Your GPS dies, do you buy another?

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I do use Auto Android / Google maps on my new car, but I always have my Garmin in the car also. AA is fine around town and convenient. Maps are always current. Good traffic info. On the fly route choices offered.

AA / Google does have severe limitations however, from my perspective. First, there is no route management. None. On road trips, I like to make details routes of where I want to go, not just use the device to get me from point A to point B the "fastest" way. AA / Google cannot do that. I cannot save a route. I cannot start in the middle of a route. I cannot recall the same route to use in the future.

Cell signals are frequently unavailable on the back roads I like to use when traveling. GPS signal is always available unless in a canyon. Lastly, in my 1968 Ford, there is no built in screen in the dash and the Garmin screen vs phone screen for navigation is no contest - Garmin wins.

So yes, when my Garmin goes bad, I will absolutely buy another.

I am still using my trusty 660 and it takes me everywhere I want to go. Roads haven't changed much, just some new subdivisions built.

Would most likely buy another gps

only because it is hard to watch a iPhone while driving with out a navagater

I agree with your perspective.

Yep.

Absolutely. I'd look for another old unit. Love my 760.

over phone and car's navigation.

I'd likely get a new one since my phone isn't that large enough and it's illegal to use the phone while driving. It would be hard to explain it to the cop who's after issuing more tickets.

Fortunately there are multiple (MULTIPLE) GPS apps for smartphones that do not in fact require data (pretty much any smartphone manufactured in the past decade or so actually has a built-in GPS (and usually GNSS as well) receiver that does not require data to work and can actually be used perfectly well in airplane mode).

A few selections off the top of my head:

Copilot GPS (available for both Android and iPhone)--Maps periodically updated, can update via wifi (and you can in fact store the maps to an external SD if you have a phone with one). Happily accepts POI Factory files as long as they're in .OV2 format (and there are plenty of tools out there that can convert CSV and GPX files if needed, or you can download in TomTom format for a lot of files on this site). Have happily used this personally for years in parts of Deep Appalachia where no cellular (much less data) service exists. Traffic avoidance data subscription available for reasonable pricing (less than US$30/yr). Mapping provided by Trimble Maps which is well known for their backcountry map solutions. App itself is completely free.

Locus Pro (available for Android, under US$15)--Uses OpenStreetMaps maps, has full navigation including routing. OSM maps that are regularly updated can be downloaded via wifi for free (do a Google search for "OpenAndroMaps"). Completely usable offline including routing. Accepts both GPX files and KML files (there are multiple tools that can convert from CSV format used for a number of files here to GPX or KML, including within Google Earth itself).

Oruxmaps (Available 100% for free for Android on Oruxmap's site, and in a "donate version" on Google Play store)--Also uses OSM maps, in a very similar manner to Locus Pro. Pretty much everything applicable to Locus Pro also applicable here (including being able to use GPX and KML/KMZ routes and waymarks including POI Factory files and offline routing), also completely usable offline.

Sygic GPS (available for IOS and Android--usually around US$13 for main version and $20 for full realtime traffic info, free non-premium version available)--pretty much many of the same points can be made with Sygic as with CoPilot Maps, including offline maps. Actually has not only inbuilt offline route planning but website that allows building of routes. POI addition is rather cludgier, in that imports from POI Factory have to be tweaked a bit in Excel before a program is used to convert to Sygic's own format (and of course GPX files would need to be converted to CSV). Some folks do swear by Sygic, though.

So there you go. A few options for your use

We loaded onto my nexus 7 (tablet, no data) for Ireland and it worked wonderfully.

HERE - free map download on device, offline maps, data used only for traffic and some POI info. Maps same like for Garmin, but newer, as Garmin is buying maps from Here. Possible download of partial maps (regions, countries) to save on space and data transfer

I prefer stand alone devices such as the garmin nuvi, with lifetime map updates for the device. Bigger display and compared to using a phone, you don't have to worry about data usage on your phone.

Not long ago, I would have said I would buy another GPS. Right now, I would be inclined to buy a smartphone with a very secure mount. The Getnord Lynx with a Ram mount might be a suitable choice.I would have a SIM card in it for a carrier other than my day-to-day carrier to increase my chances of having signal. I would use something that does need cellular signal for mapping.

https://lynx.getnord.com/

There is no longer any doubt that stand alone GPS devices are dying on the vine and the future (near future anyway) is with smartphone apps. I don't think onboard maps, data usage and signal coverage gaps are much of a concern any more for most folks.

But here is the deal breaker for me. I have yet to see any app currently available that comes anywhere close to providing the full set of features that have been offered by Garmin devices for over a decade...saved multipoint routes, favorites and stored POI's with alerts, route planning, route manipulation with waypoints, track breadcrumb recording (the infamous Garmin "blue line") with archival and export, useful configurable display fields for navigation (like speed, speed limit, direction of travel, arrival time, next via point … these are just a few and I could keep going, but you get the point.

Sure, if all you want to do is search for a destination, follow the directions and get a traffic alert or two, there are lots of apps that work just fine. But if you still want a full featured navigator … Garmin is the way to go. My car has Android Auto and it is a good backup for my nuvi, but it is no substitute.

Garmin has the knowhow, resources and technology to offer a full featured app. They were on the right track with Viago and the StreetPilot app, but they pulled them (I assume because there was no profit to be made with them).

So for me, unless something changes, I will continue to prefer and use my Garmin standalone devices.

Nope.

HERE, and Google maps will do the trick better than Garmin, sad to say.

I definitely would buy a new Garmin. I like having a dedicated GPS. My phone gets really hot on long trips using it as a GPS. For now I have the Garmin 3597 which I like and it does what I need. I see the new Garmins have a plastic body and they did away with the metal frames. I wonder if this is true for all Garmins.

I drive too often in spotty cell coverage areas... easier to see Garmin than phone. Even when I'm riding shotgun tor out of town trips, coverage varies and I like to check topics like menus, reviews , and other things... I do use Waze, other traffic sites on the phone. I still use gps because the built in navi for my honda didn't get good reviews and did not seem to offer a cost benefit when I bought my car 4 years ago.

My nuvi 3580 was a refurbished GPS and works OK. The speaker is a bit raspy but it is usable. WAZE works great when there is a signal. Battery usage is high so a USB cable to power source is necessary.

At the right price and feature points, I'd replace a GPSr with a GPSr.

If no DNR, I'd try GPS CPR, first, PDQ.

I still use my nuvi 3790 even though I also use Google Maps on my iPhone and Apple CarPlay. CarPlay is flaky at times which causes the navigation to stop. I also drive through areas where cell reception is spotty and causes the phone navigation to be flaky.

If and when my 3790 dies, I will get another Garmin since I've hardly ever lost GPS reception when using one

I still use my nuvi 3790 even though I also use Google Maps on my iPhone and Apple CarPlay. CarPlay is flaky at times which causes the navigation to stop. I also drive through areas where cell reception is spotty and causes the phone navigation to be flaky.

If and when my 3790 dies, I will get another Garmin since I've hardly ever lost GPS reception when using one

My flip Tray will only take the Nuvi 750-8XX Garmins so hopefully I can keep them working

Hi Have not been here for sometime.
I have used Garmin Standalone units for all my travels.

The problems with smartphone GPS is that many app cause problems.

Example:

I have a Huawei smartphone and a Huawei watch connected with Bluetooth.

If I use TomTomGo or Sygic There is no voice.
Reason is the Bluetooth connect between the phone and watch for messages and data from the watch.
If I unpair the watch then the GPS apps's works with voice.

That just drive the wife crazy because she forgot to unpair her watch from the smartphone each time and has to pull over and unpair that can be a problem from time to time.

She has gone back to using her 2595LMT. Her phone is for phone calls hand free.

I also have the same problem and do not use the smartphone for GPS.

There are too many updates to the apps. Every time you have and Android update things stop working correctly.

I use my Drive Smart 61 LMT D all the time for all my trips all over Europe with no problems at all.

These units are good to go out of the box with Life Time Maps Speed Camera's and Traffic.

I never connect to my phone with them.

We will stick with stand alone GPS units........

A GPS app you have to pay for everything extra.

We all have different needs and preferences when it comes to vehicle navigation. What works for some may not for all.

In my case, I always travel with both a smartphone and my Garmin on the dash. For most navigation, I use the larger screened Garmin and keep the smartphone available for other uses like running Waze, navigating side trips or hands free calling.

The Garmin is also POI friendly while the smartphone is not. It's much easier to plan and load multiple complicated routes containing many waypoints using a standalone GPS than it is with a smartphone.

Each device has it's strengths and weaknesses. Unfortunately, there is no single device that will do it all perfectly for every driver. Use what works best for your particular needs and driving style.

alone I prefer the garmin it tells you when a turn is coming up and you can pay more attention to you driving, if my wife is driving I can use the phone and get more detailed information about where to park where closest entrance is and a view of the building in google earth, I know the phone also gives you vocal directions but when you get a call the gps on the phone it stops working

Garmin only makes one GPS. I believe the question should be:How long before you will be unable to buy a new GPS?

RAM mounting gear is amazing. They have stuff that protects down to the USB-C connection. I have a friend who uses consumer grade tablets in his trucks--the RAM gear costs more than the tablets (we're talking $279 Samsung tablets), but he feels that's better than spending $4000 on a Toughbook or $3000 on a Getac. I see Getac displacing Toughbook in a lot of police departments.

Yes I would buy another one as i find it much easier to find and program than phones or indash and not cost me anything other than initial purchase.No Data or plans to buy.

Guess I was a bit bored and ran across this thread and discovered that almost exactly 2 years ago on this date in 2019 I also responded to the question. So fast forward to today in 2021, I find myself with many options.

I still use my 2639 100% of the time because it's stuck firmly to the lower LH side of my windshield and because of the generous contributions by POI file maintainers here.

I now have TomTom nav built into my 2020 Subaru Legacy. I also have the choice of Apple maps if I use CarPlay.

So...some of the previous limitations in the past 2 years for me have disappeared. I can use any of the 3 navs, I can listen to music while using the Apple maps through my iPhone, I can connect my iPod (yep, still have one of those), and surprizingly I also have a CD player built in.

That means that if I get lost it'll be entirely operator error as the least informed of all the technology in the car.

I had a smartphone once and I didn't like to carry this device all the time. So, no smartphone, I need to rely on my Garmin Nuvi 3597LMTHD. Just update firmware if necessary and maps, and it will drive you where you want. Yes, you can have 'live' traffic, but unless it is very crucial for you, Garmin will do the job easily.

would still be no. No use.

Yes, bought a new one about 2 months ago.

I hate Autopplay and Google Maps on my phone. Why would I want to tie up 2 devices when one does the job? And don't answer that because it is rhetorical.

i agree with you, I have used both (the GPS and autoplay).

When i used the autoplay, what seems to happen is I will get a call just when a turn is coming up and don't get the instructions to which way to go because of the phone call. That is why I use both. One for instructions and one for calls and music.