Garmin 60CSx as a car navigator

If you have City Navigator installed, then that unit will operate just fine as a road navigator. As you noted, you will not get voice prompts but will get beeps instead. And the screen is much smaller than a nuvi.

Personally, I would load the free routable maps from OpenStreetMap and test it first rather than spending money on City Navigator. Might be all you need.

http://garmin.na1400.info/routable.php

Okay, thanks! I'll check those free maps out. I'm just used to the City Navigator/Nuvi type routing, so I wanted basically the same thing on the 60CSx. I'll play with those maps, but...knowing me...I'll probably still end up with the City Navigator map if those work okay. It's not really all that expensive anyway as I've seen lifetime subscriptions on Amazon and such for around $80.

Conversely, can you use a Nuvi 265WT as a marine unit and install G2 Bluechart maps on it and have them work like a chartplotter unit?

Not sure, but I'd be leery of using a very NON-weather proof Nuvi like the 265 in a maritime or any potentially wet environment.

Note that you will need a license of the FULL VERSION of City Navigator in order to install them on that unit.

Ohhhh.... Does that mean I need to pony up for the DVD and then again for the lifetime subscription as an add on or something?

I had used my 60CSX for trips in Hawaii in '08 and '09 and it was excellent. Not as useful as a touch screen, but every bit as accurate. Be sure though that you get the correct version (NT Version) as it seems there may be two different types of compression out there depending on the type of GPS you have. I was able to get all 50 states, Canada and some topographical maps into mine in a 2 GB card, so you shouldn't have any problems getting all of the road maps in there.

You need the DVD.

You only need the lifetime subscription if you want to purchase updates.