Buying GPS can be intimidating especially if you do it for the first time. It doesn't have to be, however. Because you can spend from $150 to $900 on a GPS, using 'price' as a starting point is a wise thing to do.
You should wrap your mind around the market for auto GPS units a little better before investing in GPS.
Many buyers base their choices on what their friends have or on a few reviews they read online and end up buying a model that does not meet their navigation needs. As with everywhere else, knowledge is power in the world of automotive GPS also.
Let's start by looking over the features you should be considering.
All auto GPS units show you where you are and give you instructions to get to where your going. They all also have a library of pre-programmed destinations called Points of Interest, or POI's. You can get an auto GPS unit to do all of this and more for only $150! The Garmin nuvi 200, the Tom Tom One, 3rd Edition, and the Magellan Maestro 3100 are all three good examples of entry level GPS systems.
Some popular features are more extensive maps, actually pronouncing street names instead of just "Turn Here!", real-time traffic bulletins, and Bluetooth capability to name only a few .
You can get all of this for $200! If you want Bluetooth, then you can get this and the wider screen for approximately $400. The multiple point routing will cost you an extra $50 to $100.
Another example of a good mid-priced GPS is the Magellan Maestro 4250. It can do all the things I've mentioned and it has the wider, 4.3-inch display. (Normal screen sizes are 3.5-inches. These are all measured on the diagonal, just like a television.)
Tom Tom has been fast catching up in the United States due to very competitive 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 just over $400.
The Garmin Nuvi 200 is one of the least expensive auto GPS units you can buy. I would suggest this as a good starter GPS system, it's simple enough that a friend of mine bought it as a birthday present for his mother in law who is a complete and utter technophobe.
While we're mentioning extra add-ons, let me make sure you know about Magellan's deal with AAA. If you're a AAA subscriber, you can gain access to their well-known Tour Book right on your GPS device. I love AAA. So, for me this would certainly be a good selling feature.
Sure, there are other manufacturers of auto GPS units other than Garmin, Tom Tom, and Magellan, but since these three control almost 90% of the U. S. marketplace, I can't see any reason to buy something else.
Your best money saving tip would be to visit an informative website where you can check out prices and browse particular models. I can't think of a better way to know what you're buying when you make a decision to spend your hard earned money!
You should wrap your mind around the market for auto GPS units a little better before investing in GPS.
Many buyers base their choices on what their friends have or on a few reviews they read online and end up buying a model that does not meet their navigation needs. As with everywhere else, knowledge is power in the world of automotive GPS also.
Let's start by looking over the features you should be considering.
All auto GPS units show you where you are and give you instructions to get to where your going. They all also have a library of pre-programmed destinations called Points of Interest, or POI's. You can get an auto GPS unit to do all of this and more for only $150! The Garmin nuvi 200, the Tom Tom One, 3rd Edition, and the Magellan Maestro 3100 are all three good examples of entry level GPS systems.
Some popular features are more extensive maps, actually pronouncing street names instead of just "Turn Here!", real-time traffic bulletins, and Bluetooth capability to name only a few .
You can get all of this for $200! If you want Bluetooth, then you can get this and the wider screen for approximately $400. The multiple point routing will cost you an extra $50 to $100.
Another example of a good mid-priced GPS is the Magellan Maestro 4250. It can do all the things I've mentioned and it has the wider, 4.3-inch display. (Normal screen sizes are 3.5-inches. These are all measured on the diagonal, just like a television.)
Tom Tom has been fast catching up in the United States due to very competitive 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 just over $400.
The Garmin Nuvi 200 is one of the least expensive auto GPS units you can buy. I would suggest this as a good starter GPS system, it's simple enough that a friend of mine bought it as a birthday present for his mother in law who is a complete and utter technophobe.
While we're mentioning extra add-ons, let me make sure you know about Magellan's deal with AAA. If you're a AAA subscriber, you can gain access to their well-known Tour Book right on your GPS device. I love AAA. So, for me this would certainly be a good selling feature.
Sure, there are other manufacturers of auto GPS units other than Garmin, Tom Tom, and Magellan, but since these three control almost 90% of the U. S. marketplace, I can't see any reason to buy something else.
Your best money saving tip would be to visit an informative website where you can check out prices and browse particular models. I can't think of a better way to know what you're buying when you make a decision to spend your hard earned money!
About the Author:
Michael Torc is a loyal GPS enthusiast! Take a look at his website, http://www.auto-gps-units.com, to learn more about auto GPS units.
