Which Nuvi to replace my ageing 660T?

kr72 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 10, 2011 Posts: 2

Want to replace my trusty 660T as the power/traffic lead is falling apart and the battery lasts 30 seconds when unplugged, so it's time for a new one. It's been a fantastic unit, works without any problems and got me out of plenty of scrapes. What I'd like feature-wise, I guess is:

Programmable routes - the one thing I don't like about mine is that you can't programme a run route for an afternoon blast in the sun

MP3 - I can probably sacrifice this as not many Garmins feature them and getting a iPod-controlling stereo makes life easier from this point of view but how loud are the modern units as my car's a bit noisy, especially with the top down?

European maps - I go abroad a fair bit in the car and having street-level is invaluable, even if it doesn't always have the nearest branch of Carrefour in deepest Belgium!

Lane assist - don't have this at present but have had a few wrong turns where motorway exits are close to each other

Quite like the look of the 3790T and as a 2-D map fan, being able to switch quickly to 3-D for towns or anything with useful terrain guides, whilst going back to 2-D for planning is handy plus it's a nice small device - is the speaker in the holder is as good as the built-in devices in other Nuvis? And how stable is it? Can I rely on it working without having a fit?

Any other features to look out for or newer devices in the pipeline?

sussamb · Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2011 7:35 pm Post subject:

Try here:

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=134

and select the features that matter most to you. For route planning beware that if you want to use mapsource it still doesn't work properly with the 37xx series. Also none of the modern nuvis have mp3 players, so you'll have to give that a miss.

Wazza_G · Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2011 10:00 am Post subject:

Don't use Garmins shop site, you'll pay full whack for anything like most manufacturers, which is a rip off considering you're buying direct from them.

Have a shop around, by all means browse the Garmin shop, but unless you find the unit you want at a price below anywhere else give it a miss.
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sussamb · Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2011 10:49 am Post subject:

Yes, completely agree. I wasn't suggesting the OP buys it from Garmin ... just that it lets him compare the different features fairly painlessly Very Happy

kr72 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 10, 2011 Posts: 2

Yep, I've used the comparison feature but wanted some real-life experiences. Had a look at the 37xx in Currys earlier - apart from the same OCD-worrying smudges that my iPhone gets ;), is the screen visible on a bright day in a convertible and will the screen survive a fall from the windscreen on a journey?

Wazza_G · Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2011 7:36 pm Post subject:

I've never noticed as mine sits on a Garmin bean bag mount on the cars dashboard in a car with a hard roof, no soft top or sunroof.

On the whole I've found the screen to be very clear, the only thing that lets it down badly is voice command (as I've said on numerous occasions), where it doesn't recognise certain towns properly.

Ask it for Exeter & you'll 8/10 times end up back at the start!
Folkestone - Foek s tun - gets you there.
Buxton - Burkston

Garmin really need to get these pronunciations fixed, they're an embarrassment.
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Be alert.. This country needs more lerts.

longitude · Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 1:05 pm Post subject:

This sounds as if you need to speak in an American accent. Confused

Reminds me of a time I was in a Chinese restaraunt in New York and couldn't make the waiter understand I needed a glass of water until I spoke in a New York accent.
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TomTom and Sygic app on my iPhone. Toyota CHR

inthe128 · Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 9:18 am Post subject:

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