Who has GPS in their car? Would you recommend it?

[spinbaby]

I have to drive in a couple of unfamiliar areas soon and was considering buying a GPS system for my car.

Thoughts and recommendations, please.

[ScreamingMeemie]

1. I love my Maggie Ellen (Magellan).

I have used the Garmin and liked it as well, but can't stand the TomTom.

Pros for me were that, as a real estate appraiser, I was able to not waste paper printing out Google maps. I recently moved to Houston and found that it really helped us get around those first few months.

Cons are that I found myself becoming dependent on it. To the point of turning around and driving back home for it. I also found that (with the Magellan) it takes awhile for it to recognize new freeway entrances and exits, new roads and can sometimes really mess an address up, to the tune of a quarter mile or more (not fun in Houston traffic). I found that I wasn't really familiarizing myself with the city and its roads. I've since stopped using it "all the time" but do like having it for the extreme unfamiliar areas.

I hope I have helped.

[sammytko]

2. I don't have one, but I like to familiarize myself with an area

on a map and google earth before I venture out. Some people become too dependent on it and lose their navigating skills.

For ex. - one of spouse's classmates was always rushing into class at the last minute. They chatted and he found out she lives in the small town 7 miles south of us.

He asked her how she was getting to school and she told him she was following the route her GPS recommended as the fastest.

Well, maybe cuz there are less traffic signals, but the poor woman was driving 10 miles east to get to the freeway and then coming back in a northwest direction. She was adding almost 20 miles to her trip. Which really doesn't say much for her intelligence. Well, she did say her husband told her this is what the GPS suggested.

Anyway she took his route advice and made to class with time to spare.

Just think it should be used as one of a set of tools for navigation. Don't want to be like those people getting stranded in some deserted forest road cuz the GPS told them to go that way.

[Brickbat]

3. I don't, and I've never felt the need for it.

I use maps, or figure out a route online, or just sort of flail around until I get to where I'm going.

[tk2kewl]

27. I used to feel the same...

but after using one I will never go without one now.

[Brickbat]

28. Why is that?

I can see using a GPS to map my property, but not to get around up here. Part of the reason is we live in a rural area and maps are often misleading anyway, so a GPS isn't necessarily helpful.

[tk2kewl]

29. I find that it makes travelling easier...

for example: you can tell well in advance when your next turn is required and see it approaching so you do not miss it. As a result I can spend less time trying to read street signs and more time paying attention to the traffic.

[zipplewrath]

4. It is useful

I was given one and hooked it up for a bit. It was interesting, but I usually know where I'm going so it's not really a big deal. It is more useful when traveling on business and I'm in unfamilar cities and places. It is kind of interesting to drive around where you already think you know where you are going. It showed me a couple of "new" back routes I didn't know about.

It is going to depend alot on your particular circumstance. Cabbies and delivery men swear by the things. I imagine if you are in sales, or meals on wheels or something it could be very useful.

[jmm]

8. I love that so many cabs have them now.

The first time I rode in a cab that had one I got into a debate with the cabbie about the best way to get to my apt. He wanted to go miles out of the way since he wasn't familiar with some of the newer short cuts due to the Big Dig in Boston. When he turned his GPS on it told him to go the exact way I asked him to. He seemed pretty apologetic after that and offered to carry the cake I was picking up upstairs for me when he dropped me off.

[gmoney]

36. ah, as soon as you hear "recalculating" you know you're getting slicked!

[LiberalAndProud]

5. If you absolutely don't know an area, it's great.

It will get you to where you need to be eventually. If you know where you're going, it will drive you insane.


I was a passenger in my car while my son (familiar with the area) was driving. At least a half a dozen times in a row, when the GPS advised a right hand turn at the intersection, we would take a left, or vice versa.

In my own town, it takes me at least 5 miles out of my way to arrive at my house (if I paid attention, that is.)

[BoWanZi]

6. I love mine...

because I'm a big time craigslist shopper and thrift store junkie.

Its so nice to just talk to someone on the phone about buying their CL junk and having them give me just their address and being able to get right there with no problem.

Recently, I wanted to find thrift stores in an unfamiliar area to me and was able to plug in all the store's addresses and go shopping without getting lost.

[gmoney]

7. They're great, but addicting

I use mine all the time, even for trips where I know perfectly well where I'm going. Two reasons: first, it constantly calculates your time of arrival, so it saves me from spending the whole trip guesstimating how far I have to go, or if I'll be where I need to be on time. Second, I've been known to go on autopilot and drive past my destination, or to another destination in the area instead. GPS keeps me on track.

It's also great because it's there easily viewed from the dash, rather than having to look down at a Google Maps printout. Mine helps me get in the correct lane in anticipation of turns or highway exits, too.

If you're taking it on vacation, it's easy to just enter a new address right in your car, rather than finding a computer and doing a Google Maps search and printout.

And if there's a detour, or traffic jam, it will help you along your alternate route, whereas Google Maps can't.

Plus, most of them have "points of interest" making it easy to find the next gas station or area restaurants, shopping, etc.

One downside is that sometimes it will take you the "shortest" route rather than the most direct route. I had to drive out to northern Virginia a while back, and it had me get off the freeway and instead take all these "tobacco roads" through the sticks and every stop sign and traffic light in six counties. While that could be quaint and charming given the right circumstances, I just needed to get where I was going and get back quick. If it had kept me on the freeway, even though it would have been more miles, I'm sure it would have taken at least 30 or 45 minutes off the trip. I figured it out and went the fast way home.

Some of the new ones have advanced features like serving as a bluetooth speakerphone for your cellular, or playing MP3 files and delivering directions through your car radio, or even voice control: "Find nearest gas station" type stuff so that you can operate hands-free. Another advanced feature some offer is calculating the most efficient route between multiple destinations... if you have five stores to visit, you can plug in all the destinations, and it will figure out the best route, saving you gas and time... although I find this one a bit dubious, in that I generally can figure that out myself, or I have a reason for making stops in a specific sequence.

Amazon frequently has great deals on them in their "Daily Deals" but Tiger Direct seems to have good prices as well. Garmin is the brand I use, and have heard other good recommendations for it. You should be able to get one on sale for about $100 or so.

[nolabear]

9. My husband drives me nuts with his!

He'll ask me for directions and then the damned GPS and I will compete for what's the best route. It would be funny if it didn't piss me off so much. I'm finally down to snarling "Ask your GIRLFRIEND." *sigh*

[IMATB]

10. I have one also

I took the time to play with it in the house. Just getting familiar with it. Put in a few places around town I knew, some I didn't know.

It works. It's a great little device to have if you don't know the area you're going to. In the 3 years I've had it, it has saved me time and gas so yes, it was worth buying and using.

I have a Garmin.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

11. yes, i prefer garmin to magellan though

[spinbaby]

15. Garmin seems to be the favorite

At least among people I've talked to. I don't need a GPS day to day, but don't know if I want to face driving in Cleveland without one.

[AngryOldDem]

12. A qualified yes.

A GPS cannot tell you about road closures and construction work. A few weeks back, we were directed off a toll highway in order to hook up with a nontoll highway. Trouble is, all access to the nontoll road was closed, and we found ourselves at dusk in a very unfamiliar and dangerous part of town, including heading down a deserted road because there was no easy way to get turned around and back on the highway. So very not cool. Poor signage was also a contributing factor as well.

I would have a AAA map, or something else that can alert you to closures/construction/detours in addition to the GPS. Never hurts to have an old-school backup.

[Orsino]

13. I love 'em.

They're great for old soldiers like me who might be great with map, boots and compass, but who will always make the wrong choice at an intersection when driving.

[Rochester]

14. Not me. I prefer a real map.

Maps are cheap, and I'm perfectly capable of reading one. More importantly, I want to be in control and deciding my route, not passively (blindly?) following directions from a beeping tin can.

[cherokeeprogressive]

21. My Garmin can tell me where the nearest Teppan Steakhouse is. Can your map do that? n/t

[kentauros]

39. No, but a local weekly newspaper could,

like those published by Village Voice Media (for us, it's The Houston Press.) Plus, I could read a review about it (though it wouldn't be a steak house for me.) Then I just use my handy-dandy Key Map, familiarize myself with the area (if I'm not already) and drive without the distractions of basically a tiny TV set on my dash ;)

I make maps for a living and while all of that is electronic, we still print everything out. It's easier to read, and some of them look really nice, large-scale :)

[Ter]

42. Suppose you're three states away?

Then you will have to stop for a newspaper, rather than hitting the button.

[kentauros]

53. What you do is the same as anyone who understands taking a trip:

You plan ahead.

I didn't think I needed to spell that out, but I know too many people have forgotten that simple concept.

I like to know where I'm going and what to expect before I get there, like looking up the Streetview on Google Maps to get an idea of what the buildings look like. Maybe your GPS unit can do that, too; I don't know as I don't use them. I'd rather have as few distractions as possible while driving and rely on my memory of my made-ahead planning, than a tiny TV set.

And if finding some steak house is so important, what's wrong with looking up their locations ahead of time, too? That way, you're prepared. I know, foreign concept in this age of "instant access" but it's how I was brought up.

[Ter]

62. So if I'm planning a trip to TN from NY...

I have to plan out where I'm gonna stop in VA for food and gas? No thanks. Just hit "gas" on your GPS and in three seconds you will be guided to the nearest one. I'm pretty sure you can find them for really cheap now. Are they down to $50 yet? Anyone know?

Also, I never use the "search restaurants" feature, and only had to use the "search gas" like once or twice when I was on empty. For the most part, the GPS sits in my glove box. I just like it for out of town.

[kentauros]

64. Or,

You know the mileage of your trip beforehand, know the mpg-rating of your vehicle, know what towns to stop for a fillup when you'll be needing it by watching your trip-counter and rely on your eyes for the brand you prefer. No buttons, no batteries, no distractions!

My guess, too, is that as a "gadget geek" you have no love of maps. If you did, you'd understand the thrill some of us get at just looking over maps, seeing the details and not even thinking about how to get there. It's fun to explore and physical maps (or electronic copies of them) enable that better than a GPS unit.

[Ter]

66. Well, by the time I got my car it was 1998

By the time I really went far out of state, it was 2000 and I was using MapQuest. Never had to use a map. They look scary. :)

[kentauros]

67. They're not, really.

You just need someone to show you how to use one. Maybe someone at the library can do that with you :)

Plus, that tiny screen can't show you a large view of an area. That's how you explore. Unless you don't want to do that... ;)

[Skittles]

47. no, but some of us know how to plan ahead

[cherokeeprogressive]

70. Respectfully...

I don't feel the need to plan my meal in Portland tomorrow as I'm leaving Los Angeles today in my car. I may want Chinese when I get there, or In-N-Out, or even a Philly's Best Cheesesteak. My Garmin can tell me where each is, and how to get there from wherever I am. Then I'll have my wife use Yelp on her EVO phone to see reviews so I can narrow down which restaurant I want to visit.

I don't call that lack of planning; I call it efficient use of resources at hand.

[Ter]

43. Way too much trouble

Especially when it's more than 30 miles away. Having to stop and look is also dangerous, and I'm not stopping my car to take a peek. Maps went out in 2000 when MapQuest became available. Now even that is on its way out.

[Rochester]

45. You can have it then - I'll stick to the ways I know and love

I am not the type to embrace new technology. To each his own.

[Ter]

46. I'm a technological fiend

I would die without the latest gadgets. Been online since '93, and that was too late. :)

[kentauros]

54. Then I hope you never have to live through a major disaster

like a hurricane, where getting electric power is not guaranteed 24 hours after the storm. I fear you would likely "die" because of your attachment to gadgets.

[Ter]

61. I was in NY during the 2003 blackout

No a/c, internet, nothing. However, I had one of the best days of my life that day. Played baseball in the day, went in the pool at night. It was nice looking at the night sky the way it was meant to be looked at. No artificial lights, where they are on every block in NYC.

[kentauros]

63. Yeah, but did you miss not having your GPS to tell you

where the steak house was? :P

You see? The gadgets aren't really necessary to enjoying life or making your way in it ;)

[Ter]

65. I didn't own a GPS in 2003

They must have been extremely expensive then. You're right, sometimes the best fun is all natural. :)

[motely36]

16. Olivia is awesome!

Olivia (our Garmin GPS, programmed with an Australian accent) has helped me many a time in unfamiliar areas.

[HERVEPA]

23. Mine is programmed with the Australian woman also. I named her Sheila, for obvious reasons.

[gmoney]

34. "She's a good Sheila and not at all stuck-up!"

"Howls of derisive laughter, Bruce!"

[motely36]

52. Mine is named for Olivia Newton-John!

[NoPasaran]

17. I've found mine to be pretty useful

I actually can read maps, but my Garmin has helped me navigate through unfamiliar and confusing areas. Even if I'm not having it give me directions, I like the map is provides that I can give a quick glance whenever I want to know what's coming up along the road.

I especially like that it can help find places to eat or lodging when necessary and give directions to those locations. Overall, I think it's worth having.

[david13]

18. No I do not recommend it. I have gps and never use it. Just one

more gadget to distract from the road, the journey, the scenery, and to account for.
I travel with a camera, cell phone, laptop, which will run for 4 hours on battery, and a lot of other junk. Before I can move, I have to take inventory.
GPS does not add much. Don't forget a map. Study the map ahead of time. Study your area and route before hand on the computer with Mapquest or such.
That way you know where you are going, and don't need gps.
dc

[grace0418]

26. I do both. I have maps and I have directions, but I find the GPS in my phone to be

very useful to see my actual progress, so I know I haven't missed a turn. If I'm driving by myself, I stick my phone on my instrument panel near the odometer. I check it when I stop at intersections.

It was also fabulous when we were in Hawaii because, even with maps, it was hard to read street names before you'd pass them up. They were so long and so similar you felt like you needed to stop at each intersection to give yourself time to read the sign. But with GPS, we could tell when we were approaching the correct intersection. Saved us a ton of time and hassles.

But I am still a big fan of maps, I like to know where I'm going. So I never use the turn-by-turn.

[jobycom]

19. They are good. Some of these Luddite comments are cracking me up!

Seriously, people think they hurt your ability to navigate or read maps? :rofl: I suspect people who can't read maps after buying a GPS weren't any good before one.

There are advantages and disadvantages, obviously. The GPS only shows a small part of your route, so it's hard without a few button clicks (which can be dangerous and illegal at high speeds or on crowded roadways) to get an overview of the route. It's always a good idea to have a map along on a long trip. Also, you have to use common sense. I literally got stuck in a sandbar in the middle of a creek on my way to a local landmark. It was completely my fault, as I was using the GPS to find a more scenic route than I usually took, and purposely made it take me through back roads, and I made the choice of trying to cross (and it was the kind of outing where I didn't really care if I got stuck), but still, literally following a GPS instead of using your common sense can get you into trouble.

What they are best for are long trips, and conversely, getting around town. On a long trip, they can help you find gas stations, rest areas, hotels... All the businesses you are likely to need at 2 AM when you need to decide whether to stop or push on a few more miles. They can tell you what's coming up in a few more miles, in other words. They can route you around traffic jams or road construction. They can give you alternate routes in case you want something more scenic or less busy (that depends on the brand, btw).

They also show you how much further you have to go, and how much time you will likely take. None of that is crucual, but on a long trip it's useful to know.

And if you do take a detour for some reason, they can automatically route you back to your path. You don't have to do anything, it will just automatically reroute you when you wander off course.

In town they can direct you to unfamiliar addresses, or they can find alternate routes in traffic, even if you know an area. I once got lost in a subdivision near my house, because it has a lot of twisting and intersecting streets that are hard to get out of. I'd have found my way quickly enough, but with my GPS I just hit the "Home" button and it had me out in a couple of turns.

What I'm saying is they aren't crucial, and they can make mistakes, but they can also be very useful.

I have a Magellan, for a few reasons. They allow you to see more information on the screen or with a single click--you can switch between miles left in a trip, arrival time, elevation (which is amusing at times), even speed. I had a MIO once--a much maligned model--that actually showed a lot of that info all at once, which was very helpful, and better than the big three models.

Magellan has more POIs (Points of Interest--meaning restaurants, museums, whatever you might want to find), and allows more searches (for instance, mine can search for vegetarian restaurants. None of the others had that when i bought it). It gives you four different routes automatically when you give it a destination--many of the others make you go through hopes to choose a different route--and lets you route around traffic and obstacles with one or two clicks. There's even a function which notices you aren't moving fast enough and asks if you want to reroute.

Anyway, features on these things change all the time, so I don't know which ones do what anymore. I didn't like TomTom or Garmin around Christmas when I bought the Magellan. One of them wouldn't even let you program in multiple destinations, like if you wanted to stop at Ikea in Houston on the way to Florida, or whatever. Neither of them had much info on the screen, and neither had as many easy routing options as Magellan. Those were all important to me, but others obviously have other needs that the others perform better, so a little research helps. THen again, if it's your first, you don't know what to look for anyway, do research might not matter much.

Too long, I know. No time to edit. Here's a link for some reviews, and some recs on specific models. Mine is the Magellen Roadmate 1470. Magellan has some crappy and some brilliant models, so know what you are getting. http://reviews.cnet.com/best-gps/?tag=contentBody;revCatWrap

[Bennyboy]

20. Absolutely love them...

I do a lot of car travel and tehy are the best things ever. Big learinng curve but worth it totally.

One thing, though...if you like to get lost, keep the thing off. I love to get lost in SF and find that with the GPS, it kind of takes my enjoyment away from getting lost and finding new stuff...

[struggle4progress]

22. I don't have one, but I'm a Luddite. Technology like that is fine, if

you remember to take it with a grain of salt. I've downloaded mapquest directions that somehow essentially botch the story at a critical point ("Turn left!" ... uh ... no, thanks), and I've been a passenger in cars when the GPS similarly screwed up. People just love these devices, but a few pay the price of taking them waaay too seriously

GPS Navigation to sites to remote locations like Death Valley are notoriously unreliable. Numerous travelers have been directed to the wrong location or even dead-end or closed roads. Travelers should always carry up-to-date road maps to check the accuracy of GPS directions. DO NOT DEPEND ONLY ON YOUR VEHICLE GPS NAVIGATION SYSTEM ... http://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/directions.htm

Heat kills boy, 11, lost with his mother in Death Valley
The two were stranded for days in a remote area. The child's mother is being treated for severe dehydration.
August 08, 2009|Associated Press
... She told rescuers in San Bernardino County that her son Carlos died Wednesday, days after she fixed a flat tire and continued into Death Valley, relying on directions from a GPS device in the vehicle ... http://articles.latimes.com/2009/aug/08/local/me-deathvalley8

[S n o w b a l l]

24. Yes, a Garmin

I love it especially for road trips. I'm sure it's prevented a lot of accidents by not having to fiddle with maps while your
driving. You can relax on your trip and don't have to worry about getting lost. Totally worth the $99.

[grace0418]

25. I use the one in my phone and I love it. Always have maps as well, though. GPS isn't

perfect for every situation.

It seems to me it won't be long before GPS devices for your car are phased out, but for a few years they'll be great.

[spinbaby]

33. I have that in my phone, too

Two disadvantages, though. First of all, a phone is hard to consult while you're driving--I would only use it while driving if I had a another person in the car to check the map. Secondly, because the phones use cell towers to figure out where they are rather than true GPS, they're not always accurate. For instance, if I consult my phone at home, it places me three miles away from where I really am.

[grace0418]

38. Mine uses true GPS (it works even when I don't have cell signal). And it also has

turn by turn audio directions if I want to use them. But mostly I use it for reference. If I'm by myself I put it in the dash next to the odometer and check it when I stop. If I'm with someone, I have them check it.

[Moondog]

30. I've had it both ways -

in cars with the GPS built in, which is nice until it comes time to upgrade the maps, which are only available once a year or so and for which the car dealers want the earth and your first-born; and the portable units which are much better, because they are portable, and a lot less $$.

Currently I have a TomTom XXL 540 M, the coolest thing about it (other than I got it on some kind of special on Amazon for Cheap) is that it includes lifetime upgrades to the maps. Never gets out of date.

Where these things really excel is when you screw up, and get off on the wrong exit, or make the wrong turn. It knows you screwed up, and just starts telling you how to get back on track.

Highly recommended.

[TrogL]

31. I've got a portable TomTom

Works for me.

[Love Bug]

32. I've ridden in cars with them

And I found them so distracting I can easily see how using one myself would be a hazard since I would be following my progress on the map. I do find the Garman "recalculating" comment somewhat judgemental and amusing, tho!

[gmoney]

35. even worse: "When possible, make a U-turn."

Translation: "Wow, did YOU screw up!"

[Dappleganger]

37. We have a Garmin too.

It was around $100 for a refurb unit (looked brand new) from Amazon.com. We bought it just prior to taking a long trip up to VA, DC and Philly and was worth every penny. I like that it is slim and you can stash it in your pocket or purse easily. This model has a voice which says the streets out loud.

[InvisibleTouch]

40. I have one, but I don't totally trust it.

Used it for the first time on a longer trip this past weekend, but I found that it took me on routes that I *knew* were not right. Well, that probably would have gotten me there too, but just wasn't the way I'd taken that drive before. So I went by my printed-out MapQuest directions, and kept the GPS on hand as an emergency backup.

Of course, it took me a while to trust MapQuest directions over old-fashioned paper maps, too, so it's probably just an acclimation issue. (Though I still have the paper map with me as well, "just in case.")

[TreasonousBastard]

41. I have a supply of Hagstrom street maps for pretty much anywhere I have to go...

and I'm so used to them that I can't imagine staring at that little screen or listening for advice where to turn.

There are some places I go that are pretty well unmapped and I use Google Earth to see what the landscape actually looks like.

[grace0418]

44. I do remember reading a horrible story about a woman who took her son on a camping trip

to Death Valley with only GPS and no paper maps. The GPS steered her off course and I don't think she was paying close attention because she was letting the GPS do the work. Anyway, her SUV ended up stuck in the sand and couldn't move. They were several miles away from the area she'd told her family they were going. She had a case or two of water but her son still died before anyone could find them.

I've heard other, less heinous stories about people running into ditches on the highway because the GPS told them to exit right and they did immediately, not waiting until they actually reached the exit.

Always have paper maps, never space out because the GPS is giving you turn-by-turn directions.

[JCMach1]

48. They are great, but using the Garmin in the states I found some glaring inaccuracies

at times...

These can lead to MAJOR detours if you aren't very careful.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

49. I love it!

I bought a Garmin after asking for recs from the lounge and because they finally reached my price point (Under $100) but it still requires you to use common sense. If I had it to do over, I would spend a few more bucks to get one that tells you the street names as it directs you and I understand that some of the better ones will even adjust your route to take traffic into consideration but all in all, this beats the shit out of a map.

[cwydro]

50. Anything that distracts people in the car

I hate. Seen several car vs bike/pedestrian down here that were blamed on someone looking at a GPS...and we only have ONE ROAD IN and ONE ROAD OUT.

Maps have always worked just dandy for me. Even when I drive in a foreign country, I've never had a problem getting around.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

51. I use a Garmin, and maps

If I'm going some distance, I like having a map to see if there are any "side trips" that fit the schedule. Ms Garmin can cope pretty well, but you have to put up with her nagging voice saying "recalculating", in a tone that lets you know you're a moron.

Some GPSs "speak" the street names, some don't. The spoken street names are a big help.

The only accessory I bought is a sort of bean-bag mount that I can set anywhere on the dashboard, then put the thing in the trunk when I park. If it's not in plain sight, my car might not get broken into. And, with the bean-bag, I can put the Garmin within reach, in case I want to push a button as I drive (not recommended, it's as distracting as texting).

:hi:

[Nye Bevan]

56. My Garmin says the street names

but is terrible at handling abbreviations. When she sees "Maple Dr." instead of saying "Maple Drive" she says "Maple Doctor"!

[TommyO]

55. My favorite use of it was to find gas and food on our trip to Florida back in May

I knew the directions to my cousin's house in Ocala (Mapquest and their advice), but we used the GPS to find grocery stores, restaurants and fuel on the way down and back.

[Heidi]

57. I have TomTom D-A-CH on my iPhone, but I didn't buy it for driving.

I bought it because I thought it would help my goddaughter and me navigate more quickly and precisely during a recent day trip walking around in Zurich. Perhaps I used it incorrectly, because it was not at all helpful. It seems there are plenty of places where one can walk but not drive or drive but would be ill-advised to walk, and walking the TomTom driving directions would have taken an eternity.

My question is: Is there a good GPS program for people who prefer to walk?

[Blue_Tires]

58. i just got a new car without the option, and now kind of wish i did

I thought all I ever needed in life was a road atlas, but it does little good when you're wayyyy out in the sticks in a maze of unlabeled two-lane country roads...

Granted, the option was too expensive ($2000+) to consider, but in hindsight i could have traded off some other options to try swinging it....

[kentauros]

59. This site may not be of any use to you,

but the maps to use when you're "out in the sticks" are USGS DOQQs and topo quads:

http://gisdata.blogspot.com/search/label/DOQ

:hi:

[seabeyond]

60. we love it. drove from texas to cape cod. then drove texas to SF. LOVE it.

it helped us out so much. especially thru the major cities where you are working so hard to find the signs and remember the highways you need to get on. i use it in town, when i am unfamiliar with an address. i use it a lot. and i am anti technical for only the reason i am stupid in it and dont want to learn. generally i have hubby program the stuff in cause i cannot remember what buttons to push. but love the thing

[tigereye]

68. my husband just got one for a long trip - and he loved it!

It explained everything in a pleasant voice and the graphics suited his need for clarity.

I don't know the name of it, I'd have to look.

[proteus_lives]

69. I love my TomTom. It's worth it.