Garmin DriveLuxe 50LMTHD

 

I know that the Garmin DriveLuxe 50LMTHD isn't available just yet, but I am starting to get interested in it. I currently have a Garmin Nuvi 3597. One of the first questions in my mind is how the two differ from one another. GPS City has a post that answers that very question.

Is anybody here planning on getting one? If so, what features interest you?

http://www.gpscity.com/questions?qid=55346

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/on-the-road/automotive/garmi...

Garmin DriveLuxe - First impressions

It looks like they are available in the the UK now.

http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=150002

Just picked up the top end DriveLuxe (not sure about the name versus nuvi) 50 LMT-D.

Unit is very similar to the 3598 and 3590 models of 2 - 3 years' ago in the overall look and feel. It's quicker than those models but apart from an overhaul of the menus and icons to be more "Windows 10 like" there isn't a whole lot of difference that I can see from first usage.

Very solid build - even moreso than the nuvi 3598. This unit has more of a gunmetal grey than the silver of the 3598 and is heavier to hold too.

The best feature by far is the BUILT IN traffic receiver - no more silly wire hanging, just the single cable to the powerered magnetic mount. Traffic reception does seem to have been improved as a result. The mount is much slimmer than the nuviCam and similar to that used by the 3598 but with the speaker onboard the unit itself.

Routes preview is touted as a new feature but it is just a rehashed version of the 'Routes' features available on most recent nuvis but with its own icon.

The menu has had a complete makeover in look and feel but the same functions are there (some new ones for backup camera and babyCam) and the unit is everso slightly more responsive in speed.

The Map & Vehicle setting now has audible driver alerts for speed exceeded and speed reduction as well as various crossing types (Garmin please don't use Railroad crossing in the UK) as well as bends and for slow traffic ahead.

There's also a fatigue warning but I don't know if this can be user defined.

Unit comes with 16GB as mentioned above and mine came with software 2.80

Routing performance seems to be identical as far as I can tell.

DriveLuxe

It will be interesting to see if GPS City actually starts shipping these on Monday as their site implies. Do you have one on pre-order somewhere?

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

Another observation from a UK user

Here is another observation from a UK early adopter of the DriveLuxe. This was posted a few days ago on the GPS Review forum.

Chris_Sav wrote:

First thing that I have found annoying with the beast is that I cannot have a custom front menu unlike my Montana. Even worse is that I cannot even re-order the Apps list. It has 'Babycam' on the prime list which I will never use and to get to 'Trip Planner' (which we will all use!) you have to press the down arrow to get to it amongst the also-rans.

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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

Garmin seems to keep making

Garmin seems to keep making new models.

Ordered one yesterday

alandb wrote:

It will be interesting to see if GPS City actually starts shipping these on Monday as their site implies. Do you have one on pre-order somewhere?

I ordered a DriveLuxe 50LMTHD yesterday from GPS City. It is supposed to be shipped today. Looking forward to trying it out next weekend on trip to Florida.

DriveLuxe

I just ordered mine! I will soon have a 3597 for sale.

SO....???

Has anyone received a Garmin DriveLuxe?

Any comments about it .. good / bad... indifferent ..

Curious minds want to know.. so please spill the beans!

Thanks

--
Never argue with a pig. It makes you look foolish and it anoys the hell out of the pig!

Report here

http://forums.gpsreview.net/discussion/30282/garmin-drivelux...

Not very detailed but some comments from someone who has one.

--
Where there's a will ... there's a way ... DriveSmart51LMT-S, DriveSmart50LMT-D, Nuvi 2508LMT-D, 1490LMT, 1310, Montana 650T, Etrex 20

Thanks

sussamb for the pointer...

Still not quite enough information for me to think about getting one... oh well.. soon perhaps....

--
Never argue with a pig. It makes you look foolish and it anoys the hell out of the pig!

Looks nice

But, a bit spendy right now. I'll have to see if Costco carries it.

--
nüvi 3790T | Those who make peaceful revolution impossible, will make violent revolution inevitable ~ JFK

DriveLuxe

I've had mine for a week and I like it a lot. Most of the features have been improved over my 3597. Both the hardware and the software is better. However, it doesn't have elevation shading and the Smartlink app connection is flaky with my iPhone 6.

Questions

So I was looking at the comparison tool on Garmin for the

Garmin DriveLuxe™ 50LMTHD, Garmin DriveSmart™ 70LMT &
Garmin DriveSmart™ 60LMT

Also, the DriveLuxe says "Lifetime traffic updates (receive free lifetime traffic updates) (with HD Digital Traffic)", while the other two have check boxes. What to the check boxes mean?

The DriveLuxe is the only one with a powered mount, but the other two have something called BLE.

What is BLE

--
Never argue with a pig. It makes you look foolish and it anoys the hell out of the pig!

Bluetooth Low Energy

Bluetooth Low Energy

I am so out of it

I had to do a google search to see what a Garmin DriveLuxe was.

Looks nice and makes me want a new Garmin....

My husband would never go for it as I HAD to have the Honda Accord with a builtin GPS. Maybe when the car is a little older I can get a new Garmin... I do use the Garmin on any trips we take as it is SO Much better than the builtin GPS. Don't get me wrong. I do still use the builtin GPS for everything else. It is great for that. I have to plan ahead with the built in and program anything in the night before so my husband doesn't have to wait in the driveway while I am programming where we are going. smile

--
Mary, Nuvi 2450, Garmin Viago, Honda Navigation, Nuvi 750 (gave to son)

Speed limit

I was looking at one of the new units at Best Buy. Did notice one feature was alert for over speed limit.

--
Charlie. Nuvi 265 WT and Nuvi 2597 LMT. MapFactor Navigator - Offline Maps & GPS.

speed limit alert

charlesd45 wrote:

I was looking at one of the new units at Best Buy. Did notice one feature was alert for over speed limit.

It will chime 3 times whenever you go over the limit. It will also alert you with a banner if the speed limit goes down. Both settings can be turned off.

Partly new

Banner is possibly a good idea. Over speed warning though is on most if not all of the nuvis since 2013, so isn't new unlike the banner.

--
Where there's a will ... there's a way ... DriveSmart51LMT-S, DriveSmart50LMT-D, Nuvi 2508LMT-D, 1490LMT, 1310, Montana 650T, Etrex 20

And to really be useful ...

it would need a user configurable cushion. As is, it is more annoying than useful IMO.

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

Bummed

about no elevation shading. I have family in WV and like the look of the mountains on the screen on my 3597.

Definitely

alandb wrote:

it would need a user configurable cushion. As is, it is more annoying than useful IMO.

Definitely, which is why mine is turned off smile

--
Where there's a will ... there's a way ... DriveSmart51LMT-S, DriveSmart50LMT-D, Nuvi 2508LMT-D, 1490LMT, 1310, Montana 650T, Etrex 20

Jim1348

Thank you!!

--
Never argue with a pig. It makes you look foolish and it anoys the hell out of the pig!

No audible here

sussamb wrote:

Banner is possibly a good idea. Over speed warning though is on most if not all of the nuvis since 2013, so isn't new unlike the banner.

All we have had is the color change when you exceed the speed limit.To get the audible alert..

1 devices' If the locale on these devices is set to a country outside of Europe (including the United States), the device will not provide audible speed alerts. A non-European device when set to Europe locale may emit audible speed alerts, but it is not guaranteed. https://goo.gl/6pLgHj

--
Charlie. Nuvi 265 WT and Nuvi 2597 LMT. MapFactor Navigator - Offline Maps & GPS.

Strange

Wonder why? Yet another Garmin foible smile

Should have realised though as many select profiles other than the US one on some devices to enable auto zoom to be turned off

--
Where there's a will ... there's a way ... DriveSmart51LMT-S, DriveSmart50LMT-D, Nuvi 2508LMT-D, 1490LMT, 1310, Montana 650T, Etrex 20

speed alerts

Have no idea. The question about speed alerts has came up in the past. A feature some members said they wanted.The change in color warning serves my purpose.

--
Charlie. Nuvi 265 WT and Nuvi 2597 LMT. MapFactor Navigator - Offline Maps & GPS.

Agreed

The warning tone is a pain as you get it even if one mph over. Mine is turned off. Let's hope, like on my old Mio, you can set the over speed at which point you get the alarm.

--
Where there's a will ... there's a way ... DriveSmart51LMT-S, DriveSmart50LMT-D, Nuvi 2508LMT-D, 1490LMT, 1310, Montana 650T, Etrex 20

Garmin DriveLuxe 50LMTHD

charlesd45 wrote:

I was looking at one of the new units at Best Buy. Did notice one feature was alert for over speed limit.

I need to stop by my Best Buy then. I didn't even think that they were out yet! Only a couple near me have them, but it would be worth a stop.

I can just imagine !

sussamb wrote:

The warning tone is a pain as you get it even if one mph over.

On interstates I'm often 10 mph over the limit and never get pulled over and certainly wouldn't want in addition to the red speed warning on my 3597 an audible alert warning.

--
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

Had mine for a week and no complaints yet

I have had mine for about a week with no complaints, but I have not had adequate time to experiment with it. It seems more responsive than my 3597.

Garmin DriveLuxe 50LMTHD

Does anybody happen to know if the Garmin DriveLuxe 50LMTHD uses they same type of magnetic powered mount as the Garmin Nuvi 3597?

It

--
Nuvi 350, 760, 1695LM, 3790LMT, 2460LMT, 3597LMTHD, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, DriveSmart 61, Garmin Drive 52, Garmin Backup Camera 40 and TomTom XXL540s.

i cant say yes or no, see below

Not to argue with you but

t923347 wrote:

It says it does at:

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/on-the-road/automotive/garmi...

under SPECS

What it says is;
Powered magnetic mount: yes

Nothing about being the same as or comparable with the 3597.

--
Never argue with a pig. It makes you look foolish and it anoys the hell out of the pig!

More images

BarneyBadass wrote:

Not to argue with you but

t923347 wrote:

It says it does at:

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/on-the-road/automotive/garmi...

under SPECS

What it says is;
Powered magnetic mount: yes

Nothing about being the same as or comparable with the 3597.

In the above link, click on more images, then look at image #4. Yes, it's a powered mount but it's not interchangeable with the 3597.

Or check here:

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/shop-by-accessories/mounts/v...

then click on Compatible Devices.

But then, it all depends on what "same type of magnetic powered mount" means. laugh out loud "Same type" may not always mean "interchangeable."

Magnetic mount.

From what I have heard, the mounts are functionally similar but not compatible. The 3597 mount has a "squarish" shape. I think the DriveLuxe 50 is more of a round shape. I don't have a definitive answer to your question, but my guess is that they are not interchangeable.

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

The mount on the DriveLuxe

The mount on the DriveLuxe 50 looks to be more of a cradle than a mount see the pictures and video at:

http://www.gpscentral.ca/products/garmin/driveluxe50lmt.html

As I said it appears to be more of a magnetic cradle than a magnetic mount, at least from the video, and the only question would be whether it's powered or not.

--
Nuvi 350, 760, 1695LM, 3790LMT, 2460LMT, 3597LMTHD, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, DriveSmart 61, Garmin Drive 52, Garmin Backup Camera 40 and TomTom XXL540s.

Check for the pins

t923347 wrote:

The mount on the DriveLuxe 50 looks to be more of a cradle than a mount see the pictures and video at:

http://www.gpscentral.ca/products/garmin/driveluxe50lmt.html

As I said it appears to be more of a magnetic cradle than a magnetic mount, at least from the video, and the only question would be whether it's powered or not.

The rectangular magnetic mount and back of the DriveLuxe50 show pins for power/data, and as t92 and BB have stated earlier, the specs do list it as a powered mag mount.

DriveLuxe mount

Well, I was definitely wrong about the shape of the magnetic mount on the Driveluxe ... it is rectangular, not round, but definitely not the same shape as the 3597. I guess I was thinking about the magnetic mount on the nuvicam, which is round.

In any case, on page 2 of the DriveLuxe manual, it says "Plug the vehicle power cable into the USB port on the mount. Then a later step says to attach the DriveLuxe to the magnetic mount. So I would say the DriveLuxe mount is a powered mount.

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

Custom POIs?

Can you add the custom POIs?

sure you can add custom pots

UZA_Dave wrote:

Can you add the custom POIs?

Yes, just like any other Nuvi since it is a Nuvi with a different name. I have had my DriveLuxe 50LMTHD for about a month now and like it a lot. The magnetic mount functions great, the screen is very clear and sharp, the voice commands work fine, Smart Link is on but I haven't used it very much. Smart Notifications are very useful; I get a message or email on my iPhone, it appears on my DriveLuxe and it reads it to me. I can then using Sync on my Ford Edge to activate Siri on the iPhone to reply to the message, all without ever touching the iPhone. The "over the speed limit" 3-bell chime doesn't bother me either. In general I think the DriveLuxe 50 is a great unit.

I've had my DriveLuxe 50 for

I've had my DriveLuxe 50 for two weeks and used it for our trip to WDW from our Daughters house in NC and back.
Navigation was flawless and the ability to shape the route gave us the option to avoid Orlando's notorious I4 Construction maze. The traffic feature gave ample warning of slower traffic ahead and only missed traffic issues caused by an accident. We liked the automatic screen change from daylight conditions to night time which eliminates manually dimming the display. Also the voice command feature worked very well even when people in the back of the van were talking.
The indicated speed revealed that the van's speedometer was displaying 3-4 MPH over our actual speed and as a result we determined that the new tires weren't factory spec size.
The "friendly" voice directions, such as "Turn left at the next traffic light", were especially nice after years of the standard. "Turn left onto Whatever road", since the road names are often hidden, too small to read, or nonexistent. I'll give the GPS a more thorough test during our return trip home to Indiana. grin

Driveluxe vs 3597 ... upgrade or downgrade?

Two users over on the gpspassion forums who "upgraded" to a DriveLuxe from the nuvi 3597/3598 a few weeks ago now say they consider it to be a downgrade. (Note: 3598 is Europe version of 3597.)

bobaber wrote:

After a few weeks of trying to understand this unit my personal opinion is, It is a step backwards from the 3597. It has a few gadgets but over all not up to the 3597. As I said this is a personal opinion .

BAVC10 wrote:

I agree - I think it is a downgraded 3598. I personally miss the topographic files (not sure why this is no longer included) and the 3d buildings (they were eye candy but looked impressive nonetheless.

http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=150002

I think I will just stick with my 3597.

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

Nuvi 3597/98

Just for completeness both these models are available in the EU. The difference is that the 3598 is the one with digital traffic.

--
Where there's a will ... there's a way ... DriveSmart51LMT-S, DriveSmart50LMT-D, Nuvi 2508LMT-D, 1490LMT, 1310, Montana 650T, Etrex 20

Garmin DriveLuxe 50LMTHD

I ordered one of these a number of weeks ago through Cabela's and it finally arrived last week. I picked it up this weekend and finally had a chance to try it out a bit today.

One of the first things I did was connect it to my computer and do some updates through Garmin Express. I also set it to either Australia or United Kingdom, I don't recall which, to make sure that the Auto Zoom is disabled.

I also configured the tabs on the right side. I always thought that was a worthwhile tweak to my Garmin Nuvi 3597LMTHD.

Anyway, after using it for a while on a couple of short trips, I would be very hard pressed to convince anybody that it is somehow better than a $200.00 refurbished Garmin Nuvi 3597LMTHD!

I will use it a bit more to see if there is anything that I am missing. Sure, being alerted to railroad crossing and curves in the road may be handy, but I certainly don't see them as game changers!

8GB vs 16GB

Picked up a US market driveluxe 50. Unit came with 8GB internal storage. Maybe the 16GB is for UK markets. Out of the box, there's about 1.3GB free. Haven't run updates yet but expect the space to go down some.

I love my 3597 and Nuvicam.

I love my 3597 and Nuvicam. Nuvicam has 6" screen and dashcam which is a big plus. It took Garmin one year to fix Bluetooth issues on Nuvicam. So if this new model has Bluetooth issues then good luck. This new model seems to have some cool features but I will not buy it because of 5" screen. Now days I am used to 6" screen.

--
Iphone XR, Drivesmart 61,Nuvicam, Nuvi3597

I have a smallish car, I

I have a smallish car, I really considered the 6" drivesmart 60lmt but passed in part because it's too big to fit the area where the gps is mounted without obstructing vision. The other was the brighter screen on the drivesmart 50lmt and driveluxe 50lmt. The DS 60lmt was just way dimmer. It wasn't a case of that particular unit either, I compared these at 3 different bestbuy stores.

DriveLuxe 50 software update 4.10

http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=9049

Changes made from version 3.50 to 4.10:

Fixed a search issue that could cause nearby POIs to be omitted or sorted incorrectly.
Fixed issues that could cause false wrong way alerts during navigation.
Fixed an issue that could cause parking availability prompts to reappear after route recalculation.
Fixed an issue that could cause excessively long route calculation times.
Fixed an issue with sorting trips in reverse alphabetical order.
Improved GPS performance.
Improved software stability.

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