What GPS navigator do you like, Garmin or Tom Tom or ?

[bandit67]

Guys, time to purchase a new GPS. I have had several Garmin's in the past and had good, long service use. I just have never went the route to pay for upgrades, just got a new one when they got too old. Never had a Tom Tom and was wondering those who have had both, which one did you like the best. In checking Amazon and Flea Bay, I see there are lots of Chinese branded units selling for about half the price. I usually steer clear of those, but some may be pretty good.
I was told using the gps apps on your phone that Google and Apple actually collect and sell your data for marketing purposes. Is that true or just BS. Who could profit from knowing where someone is traveling to? Any way, what is your preference.....thanks.....

 

[Kern Dog]

Paper map.
Heck yeah, man....I'm not a fan of the tech gadgets for travel. To me, nothing compares to a paper map for giving me perspective and scale.
I can look at a map and get my bearings right away.
For years, I worked from construction blueprints but toward the end, many builders started to embrace computers with the building plans stored on them. It was hard for me to wrap my head around where it all fit together when the images were so small.
A large paper map gives me a clear picture of where I need to go and how close/far it is to other destinations.

 

[kiwigtx]

I have used Tom-Tom since about 2012. I had a Garmin given to me while I was working for another guy, but it was painful to enter an address, especially at night when you're on callouts etc. Time is critical. It wasn't very intuitive with guessing the addresses.

Tom-Tom is great because it will guess the closest address once you start typing it in. It also auto-adjust as your route diverts in case you feel like going a diffrenet way to what it says. I realise others probably do that also....but I like my Tom-Tom.

I also have a couple of celebrity voices - Brian Blessed and Billy Connolly. Lots of laughs, but Brian only does miles, whereas Billy does both miles and kms.

The other thing is my latest Tom-Tom is Wi-Fi capable, so when I park at home I can get the latest updates in the driveway without disconnection.
Graphics are pretty easy to see and not complicated.

 

[kiwigtx]

Don't cheap out and buy a Chinesium knock-off....you will regret it in the long run.

Tom-Tom usually has a 30% sale..... start searching it, and you'll probably get the invite.

 

[toolmanmike]

My phone. Google the address and open the map. It also includes Waze for road obsticles and cops with radar and the like.

 

[T2R9]

Google maps on my cell here as well. Better than any standalone GPS I have used.

 

[toolmanmike]

Google maps on my cell here as well. Better than any standalone GPS I have used.

Exactly, and itis constantly updated. Free

 

[The Rebel]

I had a Tom Tom but when traffic delays were no longer being broadcast via the rds-tmc, l switched over to a Garmin about 8 months ago.

I find Garmin's traffic provider, Here Traffic, works about half the time and am disappointed that the coverage is so spotty.

That being said, I still use it but also use Google maps on my phone which is awesome on reporting traffic delays.

If Google made a gps unit I could mount on the windshield I'd buy it as my phone screen is too small.

 

[dodgeboy440]

Guys, time to purchase a new GPS. I have had several Garmin's in the past and had good, long service use. I just have never went the route to pay for upgrades, just got a new one when they got too old. Never had a Tom Tom and was wondering those who have had both, which one did you like the best. In checking Amazon and Flea Bay, I see there are lots of Chinese branded units selling for about half the price. I usually steer clear of those, but some may be pretty good.
I was told using the gps apps on your phone that Google and Apple actually collect and sell your data for marketing purposes. Is that true or just BS. Who could profit from knowing where someone is traveling to? Any way, what is your preference.....thanks.....

Yes it’s true !

Anything to make a buck. , “THEY”
Are all for profit stockholders corporations.

Google is probably the most prolific…..
Look at their recent lawsuit …..they paid a 314 milllion $ fine …..oops ….. got caught !

Choose wisely grasshopper……….

May the force be with U !

Mopar2ya!

 

[Dipstick]

For dash-mounting, I like my Garmin Drive 53.

 

[cr8crshr]

Paper maps, a compass, and dead reckoning are my preferred methods. However, I do have a phone, and it has come in quite handy numerous times. I only have it with me when I travel, say for long distances and emergencies. Never had a need for Garmin or Tom Tom devices, so I haven't an opinion on them...cr8crshr/Bill

 

[1 Wild R/T]

I travel for work pretty regular, been doing it for 25+ years... Years ago I used maps, but when you fly in to New York/Philly/Chicago it gets damn hard to get where your going with out having to stop & reorient yourself.. And in heavy traffic that just isn't possible...

I bought a Garmin, then a Tom Tom.... They all have their problems & updates are $$$$

For the past ten years I've used Google maps on my phone... It's the best option out there IMO...

 

[toolmanmike]

I travel for work pretty regular, been doing it for 25+ years... Years ago I used maps, but when you fly in to New York/Philly/Chicago it gets damn hard to get where your going with out having to stop & reorient yourself.. And in heavy traffic that just isn't possible...

I bought a Garmin, then a Tom Tom.... They all have their problems & updates are $$$$

For the past ten years I've used Google maps on my phone... It's the best option out there IMO...

I live in Iowa and the family and I traveled to Mississippi for a wedding. Google and Alexa (or whoever she is) got us there and back with no issues

 

[bandit67]

I have traveled over a good bit of the country in my younger days using paper maps. I still prefer them. But, when you are driving a big RV, or pulling a camper/trailer, you need as much advanced time you can get in order to be in the right lane needed. Maneuvering those rigs are not as simple when you get into cities, crowded freeways, you are not familiar with. Those gps devices are wonderful in preventing me from having to turn them rigs around. I do get into parts of the country when phone service drops off for a bit, but don't recall a current, updated Garmin as ever being dropped out. Using the phone for short, around a big city runs, works for me just fine, but when Im on the road for 8-10-12 hour trips, I prefer a dash GPS navigator. Im always looking at it as I like to know the names of roads I pass during the journey. I even like watching the elevation changes when heading south to the beach or north to the mountains.
It has been said those devices are the best gas mileage savers of all time, cause if you are traveling in the wrong direction, your mpg will really be lousy.

 

[kiwigtx]

I used to use paper book maps....but their biggest problem is that as soon as you remove the cellophane cover, they are out of date.

At least with an electronic map, you get constantly updated.

I lost count of how many times I bought a book map that hardly got the use it should have.

 

[Budnicks]

Rand McNalley
I don't use or need a GPS, served me well for my 50+ years
of driving all over the USA, Mexico & Canada

if I do ever get/buy a damn smart phone (I hate cell phones)
it will be for the camera & GPS though

 

[Budnicks]

I did buy my dad a Magellan, years ago, kept updating it
when he was RV-ing/traveling, he got where he wanted to
he calls/or he called the ladies voice 'Meg',
Meg said turn left, Meg said go straight

he'd program the same 20-25 place he went into it,
each time, he'd leave
you'd think you'd not needed it after a couple times going & being there

the newish 2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon
Launch/Limited Edition 'offroad 4wd special' (that's a freaken' mouthful)
It has a great one built in, nice big screen, easy to see
I rarely even need a map, myself, but my dad drives it, mostly
he still doesn't know how to use the Nav-system on it though...
His flip phone doesn't link up either

He's not going too far anywhere now, away from home at 88 y/o

 

[T2R9]

I live in Iowa and the family and I traveled to Mississippi for a wedding. Google and Alexa (or whoever she is) got us there and back with no issues

Yup. I live in South Carolina, traveled to Missouri, Tennessee, Iowa, and up and down the east coast towing a trailer. My phone with Google maps tied to my my trucks display is the cats ***.

 

[RR Fan Dan]

I travel only at night and use a sextant.

Seriously google maps or Waze to answer your question, but as far as tracking you goes, yes they all do now. I gave up trying to fight it anymore because it has become practically impossible to use any technology without being tracked. Now if you are hardcore and don’t use technology then that is the only way to prevent tracking. But if you are posting on this site from your electronic device about which gps to use that doesn’t track, then you are missing the big picture, because you are already being tracked on the device you are using to access this site, unless you are using a VPN.

As a comparison smartphones are not designed to act as a stand-along tracking device. They do not use satellite tracking technology, but rather cellular triangulation. Cell towers are aiding in locational information, not true GPS technology. This makes smartphones less accurate and less reliable for applications related to tracking. GPS uses satellites and is more accurate. That being said they are both pretty darn accurate.

After 911, and the passing of the Patriot Act, we gave up all of our privacy and surveillance rights and protections for the illusion of safety. Big brother is constantly watching you and it’s only going to get worse before it gets better. There really is not a damn thing you can do about it.

 

[The Rebel]

For dash-mounting, I like my Garmin Drive 53.

That's what I have. Do you have it with traffic?

If so is your coverage as spotty as mine?