What cheap GPS to get for occasional driver in Canada?

ManInSuit — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 09:51:01 -0800

What cheap GPS to get for occasional driver in Canada? Can the green help me choose a GPS?

Here's my deal:

- I'm looking for something at the cheap end of things - Ideally around $200 (Maybe as much as $250. Maybe...)

- Need somethig that works in Canada (where I live) and the US (where I sometimes go).

- I'd use it mainly in rental or borrowed cars. I don't own a car, but go on road trips once in a while.

- Something portable sounds nice, since, even when I travel, I tend to get around by foot/bike quite a bit. But I'm cuious how useful this would really be. Have other folks used GPS for casual getting-around by foot or bike in new cities? This isn't the main feature I'm concerned about, but it's interesting. Can you even charge the batteries in these things outside of a car?

- Of course, accurate maps matter a lot.

- I don't care about MP3 player.

- Text-to-speech would be great, but probably out of my price range, and I can live without it.

Right now, I'm looking at the Garmin Nuvi 250 (which costs a shade more than I'd hope to spend) and the TomTom ONE 3rd edition. I'm also thinking about a Garmin C330- I used one a couple years ago, and it seemed great, and the are cheap now.

Reviews suggest the TomTom maps aren't so great, which makes me lean toward the Garmins. All the features in the world don't matter if the map's not super-accurate.

So...

- Would anyone recommend somethig other than the models I'd mentioned?
- Is the decrepancy in map accuracy really such a big deal as some reviews suggest?
- What would the Nuvi 250 do that the older cheaper clunkier C330 wouldn't?

Thanks!

Luxury Car or Practical Car?

mam — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 16:38:22 -0800

Should I buy a luxury car or a practical car? Help me make a decision!! I'm a 27 year old female. I'm single and have no kids. I want to get a luxury car (nothing ridiculous, probably a BMW 325 or IS 250) but I'm wondering if I will regret buying it, as I don't really NEED it... but I just want it. I feel like because I don't have any obligations today, and I can afford it, why not treat myself? However, the practical side of me says I don't really need it and I would be fine driving a practical car (i.e. Camry - although I don't like that it's such a "parents" car) as long as it gets me from point A to point B. I don't want to lease or buy used as I plan to keep this car until it breaks down!

I would like to hear from those who have had similar experiences and whether you are happy/regretted your decision. Hindsight is always 20/20!

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What cheap GPS to get for occasional driver in Canada?

Luxury Car or Practical Car?