Portable GPS

[groundhog74]

Anyone have a portable GPS that they love? We were thinking of getting one for our van. Thanks!

[BabyMine]

Can you just use your cell phones?

[liz]

We have a Garmin. We like it a lot.

Remember that you will have to update your maps periodically and that will cost extra $. It was worth it for us.

[wencit]

Garmin always gets high praise. We have the Nuvi 650 that I purchased a couple years ago and have been very happy with it. One thing I've noticed is that many models these days come with free traffic monitoring, which I would look into now if I was to purchase a new one. When I bought mine, that was an extra feature I wasn't willing to pay for, but it sure would be nice to have if it was built into the cost.

[barkley1]

I would personally upgrade my phone to one w/ GPS(if yours doesn't already have it) rather than get one. My cell phone has always been much better than the Garmin, even before the Garmin maps were out of date. I didn't realize when we got the GPS you had to pay $40 a year for updates!! Thumbs DOWN.

[stillplayswithbarbies]

get a Garmin Nuvi. If it has "T" in the model number then it has traffic which is very very useful. Our Nuvi routed us around a backup on the highway by taking us off an exit, down another road and then back to the highway beyond the back-up. That was awesome! (you can turn off the feature)

if the model number has "LM" in it, it has lifetime map updates which means you don't have to pay for map updates. It's not just the maps that get updated, it's also the businesses etc. so if you are looking for the nearest Chick-fil-a, it will know about the one that was just built off the next exit. :)

[bubbaray]

We have a Garmin Nuvi and are happy with it. If I were to buy again, I would get one with lifetime maps as the updates are kind expensive through their website (but you can buy a card through amazon apparently).

[liz]

FYI, you can buy lifetime map updates. Ours cost about 100$ vs 40$ for a one time update.

[jess_g]

We have a Tom Tom XL but don't use it that much. Its kind of anoying when its telling you one way to go but you have in your mind another way already. But for going places you don't already know its great. -Jessica.

[DebbieJ]

i have a Garmin Street Pilot (former model) that DH bought me as a gift and I bought the lifetime map update for ~$120. I did have the traffic feature on mine free for a year, but the interface wasn't very good. Plus, it didn't work very well out of the city limits. But that may be different where you live due to satellites. (just like my iTrip FM tuner SUCKS because we have t0o many radio stations here--I can't find a clear channel!)

I just bought DH a Garmin Nuvi for his birthday (he started a new job and will be commuting by car instead of train) and he loves it. I got a great price on Ebay.