Good Sat Nav for the US?

[JulianHJ]

I've got a three week road trip planned for next year around Utah, Nevada, Arizona and California. Looking at the rental charges for sat nav, I thought it might be worth buying a unit here.

I've never had one before, but have heard good things about Tom Tom. Are there any obvious choices? I'm not fussed about a whole raft of extras, and would ideally like to spend under £200 if possible.

[Silver993tt]

Get a Garmin with the US & Canada maps already installed.

[Dr.Doofenshmirtz]

Get a generic chinese jobbie like this... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/4-8-Slim-GPS-SIRF-IV-FM-tran...
I have one of these - brilliant GPS, and comes with iGo8. You can easily download additional maps from the likes of GPSUnderground. I have the whole of Europe and the USA installed on mine. For £63 it's a bargain.

[JulianHJ]

Cheers for the replies! Still not decided...

[thunderbelmont]

TomTom is the obvious, however, you can get Garmin Nuvi 5000's, which is one of their flagship models for £168ish from DABS.COM. Then you get it, you set it up with the maps that you want, including their free update to the latest maps.

The Nuvi 5000 is simple to drive, and you get TMS dynamic routing in the box (free use in the UK, but a subscription may be needed elsewhere)

[texasjohn]

I travel in the US two or three times a year for work. I bought a Tom Tom with US / UK / Europe maps for just under £200 and it works really well over there.

The hire car companies will allow you to hire a car in one country and drop it off in another (USA & Canada) but not a Sat Nav unit!

Take some CDs if you are driving out in the sticks because some places have barely any radio stations/reception. I got very bored driving through Vermont the first time I did the trip!

[V8TVR1978]

Silver993tt said:

Get a Garmin with the US & Canada maps already installed.

I bought a Garmin Nuvi with lane dedication etc. and it was better than the GPS (OnStar) that came with my new General Motors truck. It was about $ 375.00 U.S. but worth every penney. Check with Garmin to see if you can get UK downloads when you get back home if you buy in the U.S. or better still buy off their website. Don't go cheap on an item that can keep you out of some undesirable areas. My Onstar did that to me at 2 in the morning and then Onstar had a glich in their system that wouldn't allow new directions to be sent to me. Thought I could get car jacked in the area I was in so bought the best Garmin I could find the next day. Here in North America the Garmins are more popular than the TomToms but I have heard that the TomToms are prefered on your side of the pond. Check both websites and ask questions before you buy and stay with 1 of those 2 brands as I understand that they both do maps of the world.

[Schtum]

After a few years using Garmin Roads & Recreation and then City Navigator North America, on my ancient, steam-driven Garmin Streetpilot III, SWMBO and I purchased a Garmin nüvi770T for our last trip to California and Nevada in 2008. This came preloaded with both City Navigator Europe NT and City Navigator North America NT. It was invaluable in routing us to where we wanted to go and also finding facilities and places to eat.

I see it's now been superceded by the nüvi 775T
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=134&pI...

Or, you could save yourself £70 and get the nüvi 275T
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=134&pI...

HTH

Edited by Schtum on Tuesday 5th January 00:01

[tr7v8]

Currently in Illinois & our TT One with US maps downloaded has been great. Kept getting special offers on maps with 30% off from TT & then after I downloaded them at full price a few days later had another 30% off discount grrrr. Also found that our hire car from Dollar came with a Garmin anyway!

[smack]

You can always use maps. The US road network is not that hard to get around.

[smack]

That said, my Yank mate had a Garmin Navi (who also is a PHer...) Well I think it was.

[Silver993tt]

smack said:

You can always use maps. The US road network is not that hard to get around.

Their main use are in cities/built-up areas.