In Part I of this series, we discussed how much you can spend on auto GPS units, and how much you want to spend. In this part, we're going to discuss the manufacturers and what features you need to be on the look out for.
Buy the end of this article, you should know enough about auto GPS units to enter the marketplace with knowledge and confidence.
What manufacturer's product should I buy?
Since I just mentioned the top manufacturers in the United States, let me just say a few words about each of them.
Garmin has the broadest and deepest product line. I like their nuvi line quite a lot! They're sleek and really have a lot of features for such a small package.
Tom Tom has been fast catching up in the United States due to very aggressive pricing. If you want a more fully featured model than the One, 3rd Edition, then how about the GO 920T, which was listed by Consumer Reports recently as one of the best GPS's to buy. Right now, it will cost you a little over $400.
Magellan is sort of the granddaddy of the field. They were one of the first companies to enter the auto GPS market. I like their Maestro line the best for about the same reasons I like Garmin's nuvi line.
Also, Magellan has a great deal with AAA, where they have the Tour Book pre-programmed right in their device. I'm a AAA lover. So, for me that's a great selling feature.
Sure, there are other manufacturers of these devices other than Garmin, Tom Tom, and Magellan, but since these three control almost 90% of the U. S. market, I can't see any reason to buy anything else.
Now that we've talked about who makes auto GPS units, let's talk about what features you should be considering.
What do I want my new GPS to do--besides tell me how to get places?
In addition to showing you where you are and telling how to get to places, all GPS units also have touch screens, a database of pre-programmed destinations (called Points of Interest, or POI's), and pre-loaded maps, usually of at least the lower 48 United States.
Other features you might want are:
More maps
Actually saying street names (instead of just "Turn Here!")
Real-time weather and traffic alerts right on your device
Bluetooth, so you can make hands-free phone calls while driving
Multiple point routing, so you can enter more than one destination in for the same trip
Bigger screen (4.3-inches instead of 3.5-inches--measured along the diagonal)
You can get the extra maps, saying the street names, and the real-time weather and traffic alerts (with subscription) for only about $200! The Garmin nuvi 350 can do this just fine.
If you want Bluetooth, then you can get this and the wider screen for around $400. The multiple point routing will cost you another $50 to $100.
There are certainly more features, but these are the main ones. There's a lot of competition under $400 in the auto GPS marketplace. Above $400, it's mainly all Garmin. So, if you're willing to spend more, you really need to look at their nuvi 700's and their 800's.
Hopefully, this will help you wrap your mind around the market for auto GPS units a little better!
At first buying a GPS seems a little confusing and overwhelming. It's not really. There are just a few things you haven't thought about.
Use this article as a guide to help you better understand the marketplace.
What you need now is an informative website where you can browse and check current prices.
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