it. The bluetooth works well - can even see my complete contact list from my phone. Put in a 2 gig sd card and moved all my music to it and now play it through the radio. The songs mute when a call is made and starts playing where it left off when the call is over. Even put on every redlight camera in North America as well as all the hot spring locations.

The 60Csx is for geocaching and the snowmobile.

I disagree, but unlike most people I don't use GPS for turn by turn nav. I never need anyone or anything to tell me where to go - guess I'm one of those people who are just naturally good at navigation. I basically use GPS as a map substitute or just to calculate distances. So the 60CSX I like because its small and easily stored. When I did have a nav unit, i just kept it on the dash to show me where I was and that was it.

[Rubimon]

i have a nuvi 680 and love it. The bluetooth works well - can even see my complete contact list from my phone. Put in a 2 gig sd card and moved all my music to it and now play it through the radio. The songs mute when a call is made and starts playing where it left off when the call is over. Even put on every redlight camera in North America as well as all the hot spring locations.

The 60Csx is for geocaching and the snowmobile.

Does anyone know if the 360 does this too?

[dyolfknip]

Does anyone know if the 360 does this too?


Yes it does all of that also..I dont know about the red light thing though he still hasnt answered how he did it...(also sent you a PM Rubimon)

[flyer415]

Sorry guys, I was away for a few days. You can upload the redlight cameras to your nuvi just like any other poi. i belong to another forum for gps where users can download them for free if you have contributed or you can pay $5 and download them immediately. You then just upload the file to your GPS as usual. i attached an mp3 file to mine as well so it also tells me over the radio that I am approaching a speed camera. You can change the parameters to alert you only if you are going over the speed as well as other items but i just used the defaults. The site is poi-factory.com. I believe that Jk rules state that I cannot provide a direct link to it so just cut/paste into your browser.

[flyer415]

I disagree, but unlike most people I don't use GPS for turn by turn nav. I never need anyone or anything to tell me where to go - guess I'm one of those people who are just naturally good at navigation. I basically use GPS as a map substitute or just to calculate distances. So the 60CSX I like because its small and easily stored. When I did have a nav unit, i just kept it on the dash to show me where I was and that was it.

I spent 13 years in the Air Force as a navigator and I have others in my life who tell me where to go. Like you I actually use the nuvi as a map substitute. A lot faster to type in the address, zoom out and see where it is in the city then to pull out a map etc. Also use it for planning long range trips. Plus it really came in handy when I had the electrical problems and lost my speedo, odom etc. I just used the compass/trip mode on it then as my speedo.

[flyer415]

Yeah, I know multiple postings... Last point is that you can use Google Earth and download tons of user provided kmz data. this can be coverted to gpx and other formats which can be loaded onto a nuvi or other gps. It's where I got the hot springs data. The poi factory provided ATM sites, coffee spots etc.