Which to buy? Garmin vs TomTom

In my limited experience, Garmin models are easiest to use. That would not be a factor in a purchase for myself. I have an electronics background and can figure out most devices. You can probably determine which is closes to the needed "ease-of-use factor" by reading some user reviews.

Is it me or have prices gone up on Garmin. I bought my 250W a year ago for $150.00 which in a way was cheaper than upgrading the map on my C330. I did buy it from Best Buy on Boxing day so there was a bit of a deal. I am in Canada and the Canadian dollar is about 95 cents US right now but the replacement for the 250W is about $180 or $190 so what's with that!

Bob

Other than adding new roads, my GO 930 will show changes in speed limits and street direction (or closure) immediately. Sometimes these changes are not accepted by TT right away, and the next map edition wipes out my change so that I have to re-enter it, but I see them right away.

Try Nuvi 265 WT. Wide Screen with Lifetime Traffic (Ad-Supported)by Navteq. Keep on checking Staples weekly deals. I've got mine from there.

Bought my 1490T two weeks after introduction at $470. For that kind of $ I've decided that it's not worth it, but for $250 I would have picked it up for sure.

Still has some quirks, like random shutoffs, but I do like the 5" screen which allows for a lot of support info (speed, miles, time, etc.) that my 200W doesn't have.

Anybody have any good experiences with Magellan? They seem to be real cheap but are they a waste of money?

Bob

I am still very happy I decided to buy a (then) outdated new 660 over a year ago. Never having had an operations issue, the 660 is more stable than the 7xx series. Can't speak for the ones beyond that, but the latest firmware update and the second to latest BT update makes all the features of my 660 worth every penny, including the traffic feature.

I also live in Queens. The Nuvi 265wt works great and the lifetime traffic is a nice addition. A great unit for less than $150. Garmin is the one to go for.

I like TomTom because it shows speed limits for almost all roads. Garmin shows speed limits of highways bit very few roads.

Also you can install some programs on Garmins, e.g. Height, EventLogger etc.

To RWoodcock - if you haven't bought one yet, I saw that Costco has the 265wt for $169.

Garmin!!

I have used Garmin since streetpilot 2610 and I am still using Garmin now. I have 2610, 350, 760 and 1490T. I think Garmin is the best.

I have been using Garmin products since the Garmin II and I don't think you can beat the quality and the updates available. I am guessing that since you just want to use it around town and probably won't be updating much that it really doesn't matter, but the Garmin is an excellent product and I've had mine interfaced with MapSource since the start to keep and transfer waypoints, etc.

Just upgraded from 250 to 1250T for ~$72 bucks. Best Buy had an unadvertised clearance at some of their stores and were selling 1250T for as little as ~$62 in some locations yesterday and today. YMMV -- I got up early and drove 30mins to a store with some still in inventory and when they scanned the price it came out more than a hundred less than their online price!

Love it when a plan comes together - thanks to fawallet.com for the tip...

I suspect you mean "you can install some programs on TomTom" and not Garmin as Height, and Eventlogger are both TomTom add ons. What you may not realize is that both elevation and raw track logging are built into most, and possibly all, Nuvi models so there is no need for these kind of add on programs.

Also I am currently using a new TomTom and a new Garmin Nuvi side by side. So far after 1900 miles of driving I'd say that Garmin's maps have far more speed limit data for city streets and secondary roads than the TomTom. Both units are using the lastest version of the maps.

I own both .Garmin 260,and the TT XL-S.from the maps,to TTS. Garmin beats TT hands down

So after all my research my nephew said he would rather buy a DSLR camera. I have three GPS's so I guess he can borrow one if he needs to. I can't imagine heading out without my 250W now especially since the red light cameras are now also doing speeding tickets.

Bob

I have both the Nuvi & the Tomtom something...and I'm trying to decide between the two. The most important feature to me is that I can easily find an alternate route (ie want to take a more scenic route, traffic ahead, do not want to take interstate highways). I found the feature on the TomTom but not on the Nuvi. Is this feature avail with the Nuvi? Do I have to pay a monthly subscription (LIVE) to use this feature on the TomTom?

Garmin, No Question.

They both do this, but Nuvi's don't allow changing it on the fly like the TomTom does if you have it set that way. On the Nuvi, you go to the system options to change the routing preferences and avoidances. The TomTom has pretty much the same thing, but it has the option to prompt for those settings on a route by route basis. To be honest, those settings sometimes cause more problems than they are worth.

Avoiding Toll Roads can send someone hours out of their way at times. Shortest route and/or "avoid highways" have sent people into some dangerous situations in bad weather. You really have to look at what each is recommending and when your common sense thinks differently, override the device.

GPS's don't know anything about the surrounding scenery, so you'll find that to force a scenic route, you will have to specify a couple points on your scenic road to 'force' the GPS to go the way that you want, because it will be neither the fastest or shortest way to get where you want.

Since you have them both, I suggest setting up some routes with each one simultaneously and compare the turn by turn displays to get a feel for each one's internal logic. Then take them for a couple test drives.

I knew that this was a Garmin heavy site, but I'm surprised that it seems like everyone is pro Garmin. Any Magellan fans out there?

One word... Garmin!

Oddly enough I experienced TERRIBLE cust service today from Garmin yet perfect cust service from TomTom.

Garmin is the clear market leader with hundreds of different models and the best support for maps and other add ons. Garmin is where it is at!

A work collegue has just bought a Tom Tom and has tried to get an updated map for the unit, like Garmin's free 60 day update. He says they do not offer this service, you have to pay 35 Euros for one.
I did advise him to get a Garmin, but he was swayed by the salesman and the oh so cheap price.

TomTom rendered my XL 330-S useless. Last February I went online to TomTom for a simple map update before our vacation. I won't describe the entire litany of events but the end result was: several calls to TomTom; over 20 hours - yes, 20 hours over five days of downloading and doing exactly what "tech" support suggested; a GPS that would no longer function; an offer from TomTom to discount a replacement unit purchased from THEIR website. I checked the replacement price with the discount and it was still more than the regular price at Sam's Club. Needless to say I went out and purchased a Garmin Nuvi before we left for vacation. I still have my useless TomTom in the box as a reminder to NEVER purchase a device from them again!

I use a Garmin 60CSx for-off road; a Garmin Nuvi 1450 for driving/riding; and a Lowrance Airmap for flying.

Goes back to the old saying, "You get what you pay for"

I have several Garmin units. Nuvi 765t for highway use, a GPSMAP60csx and Oregon 500 for off road / geocaching. Never had any issues with any of them during use, upgrades or file installations. The few dealings I have had with their CS was great (had a ball mount for my nuvi become very loose in 4 months, they sent me a new one a year ago and all is still good).

AHh, the old thread, awaketh!

Garmin all the way!

After playing with a friends newly purchased TomTom and speaking with a TomTom tech rep, I think I'll stay with Garmin. The TomTom might be great for someone that doesn't do the things I do with a gps. Just the fact TomTom doesn't have any mapping software like MapSource would kill the sale for me. The rep I spoke to didn't even know of any third party software available equal to MapSource for the TomTom.

20 Hours on the phone with any type of tech support is 19 hours and 50 minutes too long. I would think that 20 hours of your time was worth more than the entire unit's new price tag. I would just box it up with a note and send it back to Tom Tom thanking them for nothing.

I did this years ago with a Hughes direct tv receiver and got a brand new one back in return. That was after calling Hughes and complaining that there equipment failed 5 days out of warranty and they did not want to honor it.

Your 5 days out of warranty, they do NOT have to Honor it. Your lucky they sent you a new one.

I agree 100%

guy

I've spoken to a user that has had both and he says the routing algorithms in the Garmin are way better than TomTom

Stick with Garmin

Oh, I should return my Tomtom which purchase 2 weeks ago.

Get a Tom Tom first if you want to try both. You will end up returning it and getting the Garmin.

I own two Garmin units and one Tom Tom. I prefer the Garmin.

I would not suggest any Tomtom with the so called Easyport mount, it is a disaster and Tom Tom knows it. I have a xxl540 we purchased 6 months ago .. out of the box the GPS would fall off the window from time to time but worse, it falls out of the mount way to often. My wife just got back from a trip to Virginia, the GPS fell Out of the mount 3 times and off the window 2 times. I contacted Tom Tom service and they are sending me a 3rd mount for the device. I told them that the warranty is only for 1 year and that I am concerned that once it is out of warranty they will do nothing for me,.. their comment is that I would have to Purchase a new mount.. I said this darn thing is a design flaw... she said I know, but that is how the company handles it..

I have done more research and find lots of complaints on the net about the easyport mount I am thinking of contacting the NTSB as I believe this is a hazard to drivers... Has anyone else experienced this?

Until then I want to warn everyone thinking about a Tom Tom to carefully look at it and if this mount is included I'd stay away from it!

Sticking with Garmin.

I started with a TomTom and bought it back within a week, couldn't download anything. Got a Garmin and now on my third one.

Neither. Smartphone for the win!

If you're comfortable with your Nuvi 350 why switch to Tom Tom? Probably another POI utility to deal with the Tom Tom POI data format

No smartphone for me, too many eggs in one basket. I'm on the phone a lot while driving (bluetooth & speaker) plus my zumo660 works great on the Harley. Great visability and it's load enough to hear on the bike too.

I rode with a friend and his Tom Tom once, he spent most of his time trying to figure out what his GPS was telling him to do.

This way you do not need to carry a standalone GPS.

Yes, I have a Garmin, but the battery is very poor, only 30 minutes. This make me crazzy.

When I bought my GPS I bought and return all 3 (Gramin, TT and Magellion) models until I found what I wanted. I personally think all have pro's and con's and a lot of it is timing. If you want a simple to use with basic good features and some nice things too - get a Magellion. If you want better features and more user control - get a Garmin (Garmin and Magellion use the same maps. Now for TT, well TT has their own maps ( with a map correction option which has some very good features ) and has more user controls than you know what to do with. Of the units I tested, the TT routed just as well as the others, but when it comes to POI's - well that is another thing. Magellion and Garmin know where the POI's are and TT says they must be here somewhere. I found that the closest TT normally got was with in 100 yards and gave no indication of which side of the road. When it came to lane assist TT seems to be the best.

Now what did I buy - a TT. Why, because of the timing the TT had the only map that could find my daughters house. I used her location because it was built with in the past 5 tears. That said I had a Magellion which I would have stayed with, but it was a bad unit and when I returned it the second unit had an older map. Magellion support could not give me the map update, only production had the latest map.

If I were to buy a new one again, it would be a Garmin or Magellion. The model TT I have is a 530S XXL

I have a TT 530S XXL and it did let me add a dirt road to my map and share

New user to this new low cost unit. non TTS voice that cost around $80.

With the help of this forum and users I have the device fully updated and customized with around 95,000 POIs and wav alerts.

As far as I'm concerned Garmin makes one fine GPS unit.