i3 / c320 / Nuvi?

[Buelligan]

We currently have an i3 but need another unit for a second car/motorbike. I'm very impressed with the features of the i3 for the money - particularly the fact that it works in Dublin and Northern France but I would also like coverage of the rest of France.

I'd appreciate views on the following options:

1. Buy another i3 and the french card (£90!!)
2. Streetpilot c320 (and keep the old i3 for the bike)
3. One of the Nuvi series

Postcode search is a must - some reviews say the c320 can't do this.....surely this can't be true. I'm unsure of the functional differences between the Nuvi and streetpilot ranges.

Thanks for any help.

[AndyArk]

I've got a C320, you will get full postcodes, the new maps have just been released that include it & you should get these with the unit (or by a free upgrade from Garmin).

I'd expect there to be some good deals on a c320 now there are newer models available.

Nuvi will be pretty much the same as the c320 but in a smaller package with the added media fuctions (mp3 etc), it also has a more sensitive receiver but will cost more than the c320.

Hope this helps.
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Andrew.
Garmin C320 & GPSMAP60CSx

[cantgetlost]

I'm a business traveller and have both I3 and Nuvi. I'm also a life long biker.
Taking it that you have made provison re secure water proof mounting, from my experience as a serious biker the nuvi wins hand down.
Its COMPACT size will fit in the pocket of my leathers or the secure lining of my helmet bag protected by a carbon fibre pad. The screen is a better size for the bike than the I3 and jack plug provision gives sound to my helmet.

Work load means I've only used the nuvi a few times on my bikes, but prior thoughts were all proved correct. Battery provison is better than on the I3 to.
The nuvis is not cheap but my 350 with all the European mapping and travel features wins hands down in my "biker" book.
On a thrash to Hockenheim, it finds the bars and restaurants as well as music whilst camping. Being able to move the map with the touch screen a german Guy was able to give directions to a bike club about 40 miles away. Showed him how the touch screen worked and he caught on and scrolled across to the venue .

[Scuby]

[cantgetlost]

My bikes have fariings and screens. Exposure to rain is minimal. I also have access to industrial clear plastic and films.
I've used a bag llike affair that worked fine. Have now adapted a small rectangular shallow bait/lunch box Arm from mount and cables go into box and are sealed in place with Sikaflex. Lid has window cut out with clear plastic that enables touch screen to be used. Sounds a bit Heath Robinson but covered in leather cloth it looks fine.
Have jack plug extension that comes out between seat and tank for helmet sound system.

[Buelligan]

Thanks for the replies. The new unit will be used almost entirely in the car and the old i3 on the bike.
My only concern about the C-series is that the power cable cannot be detached from the unit, meaning that I have to re-route the cable every time I remove the unit. Is this the same with the Nuvis?

Secondly, what are the pros and cons of having the French Maps preloaded vs on a CD. MY gut feeling is that preloaded maps will be preferable. I'm not worried about traffic alerts so which unit makes most sense?

Cheers

[cantgetlost]

Bue. Your post suggests you propose to travel with whatever you buy.
I hack around Europe, and find myelf in strange places with time to kill.
The nuvi cable is detachable and infact plugs into the mount or the side of the unit. So it just comes on as you clip it into the cars mount and runs on inbuilt recharge batteries when walking.
Heaven for bid that the car gets broken into abroad, the nuvi's size means I'm never tempted to leave the unit behind.
In a French truck dealers we found they did not have the part, language barrier of where else to go was overcome by finger scrolling the map, the guy and his co workers caught on and scroled to the place where we needed to go. I've used this feature elsewhere on business abroad. The nuvi just lends itself to shirt or jacket pocket use and is great when on foot in foreign parts.
You can park up wander about get completely lost for a few hours and forget the little leather clad nuvi in your pocket, and then find the nearest pub or restaurant and then the way back to your car or hotel as the nuvi
always knows where it is.

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