Garmin GPS (Automobile)

[170C]

Wondering if anyone has any fairly recent experience purchasing a Garmin GPS for automotive use? Currently have a nuvi 660, but its about to go south on me. Looks like every electronic dealer including a lot of drug stores (WalGreens, et al) are selling them, but don't know which model will do the basics with lifetime updates and traffic. Suggestions appreciated.

[bagarre]

Before spending a cent on a car GPS device, consider a smart phone instead.
There are very good free apps out there.

[JHKeeton171]

Just picked up a Garmin Nuvi 2595 LMT at Costco for 169.95. My wife, daughter and now myself have Garmins with life time maps and traffic. All happy with having separate auto GPS even though we also have smart phones. I guess it is just personal preference and what you are use to.

[pdb]

Before spending a cent on a car GPS device, consider a smart phone instead.
There are very good free apps out there.

I agree with David. Although we have a good Garmin Nuvi GPS for the car, the map and direction function on my iPad and iPhone is as good as the Nuvi. Try one before you buy a dedicated unit.

[170C]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have an iPhone, but don't like it for driving directions.

[bagarre]

Check out the mapquest app.
it's free and rather good. Make sure the phone is plugged into the charger or you will smoke your battery in 10 minutes flat.

[GAHorn]

Another advantage of the smartphone route is when you're a pax in someone else's car you still have your GPS with you.
Frank, my smartphone became a lot more useful when I bought a car-dock for it. (And it'll bluetooth/patch-cord to my automobile audio system and override the radio when necessary. It also allows me to talk on the phone hands-free while navigating.)

[170C]

We started our driving trip to Bardstown and the old GPS crapped out so rather than rely strictly on pilotage (I mean road maps--remember those ) I stopped at a Wal Mart and bought a nuvi 2555. Like all new devices, there is a learning curve and as we spend windshield time I am learning a bit more about it. Unfortunately, like all electronic devices these days, there is only a Quick Start manual, no true Users Manual. That, if available at all, is via the internet which doesn't help much when away from the net I have 15 days to use it or return it for full credit so I will use it for this convention trip and if I am not satisfied by the time we get back home I will explore other models.