This is all great info, thanks!

I have decided on the Garmin Nuvi 360 (same as 350 but has bluetooth). It was rated as one of the best when it came out and with the 600 series on the market the prices have dropped considerably. In case anyone is interested, I found it for $229 at walmart.com. Funny thing is the best price I could find it for at a brick and mortar store was $350.

As far as mounting I think I will use the clock/suction cup idea and see how that works. If that is not secure enough I'll use that slick Audi mounting ring.

Again, thanks for all the help!

 

Wet the suction cup and press firmly to create a vacuum. Mine stayed for weeks.

 

I bought the Dash unit when it came out. The real time traffic and over the air updates were the main selling points to me. Since then I have been extremely disappointed in the unit. There was no setting for highway/local/other routes, the unit usually defaulting to highway, often showing me routes way out of the way (ten miles instead of one mile direct), the suction cup holder stinks, etc. It does do nice updates but, obviously, the real time traffic reliability assumes wider adoption of the unit by people. I find it usually extremely iffy.

Can't recommend Dash to anyone, even at the lowered price.

billy

 

Garmin Nuvi 660.

 

+1 for the Garmin Nuvi.

I have been looking for some good places on the web to find custom POIs, any suggestions?
thanks,
--Joe

 

www.gpspassion.com is a good place to start.

 

I think you will like the 360. . . I do !

 

I'm looking at the 770 due primarily to it including the european maps right out of the box... The wife and I are vacationing in Germany next summer, so I thought I might as well get the unit that already has the maps...

Anyone have any experience with the 770?

 

Looks like a recent price drop. I bought the Garmin Nuvi 360 in May and like it very much. At that time, the best price online was just under $300, delivered. Bluetooth works well - very clear and intelligible. Have used it from car to car with no issues. Chose not to renew the traffic subscription since it ran out. It worked OK, just didn't really need it so far. Hard to believe in SoCal! The runup in gas prices has really lightened the traffic.

I love Terry's idea for mounting, since my clock recently died, and I can't find my tools to pull it out. Plus leaves the lower windshield for the Valentine One.

 

Ditto.

 

Great price and value on the C550 from Costco. The only think I dont like about it is its size. When I travel, its laptop, clothes, and everything I need in my Costco Kenneth Cole laptop/overnight bag. I have those day/overnight trips every now and then. The C550 is a little too bulky for my travel preferences.--put the rental car one in laptop/overnight bag and it didnt jive that well.


360w or 660 is my preference.

 

Here is a good site for reviews and comparisons:
http://www.gpslodge.com/

+1 on Garmin Nuvi.

BTW - New Nuvis with 'Lane assist' feature were announced this week:
http://www.gpslodge.com/archives/021266.php

 

I was a big fan of the Tomtom...

Until today, driving from Boston to Philly, where it kept trying to get me off the Merritt (80mph twisty fun) to I-95/Cross Bronx (traffic and construction hell) for 60 miles. Every exit, it told me to get off. Even where it would have taken 20 extra min of stop and go to get there. To add more insult, the traffic section was simultaneously updating us on all the delays we'd face on 95. It would have been funny, if it wasn't so annoying.

Nav units all need a big red button for "I'm not going THAT way at all, so STFU."

 

I got the Nuvi 360 last week and the Nuvi 660 is on the way. So I ended up buying 2 units--one for my girlfriend and one for me.

Used the 360 putting around town to test it out and it works flawlessly. Girlfriend has had no issues as well.

The Nuvi 360 was $178 and the 660 for $227--both on Ebay--both are remanufactured. Came with all the accessories. The only difference is the screen size.

 

Useful thread, my TomTom ONE XL went belly up last week. Liked the unit for the most part, hated the suction cup mounting system and the lack of a automatic day/night feature was annoying (my previous Garmin had that and a really cool trip computer function). It did sometimes tell me to keep right with the voice when I needed to keep left--especially in Los Angeles.

Anyone have any experience with the Navigon units? They have what looks to be a pretty cool "lane assist" feature.