My rental for my PNW trip last summer had one. It does spoil you.

One caveat: it didn't factor in roadwork, so I had to turn it off in those cases.

Just the one in my phone. Works well enough for me on the rare occasions I'm driving.

How do you want to use it -- locally or on longer trips? Just in your own car, or in multiple cars, or handheld for geocaching? That will play a part in your discernment process.

I have been known to geocache, and the one in my iPhone works just peachy. Aside from the whole "ridiculous data plan" thing, it's great for a free one. But that might not work so well on a dashboard mount :)

You can't go wrong with Garmin. They just do GPS really well. I have one of the older units with many bells and whistles, including automatic syncing with phone and dialing of places from the GPS, as well as ability to read me my audio books.

But . . . my Droid is an outstanding GPS unit too and I'm using my Garmin a lot less these days as it is so easy to just tell the phone my destination with voice input, and have it pull it up and plot my route and dictate it to me. Also, the Google GPS system does this very cool thing at the end: it shows you an image of your destination from the enormous Google map database.

If you don't have a smartphone and never plan to get one, I'd get a used Garmin. Not much bucks, fantastic GPS service. If you are thinking about a smartphone, I'd strongly recommend a Droid of some sort as it will double as an excellent GPS unit (and MP3 player and camera and book reader and portable game console and YouTube viewer and much more.)

we actually have several... with the caveat being that we do quite a bit of backcountry hiking, skiing and MTB operations up in national forest / BLM / wilderness lands. A GPS is something of a necessity for that stuff.

Here's the one I bought the mister last year for his birthday. We use this one on the mountain bikes and when skiing. It is absolutely indispensable for the backcountry.

We replaced the heads to our Saris/Powertap powermeters on both our road bikes with a pair of these. err, I guess don't worry about trying to parse that last sentence unless you're a competitive road racer

the mister already had an older model of this one. We still keep it in the camping bag for the odd bushwhacking / hiking jaunts, tho we're considering re-homing it because Old Technology is Old. The current entry-level model is quite a big improvement. Pro tip, if you're considering buying and you've a choice of black or yellow: GET A YELLOW ONE. No, seriously. It's much more find-able when you accidentally drop it in the weeds. And you will.

Last but not least, since we're already Garmin customers and have access to a bunch of tracks n stuff on our accounts, we got this app and installed it on both of our iPhones.

I received my first one for my birthday last year, a Garmin 1450LMT. It is really wonderful: mine has voice directions (pretty essential when you are driving in traffic) and a "free" (ad supported) traffic congestion service. But it is not the cheapest (seems to have gone up in price considerably since I requested mine).
I did a fair amount of research on these:
- Garmin appear to be better in N/ America, whilst TomTom are better in the UK and mainland Europe (more accurate maps, better local congestion and diversion warnings).
- Garmin seem to have a better points of interest (POI) database, which includes shopping in the USA (more useful than I had imagined, when you are miles from home, but want to find a Target!).
- TomTom seem to have a better way of suggesting alternate routes: they have a service called "IQ Routes" that allows users to update their global maps database with faster routes for certain times of day (e.g. rush hour) or notifications that a road is out of service or subject to road work.
- Garmin's traffic service has been less than stellar in my experience: it tells me there are problems when these obviously cleared hours ago but it does not warn me about the 8-mile tailback that I have just run into on the freeway. So I suspect that, because it is free, it is not updated regularly enough to be of help. Plus the popup ads are very irritating and can block views of the map when you start off from traffic lights (the ads only appear when you are stationary, but take a while to go away). However, you can disable this by replacing the power cable (or just buying a unit without traffic updates - I got this as there was little price difference and I wanted to see how good it was). Garmin do seem to flirt with paid traffic service subscriptions on higher-end models, so I suspect they realize how limited the utility of their free service is.
- Garmin's map updates service *may* be better than TomTom's in N. America. (I heard that TomTom makes you pay for intervening updates to get the latest one, whereas Garmin just sells you the latest update). But both now offer "lifetime" updates (for the lifetime of the unit, not the user) as an option.
- TomTom units tend to be less expandable than Garmin. Garmin have a micro SD card slot on most units (not all, so this is worth checking on their website). This allows you to buy additional maps, e.g. for Europe if you intend to travel with the unit. It also means that you have more storage for your own points of interest (coordinates that you save as you use the unit) and for map updates - if you read the Amazon reviews, the lack of expandability seems to be a sore point for TomTom users.
- Size of units: my brother has a 3+" TomTom model in the UK, which I found very difficult to use when I visited. I have a 5" Garmin unit for the USA, which is much easier to read. It is worth actually browsing these units in person and standing a couple of feet away, which is how you'd see it as you are driving, to see what size you need. (My 5" unit fits neatly in my purse and works to walk around with, even though it is not sold as a pedestrian model).

So the bottom line seems to be that if you are in N. America, Garmin is probably slightly better; if you are in the UK or mainland Europe, TomTom is probably slightly better.
I would *definitely* go for an offer that includes Lifetime Maps(with Garmin, you get a model with an LM designation, or you can buy an $80 lifetime maps card on Amazon). The cost of map updates means that this pays for itself within 2 updates. Costco were selling the 1490 last week (which is the 1450 with with a built-in Bluetooth microphone and speaker for hands-free cellphone calling) for about 3/4 of the Amazon price. Just make sure that you price in the cost of map updates. TomTom do seem to have a way of uploading "community" sourced map updates for free, but when I looked these seem to be for the UK rather than the USA.

OK, this is helpful.

-I am planning on getting a smartphone but not in the near timeline.
-I'm in the US.
-I never imagined using it in the woods; this would be for driving only. I have geocached but it's not a big hobby of mine. It never occurred to me to use it on trails or in backcountry, but that's somewhat intriguing to know one can do that.
-It would also mostly be for driving within a few hours of home, or business travel to unfamiliar places. Otherwise I'm happy with a map and some Google printouts. But for insane city traffic in cities I don't know well, I'd like the turn-by-turn help.

Don't have one. Don't see the need for one.

I didn't until my last few miserable weeks going to new places around Boston and its burbs. Miserable I tell you. And I was late to everything. And though I'm a proponent of dead-tree maps, they don't help you on tiny local streets that aren't significant enough to be mapped on state and county maps. And I could never buy enough local Gazetteers to make it through Massachusetts. I made it this far without one but it's time to change - I just don't live in the sticks anymore, and I roam too much now.

The Google Maps app (which I think is available on iphones now and not just Android, but I'm not sure) has been upgraded to the point that it's a fully-functional GPS, with spoken turn-by-turn directions and everything. I'd never owned a GPS, but this sure comes in handy on road trips. Also, it's a free app.

Maybe this is just my excuse to take the smartphone plunge. Why not, if I'm going to spend $100 or so anyway?

I have a cheapie Garmin Nuvi265 and I suspect it's the one you want. It takes me from my place to Jim's place with no less than six [6!] rotaries between him and me. It plugs into a cigarette lighter/aux jack, it has turn by turn directions but you can make them more simple or more accurate [like "talk more" "talk less"] and a night and a day setting for better contrast. I had to sort of give up and learn to trust it because sometimes I'd have no idea what it was doing but I've found it's very very accurate in terms of knowing when I'm going to get someplace. About $100 has bluetooth so you could theoretically use it as a hands-free device for your phone but I've never done that. I have an iphone too but I don't get signal in enough places in New England that it's not an okay GPS substitute up here.

hmm...

yea we don't do turn-by-turn GPS in the car, if only because we always drive places together, thus our "turn-by-turn navigation" usually boils down to me codriving via the live Google Maps app on the mister's iPhone.

Sounds like you need one of the midrange car-specific Garmins. Tho if the backcountry thing intrigues you, some of their handheld units now do turn-by-turn as well. Dunno about the auto interface tho.

One of the important things to consider for automotive turn-by-turn GPS functionality is how modern your car is. You maybe able to hack your way through this, and you may not. Our 2005 Subaru Outback doesn't have an aux-in / ipod jack. In plain English, this means we can't attach GPS or iPhones directly to the stereo system and have them read directions. We either have to use a tremendously shitty and nearly non-functional FM radio transmitter thing, or else spend $150 plus an afternoon's worth of time tearing the dash apart to install a "hack" board that provides aux-in capability.

This is a well-known foible of the Subaru line though. Most cars have had aux-in capabilities for third party accessories since the early 00's.

This is a well-known foible of the Subaru line though.

I'm confused by this. Mine just talks through its own speaker. Do they not all do this?

I don't have a smartphone either.

I did get a Garmin 780 three years ago. I've used the GPS just about every day since then, not for directions so much as for traffic estimates, and just because I love having a map with me at all times, automatically open to the right page, placed in a spot where it's safe to consult while driving.

I can route my phone through it for handsfree talking, but (at least with my phone) the sound is horribly crackly so the conversations rarely extend much beyond "okay, I'll call you back when I get home."

I rarely use its spoken directions. I don't always take its advice anyway; there are some local flow situations I understand much better than it does. (It's ridiculously biased toward big roads; I know that if it displays 7-minute delay on my way home I should take the neighborhoods instead, but the GPS won't reroute me until the difference is >12 minutes.)

It certainly hasn't replaced paper maps. Even by zooming out and back in again it doesn't offer what to me is a useful overview of an area. Before and after going anywhere new I do look at a map -- paper or Google -- to lodge it in my brain. But in the moment it's great to have.

About the spoken turn-by-turn: I've occasionally told people that it's a bit like driving with an Aspergeresque map-genius friend. The friend is really helpful and has all the facts right, but there are aspects of human behavior -- like how people actually behave in traffic, and that you might have a preference for a particular route -- that they doesn't quite get. Exasperating at times, but on balance you're glad they're there.

"Recalculating."

I'm confused by this. Mine just talks through its own speaker. Do they not all do this?

are you referring to the car or the GPS unit? I'm not familiar with the auto-specific Garmins, I'm afraid, so I'm not aware of what their standalone sound capabilities are.

as for Subarus, if that's what you're asking, the Legacy / Outback / Forester models (rather notoriously) did not have an aux-in option until something like 2006 or 2007 IIRC, despite many other automakers providing this utility years earlier. It was one of the biggest complaints about Subarus on the "tuner" forums. If you have a newer model Suby, then you're probably unaware of this.

I have an iphone too but I don't get signal in enough places in New England that it's not an okay GPS substitute up here.

Ah, a useful note. Thanks for the rec.

I've been pretty happy with the Turn-by-turn direction on my Droid although it does drain the heck out of the battery. I seldom go anywhere where I don't know where I'm going so I don't end up using it all that much.

Miko, if traffic is an issue then I'd recommend getting a "traffic receiver" if you pick up a Garmin -- those DO have live updates and are quite accurate. (Also, take it with you when you leave the car -- they are popular with thieves.) And, I'd get a dashboard mount like this one which does not advertise to car prowlers the way a suction cup outline on your windshield does that there may be a GPS in the car.

In terms of cost effectiveness, you are going to get a lot more, GPS service and other stuff too, with a Droid phone. I'd recommend Verizon for best reception but I'm in Seattle area -- you'll want to check to make sure reception is good where you are.

I'm a GPS hater. Give me a paper map any day. I've never had anything but issues with them (both a Garmin, but an old model, and a TomTom) because they're too slow to adjust, especially in stop-and-go traffic (NYC, I'm looking at you and your fucking "recalculating" and telling me to turn left 3 exits ago.)

Plus, no one steals paper maps. Apparently around here, just having the little ring on your windshield is enough for fuckers to break into your car.

I have a Magellen. Mr. V actually waited on line in the wee hours of the morning on Black Friday to get it for a great price....for himself. I love it, but until recently I didn't even know you can update them! The only drawback with mine is that it's not easy to just enter "RT. 33"; you have to enter "county road" or "state road" first. That part annoys me.

Lonefrontranger, I was confused by your statement as well. My GPS just plugs into my cigarette lighter (not that I smoke), or am I being really stupid thinking an aux-in is something different?

My Garmin (and my phone, for that matter) also just plug into my cigarette lighter. As both have bluetooth connection, they also link up with the stereo in my car, which means the sound from both is pretty darn good.

I don't have one, but I was with my in-laws last summer and they had one. It seemed kinda fun but there's nothing about it that screams "buy me!" to me. Like sperose, I like paper maps and have several in the car. I love opening one up and just looking at/reading it.

The rentals I've driven the past few years have had both lighter and RCA connector-type outlets.

I use navigon on the iPhone. It' loud enough not to need an external speaker, and with a car adapter I don't worry about battery life.

I'm a romantic for the old fold out maps. I remember my father being a pro with them. That said, I'll never use one again. It's like using the yellow pages book. Feels like I should have an 8 track playing in the background.

Mine is accurate 99 percent of the time, and when it's not, it's very, very close. Miss you turn? It just recalculates. No pulling over to look at the map. And because it has turn by turn audio, I don't have to look at my phone like I would a map.

And I use to be one of those that thought it was unnecessary. I wouldn't live without one now. And using an iphone app helps me justify the cost of the data plan.