Movin' on up

 

I am thinking about upgrading from my trusty(most of the time) nuvi 855, but there are so many different models with more or less the same features, I'll probably have to start a spreadsheet to make all of the comparisons. My main criteria is Lifetime Maps, and to a lesser extent Traffic.

Any suggestions out there in nuvi land; good experiences, ones to stay away from etc.

Regards,

DougJ

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DougJ - Ottawa, ON, CA

Comparing

Garmin allows you to compare up to three models side by side, any three that you select
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=401

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1490LMT 1450LMT 295w

Two more thoughts

Internal memory is a bit less important now that many models allow auto-map updates to SD cards, but I'd still prefer a nuvi with 8, or at least 4 GB of internal memory:

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/34375

Second, your 855 has the desirable powered mount meaning that you don't have to pull the power cable each time you remove it from the dashboard of your vehicle. Some models use the mount only to hold the device and have the power cable plug into the GPS itself. Look for a powered mount in searching for a new GPS. Sadly, you almost have to ask or read through the online Garmin Owners manual to determine how the device will be powered in a vehicle. If someone know of a list of nuvi models and their mounts, many here would like to see the link to it.

Movin' on up

Good point Craig; hadn't thought about that - powered mount is a must for me.

Decisions, decisions...

Tks

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DougJ - Ottawa, ON, CA

Powered Cradles

wdjohnson2 wrote:

Good point Craig; hadn't thought about that - powered mount is a must for me.

Decisions, decisions...

Tks

It would be nice to have a sticky for units with a powered mount to which is a must have feature to me.
However, doing a google search I was unable to find a post on any forum that had a list.

Since you are in the market for a newer unit my research has shown me that SOME of the 34XX and 37XX series have powered mounts.

CLICK ON THR COMPATIBLE DEVICES TAB
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=67645

Series shows following models with Powered Cradle:
3450 - 3450LM - 3490LMT - 3750 - 3760T - 3760LMT - 3790T -3790LMT -

It appears NONE of the 25XX series has a powered mount.

In the 24XX series looks like the only ones that have it are the 2450 and 2460 models.

CLICK ON THR COMPATIBLE DEVICES TAB
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=89573

There may be more, but I'm not sure.

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Nuvi 2460LMT 2 Units

Look for a model

that ends with a "0" for a powered mount.

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3790LMT; 2595LMT; 3590LMT, 60LMTHD

But

But not a 14X0

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1490LMT 1450LMT 295w

855 vs. ?

Well I have a 855 for which I bought the lifetime maps and I also have a traffic cable for it. These you can add on by finding them on the internet or eBay.

As an aside I also have a 3790LMT and in the fall drive 3000 miles from home into Mexico returning in late spring. I had a bad experience last April when my 3790LMT died on me just outside Kansas City without paper maps handy. I eventually saw a sign for Louisville, Ky which is on my normal route. But heading there took me well out of my way.

After contacting Garmin they agreed to exchange the 3790.

I now carry MY trusty 855 (LMT) as a backup, it has not let me down yet!

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Nuvi 2797LMT, DriveSmart 50 LMT-HD, Using Windows 10. DashCam A108C with GPS.

Why?

If your 855 works fine, why the need to upgrade? I find no reason to upgrade my old units if they work like new. The Garmins they make today don't offer me any new features for the money.. Buy a new screen for a few bucks if yours is scratched.. Get a new battery and a 16gb SD card and install new maps and your all set.. You should buy your wife a token of your love with the money you save and keep using your old unit.. Flowers will work wonders, not roadside roses, but go to a florist.. When she says, "what are these for?" Just say, "no reason, instead of buying a new GPS I bought you flowers." You will absolutly get the green light on your next GPS purchase in the future when your 855 reaches it's last destination..

Two reasons

finbar wrote:

If your 855 works fine, why the need to upgrade?... Get a new battery and a 16gb SD card and install new maps and your all set...

The 8x5 series is one that currently does not offer auto-mapupdates to SD cards, so it'll be a bit more of a hassle to update maps to SD on an old 855.

Also, the 8x5 series gets the tiny JCV file by default which means that with each map update, you need to wait, find, download, install the large JCV file, assuming there continue to be good folks out there who offer it --or-- lose many JVs and accept lower quality JVs by accepting the default. In any event, JVs are full screen and are displayed for a short period, unlike the newer split-screen JVs.

At some point, it's worth the effort to buy a newer model...thus ends my 2 cents.

Lots of great comments. My

Lots of great comments. My 855 is great for the most part. However, not sure if it is aging, but becoming slow to acquire satellites(up to 2 min at times); reboots frequently while driving; sometimes locks on a location for several km.

Probably spend a lot of time at electronics shops for the next while checking out various models.

Does anyone have any experience or comments on Tom Tom or Magellan

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DougJ - Ottawa, ON, CA

My choice ...

If I was replacing my 855 right now, I would probably get the 3490LMT; $239 at Amazon.

It might be worth waiting to see if Garmin announces anything new at CES 2013 in January.

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Alan - Android Auto, DriveLuxe 51LMT-S, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, Nuvi 3597LMTHD, Oregon 550T, Nuvi 855, Nuvi 755T, Lowrance Endura Sierra, Bosch Nyon

If Your Needs Are Such...

...consider a Montana.

It does a nuvi mode, and has a powered cradle mount.

I've had this Montana since July and I'm really enjoying it.

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When you are dead, you don’t know that you are dead. It is only difficult for the others. It is the same when you are stupid.

.

wdjohnson2 wrote:

However, not sure if it is aging, but becoming slow to acquire satellites(up to 2 min at times); reboots frequently while driving; sometimes locks on a location for several km.

Sounds like you pretty much have your mind set to upgrade the device but you might want to try a hard reset on the 855 just to see if it fixes the issues you've been having.

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/26136

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nuvi 760, nuvi 765T, nuvi 855, nuvi 3790LMT, nuvi 3490LMT - SoCal area

TomTom

wdjohnson2 wrote:

Does anyone have any experience or comments on Tom Tom or Magellan

I've had my TomTom GO 720 for almost 5 years now and I still like it. I continue to receive firmware updates for it from time to time and map updates are available if I am willing to pay for them (the GO 720 did not include lifetime map updates). I'm not in the market for a replacement unit just yet, but when I am I will definitely look at both TomTom and Garmin units.

Movin' on up

Have gone the hard reset route several times - no change.

Tks

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DougJ - Ottawa, ON, CA

Movin' on up

I haven't seen any mention of the 30, 40, 50LM series.

Anyone have any experience with any of these units.

Happy New Year to all

DougJ

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DougJ - Ottawa, ON, CA

seeing how

wdjohnson2 wrote:

I haven't seen any mention of the 30, 40, 50LM series.

Anyone have any experience with any of these units.

Happy New Year to all

DougJ

Seeing how you plan on "moving up" from what was a previous premium unit I assumed you wouldn't want just a basic unit but one with some similar features and capabilities such as voice activation.

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Illiterate? Write for free help.

Moving

Just one more comment.
Suggest to back up all of your 855 to your hard drive.
Then remove all unnecessary files from the GPS such as any help files other than English, any MP3 trial books and music files, any vehicle icons other than what you are using and all language files not needed for your use.

The GPS has to keep all that extra crap in its memory and by eliminating those should help the operation of the GPS.

I've done that on my old 350, the 855 and also on my 3790. Anything I have no use for goes!!!!

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Nuvi 2797LMT, DriveSmart 50 LMT-HD, Using Windows 10. DashCam A108C with GPS.

Moving up?

It seems I will also be "moving on up" from my 855, but not by choice. I somehow lost my 855 up in the Twin Cities while visiting my daughter on New Year's Eve. I am pretty sure it fell out of my coat pocket in a Target store and I had a "contact me if found" splash screen on it. But so far no luck. So I assume it is gone forever.

I still have my old 755T for a backup, so I think I will wait and see if Garmin has anything interesting to announce at CES. If not, I will probably start watching for a good sale on a 3490LMT.

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Alan - Android Auto, DriveLuxe 51LMT-S, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, Nuvi 3597LMTHD, Oregon 550T, Nuvi 855, Nuvi 755T, Lowrance Endura Sierra, Bosch Nyon

Don't Give Up

Sorry to hear about your loss, but maybe there is still hope. Why not contact the Target store and ask if somebody turned it in at the store. Possibly the srore employees may not know how to turn it on and see your splash screen. Lets us hope there are still some honest people among us.

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Nuvi 2460LMT 2 Units

Thanks.

for the suggestion ... already contacted Target ... no luck so far. My contact info was not only on the splash screen, but also on the case. So if an honest person finds it I will probably get it back ... not holding my breath tho.

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Alan - Android Auto, DriveLuxe 51LMT-S, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, Nuvi 3597LMTHD, Oregon 550T, Nuvi 855, Nuvi 755T, Lowrance Endura Sierra, Bosch Nyon

Not sure why they don't

Not sure why they don't offer them any longer. It would be easier to offer a powered mount with the standard USB connector on the mount. This way any garmin usb cable would work.