Comparing Garmin and Prius GPS

[Proteus]

I am curious about the opinions of those in the forum.

I am a long time Garmin user (Streetpilot 2610). I bought a 2006 Prius, and decided to try the Prius (Denso) GPS. I would only judge it as "Ok'; not great.

Here is what's bothering me:

1. Maps (yes, the new ones) do not autoroute anywhere you can see. Full coverage exists only in major metropolitan areas. With the Garmin, if I could see a road on the screen, I could get voice guidance to the location. This is not true for the Prius.

2. Garmin has a "next turn"display that can put the next cross street up, even when there is no active route. I think the Prius may do this while on a route. but it will not show cross streets on its normal mode display. The street labeling seems oddly random, so you can't just read from the screen either, even at full zoom. This makes quick "look ahead" reading impossible.

The map issue especially bothers me, this is an expensive unit!

Am I doing something wrong, or are there work arounds?

Any recommendations on who to complain to?

[darelldd]

Sounds like we're in a similar situation! I too am a long-time Street Pilot user, now using a 2610. Your comments are quite interesting to me, since I debated about the $2k for the Prius system. I LOVE having GPS, and there are so many advantages to my portable unit (and yes, some disadvantages, obviously) that I finally decided to order package six without the Nav.

Anyway, I'll stand by and be interested to see what others say. For my money, my 2610 really does do everything that I need a GPS to do.

[twdusa]

Originally posted by darelldd@Jan 21 2006, 10:19 PM
Sounds like we're in a similar situation! I too am a long-time Street Pilot user, now using a 2610. Your comments are quite interesting to me, since I debated about the $2k for the Prius system. I LOVE having GPS, and there are so many advantages to my portable unit (and yes, some disadvantages, obviously) that I finally decided to order package six without the Nav.

Anyway, I'll stand by and be interested to see what others say. For my money, my 2610 really does do everything that I need a GPS to do.

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Ihave been using the Garmin C330 Street Pilot for about 10 months now and would not trade it for 5 Denso units!

[Canuck]

We've been using the Garmin 2620 for almost 18 months and are extremely satisified with it. It even has the logging roads on Vancouver Island and we can keep updating the harddrive for mapping, software etc.If the Garmin 330 had been available back when we were making up our minds we might have gone with it because of the lower price but that's technology for you. It's really great to be able to transfer the Garmin between vehicles and even lend it to family for their trips.

[hdrygas]

I have an iQue and have compared the Prius with the iQue side by side but only in places that I want to go. So I will do a test. The iQue will take me to Pony Montana. I don't know how many people have been there but it was a booming town a few years ago when the mines were open. Now there is a Post Office, Elementary School, and a Bar. The rest of the town is empty. It is off the side of a side road. I have to say the old bank is great. You can see Butch and Sundance coming out the front door any day of the week. The Pony Bar is a must see. The iQue will take you there. I will try to see if my Prius will do the same?

[Three60guy]

I recently tried the option with the Prius GPS to enter the business phone number of the destination. It was amazingly less difficult than enter street number, street name, city and state. I haven't tried entering the phone number of a location outside the region. Will have to try that sometime soon.

I am a old time StreetPilot III user and am generally ok with the Prius GPS. Everything is a compromise but I enjoy that it is integrated. I always felt I had to take the StreetPilot out of the car in the past lest someone want it.

You win some, you loose some.

[benighted]

Originally posted by twdusa@Jan 21 2006, 07:35 PM
Ihave been using the Garmin C330 Street Pilot for about 10 months now and would not trade it for 5 Denso units!

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I have been considering that unit. How do you have it mounted?

[jbarnhart]

Wow, after reading all these positive comments about the StreetPilot I'm in shock. I bought the thing two or three years ago. Paid about $1000 for the GPS and maps. What a POS! As soon as I got out of the S.F. Bay area the thing went silent. It had no details ANYWHERE and lost its famous voice nav feature except when one highway crossed another. I drove all the way to Albuquerque and back and the maps sucked everywhere. I returned the thing to Fry's as soon as I got back from my trip and never considered a Garmin product again.

I guess they're better now?

[Twiddles]

Originally posted by jbarnhart@Jan 22 2006, 06:24 AM
Wow, after reading all these positive comments about the StreetPilot I'm in shock.  I bought the thing two or three years ago.  Paid about $1000 for the GPS and maps.  What a POS!  As soon as I got out of the S.F. Bay area the thing went silent.  It had no details ANYWHERE and lost its famous voice nav feature except when one highway crossed another.  I drove all the way to Albuquerque and back and the maps sucked everywhere.  I returned the thing to Fry's as soon as I got back from my trip and never considered a Garmin product again.

I guess they're better now?

[snapback]195142[/snapback]

I recently bought the new Lowrance iway 350c. It comes preloaded with the latest maps 3Q05 of the entire US and Canada AND has a built-in MP3 player that plays through the Prius speakers - I have about 1,000 songs on it, AND it only cost me $400 delivered. Works great and looks great sitting on the dash behind the MFD. The Garmin 2620 may be a better unit (I have never seen one in action), but you can't beat the $400 price of the iway.

[Three60guy]

Originally posted by jbarnhart@Jan 22 2006, 04:24 AM
Wow, after reading all these positive comments about the StreetPilot I'm in shock.  I bought the thing two or three years ago.  Paid about $1000 for the GPS and maps.  What a POS!  As soon as I got out of the S.F. Bay area the thing went silent.  It had no details ANYWHERE and lost its famous voice nav feature except when one highway crossed another.  I drove all the way to Albuquerque and back and the maps sucked everywhere.  I returned the thing to Fry's as soon as I got back from my trip and never considered a Garmin product again.

I guess they're better now?

[snapback]195142[/snapback]

Yes, the StreetPilot III did have the limitations you spoke of originally. Much has changed and the whole product line is vastly better. It does deserve another look.