Getting the Right Car GPS System for You

By Joseph Aaron

Motor Vehicles have enjoyed being a convenient mode of travel for years, but there are still trips when time and gas are wasted or intended stops are passed up entirely because of outdated maps or complicated directions. To answer these problems and help you to benefit from a convenient driving experience, vehicle mounted GPS devices are now here to help and are quite affordable for normal drivers. It is highly recommended to have a GPS device on road trips to make sure that the quickest way is available. The usefulness of specific GPS devices varies by different makers. To attract customers and attention, optional features are available on some models to add value and increase the gee-whiz factor. Below are several of the entry level products that warrant a closer look. A nice option to consider is the Garmin Nuvi 1350 Portable GPS Navigator.

Garmin Nuvi 265W

The problem with quite a few of the lower priced Car GPS products is that their feature list is so stunted that you wonder if the design is actually completed. The Garmin Nuvi is a stripped down piece of equipment, although it manages to retain all the user-friendly functions and level of performance consumers would expect from its big siblings ? the 705 and 805 series. Text-to-speech is incorporated so you won?t need to read the screen as you drive and it is remarkably uncomplicated to set up for the amateur. The price may not complement everyone?s cash reserves, but because of its powerful applications and minimal issues, this Garmin Nuvi is the best GPS for your money.

TomTom ONE Classic and Routes edition

TomTom ONE products look to have price tags that are far below their actual value, but its functions and options explain precisely why these Car GPS devices are dirt cheap. The Tom Tom?s user friendliness is abysmal and several of the popular features including Bluetooth and text-to-speech won?t be provided by nearly any of the models. Even though the older models weren?t particularly sought after by value seeking car owners, new ONE models were introduced, including a few with widescreens and a few more with advanced features including advanced lane guidance, which is only available in the Routes edition. This brand?s classic edition lacks this feature, but the price should be tempting enough to help you get over that. Another model to look into is the Garmin Nuvi 1350 GPS Navigation System.

Magellan Roadmate 1212

The Magellan Maestro products are the better selling Magellan products because they hit the market first, although the Roadmate 1212 is going to easily eclipse the Maestro thanks to its reduced profile and also its affordable price. The acceptable performance in tandem with the easy user interface obviously makes this a pretty good purchase if you are able to work around the delayed menu button response. The text-to-speech capability is also included, although using it too long can easily drain the battery which means you could find yourself charging the battery within 3 hours. A great alternative is the Garmin Nuvi 1350 Portable GPS Navigator.

Bottom Line

With regards to lower priced Car GPS products, you may understandably be forced to choose between price and feature list. Garmin Nuvi easily dominates with its few annoyances, but the Magellan and the Tom Tom are cheaper. The most practical thing to do is to invest in a Garmin Nuvi unless you plan on letting your GPS device get in the way of your driving. - 21393

About the Author:

Joseph Aaron writes for an online project helping consumers make educated purchase decisions on GPS Navigation Systems. Amongst the highest rated GPS units recommended on his website is the Garmin Nuvi 1350 Portable GPS Navigator.