Posts Tagged ‘Best Car’

What’s the Best Car GPS on the Market?

December 4th, 2009



What’s the best car GPS on the market. I’m sure that there are a number of opinions, and I suspect you might not agree with me, but let’s take a shot and see if we can sort this thing out.

For one thing, I’m already going to hedge my bet and give you about three “best” car GPS’s not just one.

Okay, that might not be fair, but after all this is my article and I can do what I want to. (Although, my goal is to help you understand the marketplace, so I was really just sort of kidding about that.)

To get a grip on the best GPS, we really have to divide the marketplace into at least three segments. Entry-level, mid-range, and high-end. Let’s take a look at the entry-level segment first.

Best Entry-level Car GPS

By “Entry-Level” I mean under $200. Really with the recent drop in prices that should maybe be under $150! But we’ll stick with under $200.

There are two entry-level best car GPS systems. The Tom Tom One, 3rd Edition and the Garmin nuvi 350.

The One, 3rd Edition sells for about $150 and has a ton of great features like pre-loaded maps of the U. S. and Canada and voice instructions that tell you where to turn.

The Garmin nuvi 350 has a few more features like real-time traffic and weather, but it sells for about $50 more–just under $200! Actually, most people don’t think of the nuvi 350 as an entry-level device, but who can question selling for less than $200 and offering all of these features?

Best Mid-Range Car GPS

Although Garmin has several good mid-range car GPS systems, like the nuvi 760 and the nuvi 660 (both of which sell for under $400), I really think the best device on the market as far as price and features is the Magellan Maestro 4250.

The Maestro 4250 only sells for $250, and includes a wider screen and Magellan’s deal with AAA where they actually have AAA’s famous Tour Book right on the device. For AAA lovers like me, that’s a big incentive.

Best High-End GPS

Garmin absolutely dominates the top of the GPS market. If you want cutting edge technology then the Garmin nuvi 880 has to be your best choice. It sells for almost $900, but it can do everything except tie your trout fishing flies for you. (They’ll have a newer model next year that can do just that. Just kidding!)

But seriously. When Garmin set out to make the top of the line absolutely best car GPS, they succeeded completely with the nuvi 880.

Of course, choosing a GPS is a very personal matter. You might not want any of the one’s I’ve mentioned. And there are certainly many very good GPS systems out there.

What will make your choice a lot easier is a good, informative website where you can browse products and check out their current selling price.

By: Rick Cole

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Best Car GPS Systems – Which to Buy

October 20th, 2009



Security concerns are increasing in all parts of the world relating to your family, vehicles, and other property. However, GPS car systems provide a solution to your vehicles security. Global positioning systems are used for navigation, land surveying, treks and applications in scientific procedures. These navigational systems are also located in boats, cars, trucks, mobile phones and many other surveillance applications.

You might want to know how the GPS visual interface works before you get one for your car. GPS auto tracking systems basically use satellites for information to guide you when you are in your car. Usually, your position is visible on the navigation map of the GPS screen while voice prompts will guide you as and when you require help.

Auto GPS systems can aid in tracking stolen vehicles in real time. You can have better surveillance of company trucks, cabs, and buses. The main advantage of using vehicle GPS systems is small size and ease of installation. The advanced technological car monitoring systems calculate the direction and speed your car is driving to help keep you safe and on course.

There are four types of GPS systems which can be categorized as Car navigational systems, portable outdoor GPS units, GPS hybrid and marine GPS systems. Some of the more popular ones are Magellan Maestro 4000 portable auto GPS system, Streetpilot c550 automotive GPS system and Garmin car GPS system. China automotive GPS system manufacturers are making systems at cheaper rates, which might be a good option if price is a great concern to you.

Car GPS systems are simply and handy to use when you need to know your exact position without a road map.

When you are planning to get a car GPS tracking system, choose one which has live voice instructions along with visual maps, while you are driving. Voice instructions can be extremely helpful in getting you where you need to go especially when you are driving alone.

Good GPS car systems have a vital feature of Real Time tracking with a live wireless network for you to cross check directions and also get an update on the visual information available. GPS tracking systems are used for navigation and monitoring so it is best to choose quality over cost. Cheap systems may seem attractive in the beginning but failure rates are higher. Most GPS units are user friendly without a lot of technical jargon that you might not be able to understand.

In case, you have teenage kids who also drive the car, most GPS companies provide tracking at very minimal cost as the safety of your children is a major concern. If your car didn’t come with a GPS system, I recommend getting one as soon as possible.

By: Chaz Newman

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Best Car GPS – How to Find It

October 6th, 2009



To find the best car GPS, you must first define what you need and expect from the GPS.
 
There are many options available in car GPS units and manufacturers are adding additional options with each new model that is released.
 
Currently, here are some of the available options to consider:
 
·        Text to speech (speaks street names)
·        Wide screen
·        Lane assist
·        Land assist with junction view
·        Bluetooth® wireless
·        MP3 player
·        Photo viewer
·        FM lifetime traffic
·        Preloaded map options
·        MSN® Direct
 
and the list goes on and on.
 
First, define what options you need. The most important one is “text to speech”. I highly recommend that you pay the additional amount to purchase a GPS that speaks street names. If the GPS tells you “turn right in 400 feet” but does not tell you the street name on which to turn, and there are two possible turns close together, you will have to look on the display for your street name. Taking your eyes off the road for only a few seconds is very dangerous. Don’t take the chance of rear ending the car in front of you or hitting someone.
 
Consider the other options. If you live in a metro area where you have to contend with daily traffic problems, then consider the FM lifetime traffic option. If you want to use the GPS with other Bluetooth® capable devices, then consider that option.
 
Once you have defined your selection criteria, you are ready to start your search for the best car GPS that will satisfy your requirements.
 
The best place to search for your best car GPS is on Amazon. Most people think of Amazon as a store. It is that, but it also has very powerful search and sort functions that let you find the best car GPS with only a few clicks.
 
On Amazon, GPS units are listed in the Electronics Department so begin by selecting “Electronics” in the left drop down search box. Then enter “gps” in the right search input box and click the orange “Go” button to the right of the search boxes.

When the page loads, you will see a rectangle across the top of the search results. Look in the rectangle for “See Most Popular in:” with a list of GPS types listed across the page. Click the “Vehicle” link in this list.
 
This will display all vehicle GPS sorted in bestselling order. The search results will fill several pages so you can browse through these search results pages to find the best car GPS that meets your requirements in your price range.

By: John V. W. Howe

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