I am going to be doing some traveling this winter, and would like to have an automotive GPS system (portable) for the truck. Nothing real super high tech, but with a touch screen. I am thinking the Nuvi series by Garmin, the 200W looks like it would meet my needs......any comments, recommendations, or tips????:help:

I have the 200 would like the 200W. Works well for getting from here to there. All I need in a map.

If you do get it be sure to register your S/N through the Garmin Website that way you'll be sure see if you qualify for the latest and greatest base map.

I have the TOM TOM One-- Not real $$ And the wife can figure out how to use it.. She loves it

Good Luck-- Rick

My vote is the Garmin Nuvi, or maybe the 530. There are some deals on them now too.

My vote is the Garmin Nuvi, or maybe the 530. There are some deals on them now too.


"Yup" as to the deals.

Check out gpsdiscount.com. I have bought 2 GPS units for my boat and one for my autos and they have been good people to deal with. Fantastic prices.

They make refurbished units available from Garmin at a substantially reduced price. My auto unit is the C340. I didn't need all the bells and whistles of the higher priced units and I am very satisfied with it.

Be sure whatever model you buy has streets called out by voice so you don't have to read the screen!! Some of the other manufacturer's didn't have that in their early models.

I bought the Garmin Nuvi 200W, downloaded the updates, and took it out on the road. All I can say is WOW!! This unit is really cool. I know it isn't the one with all the whistles and buzzers, but WOW! Seems to be easy to use, easy to read, and most of all, easy to understand the data... I think I will be happy with it.:phatyo:

I still have a old Magellan 12 channel (GPS 2000 XL) that works just fine & takes me straight to any new door-step ~ I do feed it some new GPS location info before-hand when makin' trips :)

lowrance xog you can put any map chip in it and use it for turn by turn or on the lake ice fishing! simple to use.....

WOW! Seems to be easy to use, easy to read, and most of all, easy to understand the data... I think I will be happy with it.:phatyo:

Easy to use, that is what sells them without any work.

TBO I show folks GPS units all the time. I let them tell me there needs and a I set up a few demo's for them to tinker with. The often say they have never used one or seen one....so All I do is tell them it's a touch screen...and turn them loose. They soon weed out models that are too much work to navigate, or have confusing menus. More often than not they narrow it down to the Garmins in the first 2 minutes.

I remember a certain precious gall, whom happens to be in her 80's, who came in with here daughters and granddaughters to look at road GPS units....for her Granddaughter.

After 5 minutes tinkering with several models, and here slapping her daughters and grand daughters hands to keep away from her screen..... she told me..."Not sure what all the fuss is about..see...there is nothing to these things". She bought herself a Garmin ...and one for here daughters...and granddaughters.

No selling required there. LOL!

I bought a Garmin 200 no gliter or glits with this unit it just works!

The XOG is a great unit if you already have a Lowrance unit on the boat and the chips, and wish a more portable road/map option. Reasonably and comparably priced to the H2O C.

Limitations are the internal battery is very weak (should have put a better lithium ION in that would have extended its range), less than 2 hours in summer conditions and it will be dead. In colder conditions that will decrease significantly. Folks who plan to use them on the ice also best plan to keep them warm and dry, and powered by a 12 V source.

The H2O C is known to be a battery burner too, and is not rechargeable. Both units will work best when used with a accessory cord to 12V, and rely on the battery only as needed.

I Purchased the Garmin Nuvi 350 three years ago ..Heard about it from a friend ..Was taking a trip from Ohio to Arizona..Never used the Nuvi before..I punched in the address of where I was going In Arizona..
Hit the go button,and enjoyed the trip..The Nuvi plotted the best route,,found food,gas, and motels..Points of interest..Kept me out of trouble...If I missed a turn It was my own fault and it got me back on course in minutes...I will NEVER travel without it...I have updated the maps but not sure I even needed to do that..
Highways don't change much but I guess points of interest might....Love It...