BajaNomad

which GPS to buy

desertcpl - 1-10-2010 at 02:57 PM

I am a newbie when it comes to buying a GPS ,, what I am looking for is a unit for my Tacoma 4x4,, something with a big screen a unit for TOPO maps and also street maps and also for MX

thanks
ken/jane
yuma,az

ELINVESTIG8R - 1-10-2010 at 03:03 PM

Check out the Garmin Nuvi. You can Google it. You get turn-by-turn for USA and can buy memory cards with all of Mexico or Baja California. You can get Topo maps for it too. I have one of the first ones to come out and it serves me well. When I go to Baja I use it to make the proper turns to get on Mexico-1 and when I come back to get to the border lanes. I also use it to mark where I have been in the desert so I can go back if I want to.

desertcpl - 1-10-2010 at 03:09 PM

thanks I will look at it now

which model

[Edited on 1-10-2010 by desertcpl]

ELINVESTIG8R - 1-10-2010 at 03:42 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by desertcpl
thanks I will look at it now

which model

[Edited on 1-10-2010 by desertcpl]


I have a Garmin nuvi 250W, but it does not have all the bells and whistles like the more expensive ones have. Read the descriptions of the unit on-line at Google and the the comments from people who own them then you can pretty much decide which one is best for your needs. Good luck!

David

absinvestor - 1-10-2010 at 05:15 PM

We have a garvin nuvi that came with the US, Canada voice routing. It works great in both Canada and the US. Last year we purchased a Mexico addition from Mark Walker in California. We purchased it over the internet. It comes on a small data card that when inserted into the side of the Garmin allows you to select either the US, Canada or Mexico. We used it last year in the Matzatlan and Cancun area and it worked fine. (The data on restaurants etc is not as accurate as in the US but the road routing worked fine.) This year we are heading to Baja and I contacted Mark and asked if the Mexico card I purchased from him last year covered Baja. He immediately responded and provided me with a website to update the 2008 card. The update included 21 additional cities etc. I have experimented with asking for restaurants, campgrounds etc in various Baja cities and it looks like it will work fine. I will give an update on how it works once we get to Baja in late January or early February. I have found Mark to be extremely helpful and efficient. I am currently traveling in Seattle and don't have Mark's phone number but you can reach him by email at mwalker@mexicomaps.com. Ron

desertcpl - 1-10-2010 at 05:47 PM

thanks ,, I just found his web site

skippermike - 1-11-2010 at 02:35 PM

I recently got a Garmin StreetPilot 7200 w/ 7" display. Great unit, good day and night visibility, spoken directions, etc. I got a ball-joint mount from Ram-Mount - also works great, unit will not fall off dash off road! This is a "discontinued" model - I got it for $285 on-lne. Saw it at Fryes for $599. Check out the garmin web site for details.

Debra - 1-11-2010 at 06:35 PM

I just bought the TomTom 340 S, it has a 4.3 screen is in 3D (makes it much easier too see) voice directions, etc. has US Canadian and Mexico maps, it really easy to use. I first went to the TomTom site and the price was $229, then went to BestBuy site and they had it for $149 I called my local BestBuy store and they honered the price. Great unit.

edit for model number

[Edited on 1-12-2010 by Debra]

805gregg - 1-11-2010 at 07:18 PM

Stick with Garmin, they own the GPS market.