Not happy with Garmin Nuvi 885 and due for map update

[testcase]

"In what way?"

Viewability and sound are two reasons that jump to mind.

My stand alone TomToms had larger screens than an iPhone. Here, bigger is definitely better. With a bigger screen, when I'd "Tap" on the screen, there would be bigger "buttons" with more space between them. A smaller screen virtually guarantees you'll inadvertently hit the wrong button. If you're driving (I know, I know but, people do it) you're as likely to hit the wrong button as you are to hit the button you want. This is when being able to give voice instruction shines. The speaker on a stand alone is much better than an iPhone; even when using the iPhone TomTom car kit.

I have an aviation tablet that has a 7" screen. It came with a Rand McNally Road Atlas app that has a miserable UI. I'm thinking of playing with the tablet. I'm sure there are better apps available than Rand McNally. I have a Ram Mount (suction cup / clamp) so, I could secure it to the windshield of my minivan. I know I'd love a screen that big.

[AllGold]

Trouble wrote:
[quote=dmann]Any thoughts/suggestions/advice?
DM

Get another GPS.
And search reviews and forum posts to find a model with the minimum amount of routing quirkiness.

[Michael]

I can't comment on the traffic quirkiness; my Garmin only does very little of that. But, in general, I wouldn't buy another gps without lifetime map updates and lifetime traffic. At this point those features are relatively cheap; a Garmin 1350LMT is $148 from Amazon and a TomTom SL340TM is $130 from Amazon. Second, if I was concerned about not liking a particular brand, I'd buy it at Costco so I could return it for an extended period of time if I was not happy.

[bazookaman]

I did get my garmin with the lifetime maps and traffic.

[Trouble]

Costco has a magellan 7" with free maps and traffic for $149 A/R. Even with my iPhone4, I've thought of buying the magellan. http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.asp...d=11632167&whse=BC&topnav=&cat=56373&hierPath=90607*4843*56373*&lang=en-US

[macphanatic]

olnacl wrote:
I had a Panasonic in dash unit in my last car, The CRV I bought this year came with the Nav pkg and I was looking forward to it, but found the same BS that you are describing. I now wish I'd pulled the Pioneer before selling it.

I have a Pilot with the built in Nav. Worst POS ever. Direct route is usually not the most direct route. The latest map update (from Navteq) does not show updated routing of 95 between Baltimore and DC and other places. I would avoid using anything that is specifically dependent on Navteq maps.

[testcase]

That Costco Magellan gets poor reviews.

I'll have to see if my local Costco has one I can actually try.

[graylocks]

i agree with testcase as to why a stand alone GPS is preferable to the Iphone option. as i said i do use the iPhone around town as it's always within reach.

[macphanatic]

Forgot to mention that the TomTom car kit also has bluetooth for hands free calling and a 3.5 mm headphone jack for audio out.

[davester]

The iPhone is a good stopgap GPS for occasional use (if you have a windshield mount and car charger for it). However, it is much better to have a cheap garmin nuvi if you use GPS all the time. Reasons: larger screen, louder voice, bigger buttons, higher precision GPS receiver.

Pretty much every review I've seen rates the low end garmins as the best. I had a 255w (until it was stolen). Also note that high quality add-in maps for foreign countries seem to be more universally available for the garmin than for other brands. When we went to Costa Rica, garmin was the ONLY GPS for which you could buy an accurate map.