Do You Use You GPS Routinely In The Car Or Only When Needed?

To and from work, mainly for traffic.

The other one sits in the garage awaiting its next mission.

I use my nuvi 90% of the time on local trips and always when going out of town. I like to have it on to alert me for the red light and speed cameras. I know where all the local cameras are, but a reminder is still helpful.

It's always on, and with me.

The Nuvi 260 permanent home since 2008 it allows for lid to close when not navigating and I can hear the RLC warnings http://bit.ly/pqecuF

This summer I had a recording thermometer next to the 260 and the highest temperature it registered was 139ºf that sucker keeps on ticking; it is permanently mounted to come on when the ignition is turned on.

My 2460 only leaves the house to go on long trips out of town; it is an LMT with the latest map.

I always take when i am away from my home town.

In my personal car no, only when needed but it's in the car in a backpack.

When at work on the other hand, I take the back pack with me and the GPS is always on.

I drive a tri-axle dump truck for a construction company, we do a lot of highway paving and I need to know how to get in and out of the job without running over the fresh asphalt, the GPS is absolutely amazing for this purpose, being able to "see" the whole neighborhood. Using the trip log on the screen is a great help for this too. Before getting a GPS I used to print several maps from a map program to “show” me the area.

I use the zumo 665 or nuvi 1450LMT all the time. Locally traffic is the main reason during the work week but the unsuspecting road backups on weekends and odd hours too. There's lots of construction going on everywhere. Traffic reception isn't always available in the burbs but you can still look at the map and find a road you've never driven on before to escape the madness.

Weekends on the bike we like to ride to get lost. Sometimes I'd like to known where I am so I can get back there on a future ride. Also, the zumo 665 has XM weather radar. Many times I go catch a ride after work and let the rain chase me home. And of course traveling on the bike it's great to see the hugh storm ahead on your route. Time for a coffee break to let it pass.

Traveling for work it is always on for all the obvious reasons.

Not to mention it's my hobby.

Ride Safe!

Beyond the fact that it provides me with traffic information, I use it as a Bluetooth speakerphone.

It's always in the car or truck ... never just sitting at home.

RT

I usually have it with especially when I'm traveling for work because people might want ETA's or I could be traveling back just to have to head somewhere else. I may know how to get to Point A and point B but may not know the best way to get to point B from somewhere between point C.

I only time I use mine is if we're going out of town or to get me in the area of a geocache.

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To quote an old advertising slogan "Never leave home without it."

Same here. Whenever we leave the house for more than a 5 min drive gps comes with us. The red light and speed cameras make it worth it.

That and we walk the dogs and are always going to new parks. Then we go into pedestrian mode, turn the topo maps on and we are set.

And it has proven handy when house hunting to see whats in new areas, and finding places to eat.

GPS is fast becoming like a cell phone or wallet. Just have to have it with you.

I keep my 2460 on all the time in the car primarily for phone bluetooth. I generally navigate to all my regular destinations around town, just because I like to make Jill think she's needed. I habitually pop it off the mount when I stop in public places.

Larry

I routinely have a GPS turned on on the dashboard when I'm driving my car. Even with my older units with the small and low contrast screen I appreciated the situational awareness, and now that I have a 3790 it really is helpful.

I live in a small town so there is no need to use the GPS for local driving. But I almost always use it for highway travelling - which occurs two or three times per week.

We don't need or get traffic updates for rural Alberta, but I use Arrival Time for appointments and enjoy taking different routes when travelling to regular destinations (when the weather is good).

I live in a small town so there is no need to use the GPS for local driving. But I almost always use it for highway travelling - which occurs two or three times per week.

We don't need or get traffic updates for rural Alberta, but I use Arrival Time for appointments and enjoy taking different routes when travelling to regular destinations (when the weather is good).

If I am in NY I leave it in the car, as te temps dont get that high. If I am in FL, I only take it if I am not sure of the directions. With the grenhouse effect in FL the car can get pretty high and you can only leave windows open a bit once in a while.

I use mostly the GPS for traffic situation.

When on my motorcycle, mine is on all the time. It gives me a better speed indication. In the car, most when I am out on a trip. Locally, not so much.

Rarely go anywhere without it. It is a great tool.

I use it for the database of POI to see what's around.

I use the Google nav app pretty often, even for the short trips between work and home - mainly for traffic information. The Nuvi is used much less frequently, but for any longer trips in areas where the conditions/roads are unfamiliar, having both available is very helpful.

My 1490 is on anytime my car is running. I like the fact that I have a complete log of my driving for when I should happen to be in an accident or perhaps I get pulled over for an apparent traffic violation ! At least verification can be done -

As per subject, don't need around town, only when I going someplace I don't know.

I USE MINE IN THE CAR ROUTINELY. I NEVER KNOW, WHEN I MAY GET THAT ITCH TO GO SOMEWHERE AND NEED QUICK DIRECTIONS.

When I am in the car, the 3760 is almost always up and running. The 3760 is almost never in the car when I am not in the car

When I am at home, the 3760 is most often in the house near the computer. If I get out of the car at other locations, the slim 3760 is usually in its leather case in my pocket.

My 255 is usually at home. It gets to go on overnight trips where it is used to supplement the 3760 by allowing the passenger to use the 255 to search for rest areas, restaurants, and other poi's along the route.

But always on longer trips mainly for speed camera alerts and detours/ traffic.

For me it is like seat-belts, when I get in the car they go on. Short or long trips makes no difference GPS and seat-belts go on.

My 3790 learns certain habits. I go 3 times a week for physio therapy and on Sunday morning meet with friends at the same restaurant for breakfast.
In both situations when I return to my car and turn the 3790 on, it tells me how long to get home and whether there are any accidents on my route.
Also if you enter the correct info when you fuel up and the mileage your vehicle gets, the 3790 informs me of how much fuel I used for the drive.

I am currently conducting a test with my 855 and 3790 both on together. One difference the 855 has an external active antenna on the roof of the car which makes the accuracy about 40% better. I.E built in 13.1 feet vs external antenna at 9.5 feet accuracy.

I always have my cell phone with me (with online and offline gps apps), but I don't use it unless I have to. My father-in-law on the other hand ALWAYS uses his Garmin, even when driving to work (with just the map up, not a route). Because of this, he's gone through a couple of GPSes and a couple of batteries each. I definitely don't recommend leaving it on and plugged in all of the time.

I'll use it when going on vacation (twice a year to Florida) and when adventuring in an area I don't know well so I don't get lost and to warn me of the speed & RLC. Other than that I use it once every two months or so to charge the battery.

Mine is always on. I have RLC and speed zones loaded so I keep it on all the time.

but often I take my own routes.

For several reasons. One is if there is a problem on a particular road I can easily jump off and re-route to my destination.

Also use it regularly just to be able to have a good estimate of when I will arrive at my destination.

Also allows me to look up pois even when not routing.

I use a GPS app all the time. Mainly for traffic alerts.

all the time, she keeps me company!

I use mine almost all the time to get the traffic.

I always have it on. I use it for traffic and for the map. Also when out with the Mrs. so I can show her that where she wants to go is not on the way.....

Helpful for traffic and unplanned detours

I use mine all the time and download the tracks weekly to Mapsource. Once a geek always a geek

Yup, I'm like you -- it's always in my car. You never know when you will need it.

I have mine on everywhere I go because of the Bluetooth, red light camera and speed trap alerts. I also like to know the ETA for each destination even for places I've been before. Always used the go home button even though I know the way home.

... had a situation today where I wished I would have had mine with me ... even thought about it before I left the house, thinking I didn't need it ... only to wish I had it twenty minutes after I hit the road.

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it's the dog's fault

I travel for work 45 weeks a year.

I use my NUVI to find destinations only when I am in a new area.

When I can find my way on my own, I notice that I do not use my GPS.

I travel for work 45 weeks a year.

I use my NUVI to find destinations only when I am in a new area.

When I can find my way on my own, I notice that I do not use my GPS.

Like, who else will let you know in advance that there's a sharp hairspin you can't see from here right after those trees, and therefore save your life ? This happened to me once "by accident", and I've therefore taken the habit of turning it on all the time. It also gives you a good bird's view, and can help you decide how you will drive to "that" point on the other side of the coming unknown village ? Oh lookee, there's a road that completely avoids the center of town!

I use the GPS on most trips outside my small community but only for the traffic information. It is nice having the red icon appear in time to warn me of traffic on my route.

Use it everyday for traffic, RLC's, etc. Just got back from a long weekend in Tenn. - took backroads from Nashville to Knoxville with no problems.

Use it every day! To me, this is a must. Imagine driving down the highway even if it is to/from a frequent destination when all of a sudden you hit traffic, an accident, construction, etc. and need to quickly re-route. I am immediately ready to go with detour rerouting capability as opposed to pulling over, getting it out of your glove box, firing it up, etc. To me, it's like a cell phone. YOu don't just turn it on when you want to make a call. You leave it on and have it by your side constantly just like most technology these days.

but I only use it when I need it.