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

Well I do have my Zumo on all the time but don't always use it, as it turns on whenever I start the motorcycle. It's always there if I do need it.

Had a wild one last week, going to Bisbee, going long way, then decided to try Garmin for shortcut. Ended up on dust bowl farm road that kept ending, finally headed back to I-10 and home

On constantly driving around Phoenix; not only for directions, but for traffic/accident reports and traffic cameras.

RT

I use it everyday for the traffic features

routinely just in case roads are shut down & just to keep it charged.

Fred

sits by my computer most of the time , I keep it updated and only take it out when going to seattle or some place that's 80-100 miles away other than that I use the phone for finding local places its more convenient and always in my pocket.

All of the time. It helps with traffic in St. Louis. For long trips 100+ miles I compare to google

Same here local trips when I go out of town

I keep it in the car, but only plug it in when I need it.

use phone now, imho Garmin has limited value these days. The phone is real time, and saves time.

The GPS I use almost exclusively in the car is on my iPhone. The Garmin app is great. Integrated with the iPhone, it's very practical. I just don't use the GPS64s in the car that much anymore, and it is used for what I intended, such as hiking and outback stuff.

Today would actually be an great example of why I wish my wife would keep a Garmin GPS on the dash, ready to go. I went out ATVing today, but ended up breaking down on the trail. She came up and met me and then drove me to my pickup truck and trailer. As soon as I got in the vehicle with h er, she started talking on the telephone and left it up to me to use my smartphone to navigate.

On its face, no big deal, except that I had to interrupt what I was doing on my phone, from time to time, to verify that we were on course. Google Maps does a great job. It's just that it is nice to have a "one trick pony" (Garmin), on the dash, just focusing on navigating.

Use garmin rarely when off work. If in a bind use Google on my phone to dodge traffic. The road construction season has begun so will probably use phone more when off work. I drive a route during the week so traffic is the main use and being able to put in addresses before starting my route makes it easier while driving stop to stop during the day.

I usually have the GPS in the car.

TOMTOM has the speed limits on most roads, so it nags me when my lead foot might get me in trouble.... it warns of traffic malfunctions/construction, and often I drive people home from work.

drove on a 600 mile business trip. Used my phone, life was good. I can't imagine bringing along a Garmin, like I used to do only 2.5 yrs. ago. Another device to keep track of and maintain and setup.

My phone exclusively, except for long trips (200 miles or more).

Go Cavs!

My Garmin is on all the time whenever I start my truck for several reasons. I love the traffic monitor which is only off occasionally, and I use it for Tracking. I used it once on a business trip and my boss thought that I was sloughing off. I went out, got my GPS and printed off the Track log map and turned that in. No more questions.

Mostly only when I travel/drive in another city.

Possible disadvantages of the phone, that I have ever seen, were that, the phone loses reception. Nope. It uses too much data. Nope. The app drains the battery. Yep.

But it's not about what's cool, what sounds good, it's about accuracy translating into saving time. You're headed to NJ from Boston--there are multiple (dunno 7 maybe 10) parkways you can take, I would say 2 major bridges, choosing the right one could be 40-60 min. or more savings. Do you trust Garmin? Or do you trust Google?

I usually use my Garmin all the time. I live in a very rual area and there are lots of roads that I have no idea where they will take me.

Well I used to have my Garmin in the car 100% of the time whether I was on a route or just driving somewhere.

I am trying to get used to the built in Garmin based GPS in my VW Passat, so I use it if I'm going to an unknown address in the city. It does not display RLC's or school zones.

I'll probably still use my stand alone Garmin on long trips. Much better information relayed to me.

For massive trips I will bring out the Garmin - otherwise it is mostly my phone with Waze/Google Maps.

always on whenever we are driving

Always on. Gotta be in it to win it!

Never know when there's a RLC or SC to be aware of.

Always on here too. Only been in our new state 2 years and still need constant feedback to be sure I'm where I think I am. New area is heavily populated with speed and redlight cameras to so that is a good reminder.

During the work week I seldom have the TomTom in the car these days. That is because I am now only six miles from work, that is all on city streets, and two miles of it have no intersecting streets.

If I have to go on the Interstate or a highway, the GPS goes into the car. I like the TomTom interface better, and the larger screen is a big help with my eyesight.

- Tom -

My 3590 is on every time I drive. Even when I'm only a couple miles away from home, I usually tell it to go home. I figure I paid for it I'm going to use it and it sort of verifies that it still works and will be there when I seriously need it.

On serious trips I use both the Garmin and the Highlander builtin. I like to compare the two. I trust the Garmin more than the builtin when there is a difference but there have been a few times when the Garmin barfed up the craziest route. Unfortunately, I usually don't realize how stupid that turn is until I've made it and found myself in a residential area or on a road that looks like it hasn't been paved in 100 years. Not fun, especially towing a trailer. The two systems together just about make up a reliable set.

I only use my phone to look up routes when I'm not in the car.

I always use it, and I have been using it for so long - since Garmin model 2 - that I hardly even know where I am without it. I think I'm home right now, but I can't be sure until I check with the GPS. I might be someplace else.

A bit of advice: Don't use "Home" as a waypoint - and I see the new models even have a preset waypoint they call Home - because if your car or portable GPS is stolen the thieves will know where you live.

Seems overly paranoid. Why bother? Do you have vehicle registration in the car, as required?

My GPS is mounted in the car and always on when the car is running. If someone breaks into my car and steals the GPS or other crap that's in there. I doubt if they are going to go driving around looking for my home... WOW!

I'm not sure if its the alerts or just viewing the map. It feels wrong if its not on while I'm driving. There might be better gps apps. But I love my garmin and nothing beats it in my book.

I use it whenever I'm driving whether I need it or not.

so many red light and speed cameras around.

for long-distance travel to unfamiliar areas.

It really doesn't make much difference if one doesn't intend on running any lights, and if there are a lot like in DC, knowing where they are by alert is pretty annoying, best practice is to follow the speed limit and stop for red lights, proceed on yellow.

One drawback is at least on my S4, even plugging in, at best, the battery is not draining, or it is, slowly. When google maps is running, doesn't seem like the battery can make any progress as far as charging....

conventional wisdom was to keep the registration and insurance on one's person, to include spouses, kids, etc. This is why there's a such thing as a duplicate. At least in my state, prior to all reggies being printed online (wtf if one doesn't go online), if the reggie were photocopied, it would come out VOID. Nice, commonwealth charges a fee for a dup.

Interesting to keep the reggie and insurance in the car, where, in the glove box, or visor, where nobody would ever find it? Why not throw in a SS card, a birth certificate, and a spare set of keys (all kidding aside often the car already serves as one as the garage door opener is there or programmed in the car) to the house lol

I use the gps mainly to warn about traffic problems and when venturing into unknown areas or travelling

Nuvi Lives in car and on if away from home for more than 30 minutes.

It is installed "permanently" so I do not hesitate to use it often.

How about a healthy dose of reality.
"Smash and Grap" punks do not have the intelligence or the means to go traveling for a possible B&E at your home. These guys are in for the quick buck. Even if they pawn your GPS to someone else, I seriously doubt if any police report has EVER mentioned that a B&E was because of a lost GPS.

But then of course, I don't live in a cesspool big city where crime is rampant.

VT nobody locked their homes or cars, and often left keys under the mat of the front door in case the house ever got locked by mistake. It wouldn't surprise me if that hasn't changed, but imho it's better to conduct oneself in a secured manner. Reggie and insurance is common knowledge not to leave it in the vehicle. Not programming a gps with "home" is such as well.

Didn't Garmin have a PIN lock or something. We don't use it so our home is a convenience store .3 miles away. If a thief got it, good luck figuring out which of the 1,000 houses nearby is ours. maybe the history is more interesting to a thief.

have a pin lock but dropped it a number of years ago.

I've heard people for years say not to use your actual address for the Home POI. Haven't really read any stories about anyone actually being robbed solely because a thief stole their GPS and found their home.

I normally don't leave my GPS on my dash anyhow when I park the car. It usually goes in a locked trunk.

Because the GPS may keep a log track in the background, not having a Home POI may actually be a moot point since it will keep track of your start/stop position.

Garmin GPS is very good and very useful. Only thing is it slips and keeps falling. Any suggestions

I use mine only when I have to go somewhere I'm not familiar with.

So we have people who prefer GPS over phone app, use one or another depending on circumstances or prefer phone app over phone. I see good topic for long winter nights in some remote mountain cabin. It can last all winter

Personally I prefer GPS over phone, but from time to time I use Here on smartphone. As it has almost this same map as Garmin, there is no difference in directions. Usually I'm getting this same route on my 770 and smartphone. Traffic info can be comparably late on both devices.

So for now still prefer GPS over phone

Arkon makes windshield (or disk) mounts that are super sticky, in fact they are very hard to remove once on, if they lose their stickiness somehow they can be renewed by washing them and letting it air dry.

I have one for my Garmin 2689 in my work truck, a construction dump truck, drive on very bumpy areas and it never falls off.

https://www.arkon.com/product/GN079WD-SBH-windshield-dash-mo...

It's always on.. I like seeing map even if I know the road. Traffic helpful. I usually put in destination for traffic, arrival time etc. Friends fall into categories of on, not always navigating and others not even on

It's always on.. I like seeing map even if I know the road. Traffic helpful. I usually put in destination for traffic, arrival time etc. Friends fall into categories of on, not always navigating and others not even on