sobasically everyone is pretty much all over the map. i would like to by a cheap good GPS for my wife for christmas.

 

I got the Garmin Nuvi 255WT. It was $199 on sale. IMO don't waste your money on the "T" factor on this one. The Traffic....is unpredictable. Commuting up to and around D.C., this thing lies to me all the time It says there is traffic when there isn't, and then tells me there isn't any traffic when I'm in gridlock. It's pretty useless.

I don't use the sticky suction cup thingies because then you can see the marks on the glass and that could be motivation enough for someone to break in if they see that there was something there. I have this http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Garmin+-...=1218071905926 and it's nice because even on a slightly rounded surface, it stays put on my dash. When I get out of my car, I stick my Garmin in my purse and then put the mount and cord under my seat.

Hope this helps Happy Hunting!

 

THIS IS MINE,IT WORKS WELL

 

droid

 

I rarely need directions. But when I do, I use either print an internet map or use Microsoft Streets & Trips on my laptop. It comes with a GPS antenna that plugs into the computer.

 

I use a tom tom. Pretty reliable.

 

My Nav

Helps me alot.

 

That model is currently on sale at Best Buy for $179.

I've had very good results from the traffic data on my Delphi. It's the full Traffic Message Channel data. My understanding is that the free lifetime traffic that comes with the Garmins isn't quite the full deal, and includes commercials in the feed. You can pay to upgrade to the full system...might be possible as a lifetime buyup, rather than an annual subscription.

TMC has given me some amazing results. When the beltway north from Tyson's Corner was backed up, it reported the cause as a brush fire near the Cabin John bridge and I was able to take an alternate route. Getting on the Connecticut Turnpike in New Haven, headed back to Virginia, it gave me accurate information as to the status of the car lanes vs truck lanes on the Jersey Turnpike. Saved me from a wreck-induced backup on I-64 when I was headed back from the Hampton Roads area.

That said, it's been useless for predicting backups on my I-66 commute inside the beltway. I think that kind of rush hour jam is just too transient for the system to get a good grip on.

On the hide/stash side... I've got one of those soft-sided lunch bags...the kind about the size of a six pack. GPS and mount live there, and in the trunk, when not on the windshield. Microfiber cloth also lives in the bag, to wipe the suction cup circle off the windshield.

Ken

 

id love to have a spanking new iphone, storm, or HTC Touchpro2 but I work on a militrary base with top secret electronics equipment and no cameras are allowed on base. Sure hundreds of people disregard this but I see them trying to cover the lense with thier finger while talking when base security walks or drives by and Id rather not feel oppresed or hide when Im in conversation. If an officer is feelin frisky he can take your camera phone up to the security bldg, check your pics, then you get to pick it up after work (kinda like grade school all over again lol) with a peepee slap warning you not to bring it back. Im too old for all that so I just got the freebee Samsung flip from TMobile and keep a $99 Garmin in the glove.

 

Tomtom Go910. The new ones are very nice as well. If your wife has an iphone3gs they have an Iphone app for $99.

 

Magellan Roadmate. Matches the interior perfect. Overall its pretty good. I had the Garmin Nuvi prior to this with blue-tooth and all the other options and it was sweet but I dropped it and broke it.

I like it a lot although I rarely use it unless I'm going to a complicated neighborhood or trying to find the nearest restaurant, etc. It's for for finding the closest points of interest based on your location.