GPS for RENTAL CAR in N.Y.C.

miaheatlvr

miaheatlvr

Active Member
Hey there, I know the streets of Manhattan pretty well but its Queens that messes me up a little. Does GPS work well?, Does it layout the streets well? I've never used one OR had the need or desire to use one for fear it may be misleading like a "MAPQUEST" or something like that that takes you in wild goose chases sometimes..BUT I will get one if people can vouch for it enough here... Regards!
p.s. also if you can recommend a MODEL NAME and NUMBER as well.
 
bronco300

bronco300

Active Member
Originally Posted by MiaHeatLvr
http:///forum/post/2594205
Hey there, I know the streets of Manhattan pretty well but its Queens that messes me up a little. Does GPS work well?, Does it layout the streets well? I've never used one OR had the need or desire to use one for fear it may be misleading like a "MAPQUEST" or something like that that takes you in wild goose chases sometimes..BUT I will get one if people can vouch for it enough here... Regards!
p.s. also if you can recommend a MODEL NAME and NUMBER as well.
i've never used the in cars one, always wanted to..i bought a handheld once which kind of sucked after i realized you had to buy a program to downloads maps...and then could only download so much(like 3/4 of a state)...but i never use mapquest anymore...i always use google maps and find ways myself...usually a bit safer i find
 
reefforbrains

reefforbrains

Active Member
the biggest difference in the different units are in Text to speech or Voice to text as some call it.
The more upper end units will say things for instance
Turn left on Green street in 1/2 mile
where as the cheapo units like tomtom and ect just say "turn left in one half mile"
sounds like a silly difference but when the unit pronounces the streetnames you will be more preparred for what to look for especially in metro areas with lots of signage.
---
Another feature is reroute correction. So again on the higher end units if you pass the street you were supposed to turn on, it will re-route you back on course with supplemental directions instead of telling you to turn around ect.
You can even pick the voice for your navigator. Angry ethnic or polite british and so on.
I am a gadget freak so I love nav but I hardly ever use them. Definatley go with a good unit or nothing at all. Saves a TON of headache.
Hahaha I am putting one on the bike build thread. I notched the ram air intakes and built a cradle. But no spoilers until I have all the kinks out and post some more pics.
 
reefforbrains

reefforbrains

Active Member
And I dont care if they kick me off thier christmas list.
never let a friend even think about buying a tomtom, they are completley fecal compared to the rest of the market.
Bronco mentioned maps. They have them listed in numbers such as point of interest. Garmins usually have 2-5 million. Not that you would need to visit something, but you can just type/say the place you want and it will bring up thier phone number, and address complete with map. Great for looking for chinese food in middle of night in a strange town.
 
socal57che

socal57che

Active Member
We have a Mio and a Magellan. WE love them both and would be lost without them. He he he. Maps are not really an issue, bout once in a while they will send us the long way because of new road construction that was not on the map software yet. Used the Mio twice, just today. Once to deliver a loaner sea slug and once to drive 90 minutes for work. If you are into hacking, there are some really cool hacks for the Mio stuff. Load windows 5.0 and it becomes a PDA with mp3, video, word and a ton of other stuff. Just google Mio hacks.
Here, I did it for you....http://www.google.com/search?q=mio+h...x=&startPage=1
 
geridoc

geridoc

Well-Known Member
I have been using the Garmin 550c in Queens for several months now, and I love it. It picks up traffic reports and knows when to route me on the side streets as a result. The worst mistake it has ever made was to announce that I had arrived when I was, in fact, one block away, but it was a University and I'm not sure that the street address I gave the navigator was correct. The unit speaks the street names, has bazillions of points of interest. It is very slow in finding a point of interest unless you can tell it the town it is in (we were looking for a particular Thai restaurant, and had to narrow down the location to Kew Gardens in Queens to find it. Otherwise, a perfect machine.
 
drpaul84

drpaul84

Member
yea all our work vehicles have garmins and we work in nyc every day, lots of queens brooklyn bronx work, and they work very well. best part of it is if you miss a block when they recalculate, if your going off paper directions and you miss the street, your screwed you gotta go find it or else your directions are worth less
 
miaheatlvr

miaheatlvr

Active Member
Thanks alot people, I think im going to go for GARMIN, but I want a portable one that TALKS, I think the 550c is to big and bulky and for the auto only, no? Then, I can just put it in my pocket and use it and take it anywhere.. I dont need all the "extras" like mp3,hand free, etc etc if it doesnt already come with it. Thanks!
 
lovethesea

lovethesea

Active Member
We just ordered from Wally World on-line the Garmin nuvi 350. A great price for on line orders only. We have spent a lot of time looking and this seemed a great price for what it offeres.
 
kerriann

kerriann

Member
just be careful when you purchase a GPS - especially if you use it in a downtown area because the lesser of a model you get the weaker the satellite system. i have my garmin c330 that i use for my long distance highway only trips and when i get into downtown pittsburgh it cuts out. my boyfriend has a garmin 660 nuvi and his works EVERYWHERE!! he travels for work and has yet to have this cut out on him
 
miaheatlvr

miaheatlvr

Active Member
Originally Posted by KerriAnn
http:///forum/post/2596165
just be careful when you purchase a GPS - especially if you use it in a downtown area because the lesser of a model you get the weaker the satellite system. i have my garmin c330 that i use for my long distance highway only trips and when i get into downtown pittsburgh it cuts out. my boyfriend has a garmin 660 nuvi and his works EVERYWHERE!! he travels for work and has yet to have this cut out on him
I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH GARVIN,, and he said the best, dollar for dollar, pocket sized, wide screen GPS they are making that is affordable is the NUVI 255w and the 260w for about $350.
 
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