GPS Users Please Advise: Garmin 3790?

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frigilux

frigilux

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I have a very....let's save my ego a bit and call it an "unrefined" sense of direction.  Suffice to say I have a ring binder full of MapQuest directions for places.  Unfortunately, MapQuest has spewed out a series of unreliable maps lately, and I'm ready to move on.

 

Anyway...have decided to relieve some travel anxiety by joining the 21st century with the purchase of a GPS thingy.

 

Consumer Reports (I know, I know; a lot of you hate it, but that's why I'm asking for real-world advice) says the Garmin 3790 is an excellent choice, at $340.  I have an iMac, and am lead to believe it will be compatible with the Garmin.

 

Before I actually order it:  What GPS device do you use in your car, and what do you like/dislike about it?  

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<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: medium;">Eugene, You need to look at the features this one offers and decided if you want or need all of them.   There are other models, this brand and others, that are at least $100 less and do similar things.   </span>

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<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: medium;">I am far from an expert on these things, but when I was looking at them last year, the differences on the more expensive models seemed to be: #1 more detailed maps of the US (the smaller cities), Canada and maybe Mexico also more POI (Point Of Interest) information pre-loaded.   #2 real time traffic info.   #3 built in blue-tooth connectivity.   #4 the ability to play MP3's thru the device.   Of course I'm sure there are other differences, but those are the ones I remember.  When I looked, I was surprised to see they can be had for as low as about $200 (or less?), but again, it really depends on what you want.</span>

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<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: medium;">I have an older Magellan model I bought used for my mom and while it does not have real time traffic or blue-tooth, it works really well and is easy to program addresses into.</span>

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<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: medium;">I suggest you find store that carries them (Best Buy, etc) with examples that are FUNCTIONAL.  The best thing is to play with them, go thru the menus, program in different addresses and see how easy it is to use.   Some brands/models are more intuitive and easier to program, others are a little more cumbersome, etc.</span>

 

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<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: medium;"><strong>Best of luck!</span>

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<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">K</span></span>evin</span>

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I'm a long time Tomtom user. I think I have mine now for six or seven years. At the time there was not much choice, I think Garmin was the only competitor. IIRC at that time Tomtom was the only one with the 3D view of the road. I liked that much better than the view from above like looking at a map. So it was the Tomtom for me, and it still works like a charm!
 
I dumped Mapquest years ago. I don't think I had reliability problems, but something about it started annoying me. These days I use Google's maps, and, to date, Google has worked well. For my myself, I can't see buying a GPS system--it's hard to justify since Google works so well, and I so seldom go anyplace strange (well, I guess anyplace I go has a strange element just because I'm there!).
 
If you have a Verizon Smart Phone, you can use the navigation through your phone service like I do, no need for a seperate unit to hide/store in a hot car!
As for accuracy, on a scale of one to 10, I give it a 7.
They all the same in a way of getting you there but others will help you get around heavy traffic if needed.
Also, I listen to three radio stations to help me navigate through the worst of dead stop traffic.
 
My older Garmin Nüvi 250 GPS was stolen in my truck two weeks ago. I replaced it with another Garmin GPS that I bought at Costco for 200$ in Canada (probably worth much less in the States). It has lifetime map and traffic updates and a 5" screen which makes it easier to type addresses (it has a QWERTY keyboard with numbers instead of ABCDE keyboard and numbers on a second page which is the only option on those with the smaller 3½" screen). The model number of my new GPS is Nüvi 1490 LMT (LMT stands for Lifetime Map and Traffic updates). My former GPS didn't have map updates and I think it's a must to have them. On some new roads, it constantly asked that I change direction and it eventually located me as if I was in the middle of a field...

I got the extended warranty with the credit card (to two years instead of one) at no extra cost and I think it's a good thing. The battery doesn't hold it's charge very long (about 3 hours, manual says it should stay on 4 hours) and if it gets worse in the next two years, I might try to replace it under warranty before it expires...
 
Garmin 3790

I bought this model about a month ago and have been very happy with it. Be sure to get the unit with Lifetime maps. The feature I really like on this unit is that it sounds an alarm as you are approaching a stop light that has a red light ticket camera installed. I'm not sure if that feature is unique to this model (I'm sure it is not) but its something I really find handy. The updates will keep the intersections current as new cameras are installed all the time. To date I can't say I have any complaints.
Best,
Bill
 
Magellan

I've got a Magellan that I bought at COSTCO about five years ago. Still going good.
When travelling I often have a Garmin and I don't like it. Perhaps the auto-rental companies buy a cheapy version though.
I know lots of people who love their Garmin. However I found it wasn't too fast a thinker when I was recently driving through California. The keypad also misinterpreted my touch a lot but that could be wear.
One time in Maine, I had a Garmin and successfully arrived at the hotel. It didn't announce my arrival. However in the parking lot it suddenly went into a rant somthing like this: MAKE AN IMMEDIATE U TURN, MAKE AN IMMEDIATE U TURN, MAKE AN IMMEDIATE U TURN. MAKE AN IMMEDIATE U TURN.
If I followed its instructions I would have been driving in circles in the parking lot!! LOL!
 
TomTom and Sony

Check with Amazon for their deals of the day. We recently added a TomTom XXL540 to mix here from one of their deals. Posted the link below. Just double check what they are selling to make sure it is a relatively current model.

I got a Sony NavU about 2 1/2 years ago that was also a deal of the day from Amazon for $99.00. It is very easy to use and so far has worked well for me. I like the 4" screen. Downside was the updates for maps and such would run $99.00, so never bothered to do that. It took me across country without any problems. And it was fun driving through Mobile Alabama and watching the screen go blue as I drove in a tunnel under the water.

What I noticed with the TomTom was not a lot of information was given in the instruction manual. It wouldn't pronounce street names unless you had a computer voice selected. The feature to power down when the car is turned off is buried several menu screens down. Not big issues, I just had to google a bit to find out the information.

I also use my phone, an HTC EVO and its nav apps. They both work well, though at times can be a bit slower to update the map and route.

With any of these things I'm still old fashioned and will check a route beforehand so I have a rough idea of where I am going.

 
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Paul

Your comment about the Garmin going into "fit mode" was priceless.

However, it's too bad it couldn't comprehend what you were saying if you went into your own rant: SHUT UP BITCH, SHUT UP BITCH, SHUT UP BITCH...! LOL!

And now, I'd like to take a moment to wish everyone on this site a
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!
 
My 2 cents . . .

I've used a few of the GPS units and have an old upper-end Magellan but find I almost never use it. I'm pretty familiar with most of the places I go and often it's not worth the trouble to try and get it to understand the address. It really wants a zip code to find many places which often entails getting out the relevant Thomas Guide (for LA, Ventura, or Orange Counties in my case) and finding the address so the zip can be programmed in. If I'm going to bother with the Thomas Guide then why bother with the GPS, as once I've seen the location on the map I usually know pretty much how to get there? The other problem is traffic conditions change so fast that I often ditch the freeway for surface streets and most of these units give a choice between one or the other but not both.

 

One thing I do find super-useful is my Escort Passport 9500ix GPS-enabled radar detector so that stays plugged into the cig lighter and mounted on the windshield. It's pricey but can be set to memorize where it finds radar or laser signals and it then automatically mutes at these locations, hugely reducing false alarms, plus has a red light camera database. Much better than the Valentine One it replaced. Escort has now introduced a GPS unit that combines the 9500ix detector with a map program. It's called the iQ and while again it's pricey ($650) I'd buy it in a heartbeat if I didn't have the 9500 already. Have no idea how good the GPS function is but in general Escort makes good products, plus you don't have to choose between a detector and GPS navigation.

 
I had a Garmin Nuvi 250? that died after about 2 years, it worked great while it worked, dunno what's happened to it..
Regardless I replaced it with a new Garmin 1350 with lifetime maps, cost about $140. Works well, has exit lane feature and traffic congestion alert the old one didn't have which is useful. The next model up was much the same but had bluetooth or something which I didn't need. Personally I wouldn't spend anymore than about $150 on one these days.

If you are into geocaching I believe Garmin is the only GPS that can download the geocache sites from the web directly into your unit with the patch cord. With other GPS you have to enter the locations manually.
 
I am glad to hear about the "lifetime updates for the maps with Garmin"  I had an older one  that would really take you on some wild rides  cities with lots of road construction that had recently been completed would make the older one "confused".  I do have a new one and it cost less than the first one. In our case the new garmin was cheaper than the update and the cable required to update the old one.  My brother has a Tom Tom,  i find it more difficult to enter  address locations.  I do think thats more of a problem if you are familiar with either system, then change to another. Oh yeah the Tom Tom and the Newer Garmin show the actual speed you are traveling,  great way to check your speedometer.  arthur 
 
When I got the 2006 Subaru outback there was no shelf depth or room to suction mount my old faithful 4" NUVI within the instrument cluster; I used to mount it to the left of the speedometer over the tachometer gauge in the 1998 Legacy. I got used to the convenience of glancing quickly through the steeringwheel at Map view when on city/town streets for the surrounding view - very useful in twisty loopy suburbs. It never failed to get me accurately to any location I would input all over Canada and the USA and you can toggle between fastest, scenic or shortest routing (which tends to take you down winding gravel backroads around here rather than the main hiway - :-()

I don't like mounting a GPS to the dashboard top or window in plain view of interested parties...and prefer to keep my eyes on the road ahead other than glancing at the speedometer. I also appreciate things neat and tidy without cables snaking everywhere for that built-in look.

Most newer vehicles now have a Navigation Screen option and therefore a space is provided in dashboards in a central location between the airvent outlets. My Outback did not come with Navigation so the 'hole' in the dashboard is a 6" deep cubbyhole with a flip-up lid.

Just for kicks 12 months ago while making other 'improvements & upgrades' to the interior I decided to audition the latest GPS's and liked the larger 5" widescreen models 'cause these old eyes ain't getting any sharper. Our local Staples allowed me to take 5" Magellen, Tom-Tom and Nuvis out for a test drive and test fit. No contest - The Garmin NUVI has more information, a less cluttered desktop and the form factor is superior in that it is a plain .5" thin flat rectangular box that slips easily into a pocket like an iPod. The Magellen and Tom-Tom have curves and case protrusions that make then lumpy and larger.

In happy co-incidence the NUVI slips perfectly into the dashboard cubby with a 'c-hair' to spare in width...meaning I can keep it hidden and stored behind the flipdoor between uses along with car ownership/Insurance etc. The competing GPS's were too wide.
For use I put a strip of industrial velcro on the top edge and a corresponding strip on the lid lip. The lid springs are strong enough to hang the Nuvi from without drooping.
I installed the power supply hidden inside the console housing - adding a remote switch - and ran the cord up behind the dashboard and into the cubby from the back, for hidden and quick connection and charging. This also means when I stop briefly at a store, gas station or wherever, I can hide the entire thing inside the cubby away from prying eyes without shutting it off.

Because Staples, Best Buy and FutureShop only stocked the Silver version I went to Tiger Direct and got a refurbished Piano Black Model 1490T for $130 CDN.
It does have Bluetooth capability which is utterly useless to me but the bonus is it came with the Traffic Antenna power cord free (an optional accessory from Garmin) and it really works to alert you to traffic tie-ups, accidents, construction detours, Photo Cameras etc. Very useful on my last trip across upstate New York as was the Speed monitor that tells and alerts you what the posted speed is as you pass through the zones on those two-lane back roads through villages. Last thing anyone needs in a Turbo is unwanted speeding tickets. :-) With this facility I can punch the Cruise Control and drive unconcerned.
I have found that when I go 'off-route' the Garmin very quickly re-maps itself and accepts my notion of ignoring its suggestions.
Not one to take orders from some snippy woman I downloaded a sexy Australian man to tell me where to go.
Although this model does not come with lifetime updates it does have one free one and I love the NUVI look and feel so much I will not hesitate to pay Garmin $50 whenever they suggest it as when I drive across the USA and Canada on long trips in the next 10 years I know new suburbs and streets are being built constantly.
The thin Garmin NUVI is also an excellent pocketable handheld for wandering around city streets on foot in Pedestrian Mode.
Recent 'laws' require GPS's by default to disable certain touchscreen functions when in motion but the Garmin has a toggle that defeats this annoyance and keeps it set that way when the unit is turned off and on again.

So I say, go to a shop that will allow you to take one out for a test drive, evaluate it's features, form factor and user friendliness, then go online looking for mail order bargains and make an informed purchase of the model you want.

Dave

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Thanks, everyone, for your input and reviews!

I ordered and received the Garmin 3790 pictured in my initial post, and used it yesterday when I went to Sioux Falls to see my sister. What an amazing little device! I get lost all the time, and it was fun to purposely take wrong turns to see how quickly the Garmin would recalculate and start directing me back to my destination. It took only a couple of seconds each time.

Was surprised at how warm the little bugger gets when it's on for a couple of hours; of course it was 90 degrees, and I have it mounted on my windshield, so it was probably getting the greenhouse effect. I certainly wouldn't want to leave it in a parked, hot car very long.

I'll be traveling to lesser-known parts (hello Iowa!) in a few days, so it will really get put to the test.

The 21st century certainly is an interesting place, technologically speaking.
 
 

I was given as a gift a refurbished Garmin Nuvi 255W a couple years ago (purchased legitimately via Buy.com).  Ran into a problem registering the unit with Garmin, they said it was already registered (and presumably suspected moi of having stolen it).  I sent a copy of the sales invoice to verify the refurb purchase, which they accepted as legitimate.

 

Anyway, it's nice to have, but I have found that errors in the map data are not unusual ... street names wrong, and outright wrong directions.  In one instance it sent me in the opposite direction of the target address, although on the correct street.  In another case it was so far off-base that I would have never found the target if I hadn't gone back to the starting point in town and simply looked for it.  Also when entering destinations that I know just to see where it wants me to go, it may direct a route that's off-kilter from what's reasonable to me.  There are some interesting features that I haven't investigated much thus far, such as tracking fuel cost based on accumulated mileage driven.
 
Sometimes you do find the GPS doesn't give you the most efficient or direct route to a destination. For instance the 4 block distance from my house to my moms house where I just go around the corner out of my little subdivision and straight up the street to her house, the same street on which she lives. My Garmin has me going the other way down my street snaking thru our little subdivision making 2 turns onto another small street, follow it to the corner of my moms street then hanging the right up to her place. Still in all if you didn't know any better you'd still get to her house.
 

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