Time for a new Garmin

 

Well, my wife's 765T died after almost six years of solid service. My 765T is still going strong. I have to replace the unit with a new one, and I don't have a clue about which Garmin to choose. We're not looking for a lot of bells and whistles. Don't need Bluetooth since that's already built into her car. But we would like at least a five inch screen, and lifetime traffic and map updates, which we currently have. I've looked at Garmin's 2015 models, and the 2539 seems to meet the needs, but I'll ask... what recommendations do other POI members have before we buy a new unit. And yes, it has to be a Garmin.

Thanks!

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Garmin 765T...Is it about the destination, or is it about the journey?

New vs. refurbed

The main question I have for you is whether you must have a new device or would consider a Factory Refurbished unit.

I see that the 2539 is about $200. For $230, places like the gpsstore will sell a nuvi 3597 Factory Refurb with a Garmin 1-yr warranty. Many here are firm believers in Garmin Factory Refurbed devices, and of the believers, many swear by the 3597. If you are accepting of a refurb, the extra $30 for the 3597 device will gain you the following:

-Display: 480x272 (2539) vs 800x480 (3597).

-The 3597 offers Voice Control, something you could really get used to.

-The 3597 offers a powered mount meaning that each time you remove/replace the GPS in your vehicle, you won't need to connect/disconnect cables. Many here avoid devices with non-powered mounts. Your 765s have powered mounts and you will really miss a powered mount if you buy one of the nuvis offered today without it (including the 2539 with its non-powered mount).

-the 3597 has HD traffic, something that should help you now and then get around in Ohio's busy cities.

-from what I see in the 2539's description, it does not offer a Digital Elevation (shaded relief) map, or 3D buildings and landmarks map while the 3597 does.

-I'm not sure if the 2539 offers school zone alerts. Maybe someone with a 2539 can help here. School Zone alerts are an especially nice addition for student safety and for avoiding driver's tickets/fines.

You can find several threads here at The Factory describing the 3597.

Whatever you decide to buy, it will be a big step up from your 765. There are several differences between a new nuvi today vs your old 765 so take you time and read through the threads here and ask for help if needed. Your new device will be a MTP device, not a MS device like your 765. The new nuvi menus are quite different from what you're used to with the 765 and you will spend more time than you expect searching through the new menus for some setting you know your new nuvi offers even though you haven't found it in 10 minutes of searching. I expect the 2539 and other new models will come with a minimum of voices (maybe only Samantha who speaks street names and Michelle who doesn't). Many extra voices can be added through myGarmin or Garmin Express:

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/42708

Happy shopping!

An Example of nuvi Improvements you can expect

Your 765 offers Junction View (full-screen) and I think it likely that you and your wife like the added feature.

Many new devices offer even more JV features:

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/42260

Time to buy a new Garmin

I recently upgraded by 855 to a 2597 - very happy with it.

5" screen, JV, Lane Assist, Voice control, Bluetooth - all I really need

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DougJ - Ottawa, ON, CA

Thanks!

Thanks Craig. I don't have a problem with refurbs, as long as they come from a reputable vendor. I'll take a look at the 3597. Based on how my wife uses her GPS, I think the 2597 may be all that she needs. But your description of the 3597 is superb, and that may be the way we go.

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Garmin 765T...Is it about the destination, or is it about the journey?

Good to know

"I recently upgraded by 855 to a 2597 - very happy with it."

Thanks. Definitely a unit worth looking in to.

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Garmin 765T...Is it about the destination, or is it about the journey?

Tough decision

jkaplan wrote:

Thanks Craig. I don't have a problem with refurbs, as long as they come from a reputable vendor. I'll take a look at the 3597. Based on how my wife uses her GPS, I think the 2597 may be all that she needs. But your description of the 3597 is superb, and that may be the way we go.

It's tough if your a miser like me. It looks like the 2597 is about $80 less than the 3597 refurb and that's not chump change. Score one for the 2597. But the 2597 has a non-powered mount which I'd score as a minus one. I know I'd wish I had paid a bit more for a GPS with a powered mount each time I fought with the cable if I bought a 2597. I'm happy it's not my dilemma.

Mount

Quote:

It's tough if your a miser like me. It looks like the 2597 is about $80 less than the 3597 refurb and that's not chump change. Score one for the 2597. But the 2597 has a non-powered mount which I'd score as a minus one. I know I'd wish I had paid a bit more for a GPS with a powered mount each time I fought with the cable if I bought a 2597. I'm happy it's not my dilemma.

We use friction mounts and according to Garmin, this is an available accessory for the 2597. So if I wind up getting this over the 3597, there shouldn't be a problem. We'll just have to do what we've done in the past.

Thanks!

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Garmin 765T...Is it about the destination, or is it about the journey?

by mount

jkaplan wrote:
Quote:

It's tough if your a miser like me. It looks like the 2597 is about $80 less than the 3597 refurb and that's not chump change. Score one for the 2597. But the 2597 has a non-powered mount which I'd score as a minus one. I know I'd wish I had paid a bit more for a GPS with a powered mount each time I fought with the cable if I bought a 2597. I'm happy it's not my dilemma.

We use friction mounts and according to Garmin, this is an available accessory for the 2597. So if I wind up getting this over the 3597, there shouldn't be a problem. We'll just have to do what we've done in the past.

Thanks!

By mount Craig was speaking of how the GPS is mounted to the stalk that goes to the suction cup/whatever. On the 3597 the Power/Traffic cable connects to the "cradle" the unit attaches to rather than the unit directly. The 3597 connection is a magnetic coupling between the actual unit and the piece where the cable connects which is on whatever is connected to the car rater than to the unit which is then connected to a device connected to the piece on the car.

Essentially, you can disconnect just the unit leaving everything else in the car and then let the magnet connect the two pieces when you return leaving all cables in the car.

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Illiterate? Write for free help.

check costco

Check out costsco for sales as they have $30 off or their package may include extras and they have 2 year warranty with no asking refund.

nüvi® 3597LMTHD

jkaplan wrote:

Well, my wife's 765T died after almost six years of solid service. My 765T is still going strong. I have to replace the unit with a new one, and I don't have a clue about which Garmin to choose. We're not looking for a lot of bells and whistles. Don't need Bluetooth since that's already built into her car. But we would like at least a five inch screen, and lifetime traffic and map updates, which we currently have. I've looked at Garmin's 2015 models, and the 2539 seems to meet the needs, but I'll ask... what recommendations do other POI members have before we buy a new unit. And yes, it has to be a Garmin.
Thanks!

I recently replaced my 765T with the 3597LMTHD and love it. From what I have read, it is one of the best models around. Too bad it is a discontinued model.

definitely go to a store and

definitely go to a store and look at the higher resolution models, if you never look at the screen of gps, then its not a issue.

but if you do look at the gps maps a lot, you will be amazed at the higher resolution offered. and it really helps anyone with eye problems.

From the owners manuals

Box Car wrote:

By mount Craig was speaking of how the GPS is mounted to the stalk that goes to the suction cup/whatever. On the 3597 the Power/Traffic cable connects to the "cradle" the unit attaches to rather than the unit directly. The 3597 connection is a magnetic coupling between the actual unit and the piece where the cable connects which is on whatever is connected to the car rater than to the unit which is then connected to a device connected to the piece on the car.

Essentially, you can disconnect just the unit leaving everything else in the car and then let the magnet connect the two pieces when you return leaving all cables in the car.

nuvi 3597, See page 1 for powered mount:

http://static.garmincdn.com/pumac/nuvi_35x7_OM_EN.pdf

nuvi 2539 (and many other models), See page 1 for non-powered mount:

http://static.garmincdn.com/pumac/nuvi_25x9_26x9_OM_EN.pdf

These non-powered mounts will require the cable to be removed from the GPS each time the GPS is removed from the vehicle—and replaced each time the GPS is returned to the vehicle. Your current nuvi 765 is a powered mount so the cable can remain untouched when removing/replacing the nuvi from the vehicle.

Lots to consider

Thanks to all who have replied and offered great suggestions. Lots to consider... features, price, how infrequently my wife uses the GPS, and so on. We'll take a look at the newer, higher res screens as well.

Again, thanks.

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Garmin 765T...Is it about the destination, or is it about the journey?

What about the 57 LMT?

Jkaplan, you can save even more money if you go with a Garmin 57 series unit. I own a 50LM which is the older version of this that came out a few years ago and I love it. Still works great today & updates just fine. Not 100% sure, but I think a 57 would have all of your above-stated requirements: 5 inch screen plus lifetime traffic & map updates. Those refurbs are around $120, may be something to consider.

the 57LMT

The 57LMT is considered an entry-level unit and works well for basic navigation purposes. The traffic function is questionable at best as it relies on the information being broadcast from local radio stations. Those units with either HD or SmartLink have traffic data that absolutely blows the older systems away.

Just yesterday, while returning from a shopping trip we ran into a situation where an idiot with a pickup lost part of his new furniture load because he was using string from the store to hold it on. This had just happened as he was picking up the first pieces when the traffic indicator on my 3597 with SmartLink traffic showed the beginning of congestion from rubber-neckers. doubt your 57LMT would have displayed anything for at least 15 minutes and most likely longer.

Some people just don't realize how much air pressure there is on something exposed to the slipstream at 65 MPH.

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ɐ‾nsǝɹ Just one click away from the end of the Internet

slower

a_user wrote:

The 57LMT is considered an entry-level unit and works well for basic navigation purposes. The traffic function is questionable at best as it relies on the information being broadcast from local radio stations. Those units with either HD or SmartLink have traffic data that absolutely blows the older systems away.

Just yesterday, while returning from a shopping trip we ran into a situation where an idiot with a pickup lost part of his new furniture load because he was using string from the store to hold it on. This had just happened as he was picking up the first pieces when the traffic indicator on my 3597 with SmartLink traffic showed the beginning of congestion from rubber-neckers. doubt your 57LMT would have displayed anything for at least 15 minutes and most likely longer.

Some people just don't realize how much air pressure there is on something exposed to the slipstream at 65 MPH.

this is why you drive slower when loaded.

...

A family member has a 2539 and is very happy with it. No mp3 with the new units though. sad

About The 3597... Does it

About The 3597...

Does it allow use of either the -20 or -30 backup camera systems?

Is a second powered mount available, and what will that cost?

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Thx, Dan'l Garmin 2689LMT with BC-30 Backup camera system, GPS Map 62s

Yes & no

galladanb wrote:

About The 3597...

Does it allow use of either the -20 or -30 backup camera systems?

No

galladanb wrote:

Is a second powered mount available, and what will that cost?

Yes, it varies at around 40.00$

Cheers smile

http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Suction-Magnetic-Cradle-3597LMT...

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Nüvi 255WT with nüMaps Lifetime North America born on 602117815 / Nüvi 3597LMTHD born on 805972514 / I love Friday’s except when I’m on holidays ~ canuk

refurbished

i recently purchased a 2757 lm for 109 refurbished with 1 year warranty .waiting to get unit but this is the second " refurbished garmin" first one is 5 years old , plugged it in for hell of it and it works , so that type of purchase has worked for me .