Anyone here have direct experience with these GPS units like Magellan, Garmin, TomTom, etc? I've heard they are mostly programmed with US information and that sometimes using them here in Canada (and mainly Western Canada), they are not so good.
For example that one (MacVision) that Crappy Tire has been advertising lately for $400.00 is a good unit for the money but someone reviewed it and said it couldn't even find an Edmonton address. It won't even get you back on track should you take a side trip.
It seems Magellan is widely available in Calgary while the TomTom is something we have to have shipped from the States. I would prefer not to go that route as the mapping will be US specific and I don't wish to fuss with getting the Canadian mapping and loading it in.
Anyone actually used one?

 

Have you browsed GPS Central's website yet and been down to their store? The guy who runs that place has all his stock right there. He'll demonstrate anything for you and you can buy it right on the spot and walk out. In store prices match all his online prices.

http://www.gpscentral.ca

Chris.

 

How'd I know you'd answer, Chris. I'm glad you did. I should have just PMd you. Thanks. I'll check it out.

 

I purchased a Magellan Roadmate 300 this spring for a trip to the East Coast. It is sometimes frustrating to use but the maps for Canada are included with the CD and I was able to load all of MB and parts of NW Ontario in the on board memory. A 1/2 gig chip allowed me to load all of Canada and most of the Northern States, for example 200 miles from the border south.

The Magellan is a little more expensive at around $700 but if you use it a lot it's worth it.

PM coming too.

 

I've had one of these http://www.garmin.com/products/iQue3600a/ for about 6 months.

It's way more than you'd need for a typical road based navigation setup (it's an aviation device first and foremost), but the road data it uses is the same stuff used for the less expensive road units.

I can't say enough good things about it - it's made the ongoing Calgary move process a lot easier. It's also lots of fun to fly with too

Oh, and I bought it from gpscentral as well. Good price, good service!

 

Nice unit but like you said, it's way more than I need and at $1100. US, a bit more than I want to spend.

 

The data(maps) used by it and the less expensive units are the same, so outside of the user interface, you can expect flawless performance from the Garmin stuff. I've yet to get lost with it and I've driven quite a bit with it. One of things that makes you wonder how you ever lived without it. The nearest attraction functions is awesome too...

 

There are many nice looking Garmin products available to me locally:
http://www.gpsmart.ca/cat3_1.htm
I just have to find one that does what I need it to do in my price range.

 

XViper, I know Biobanker and I think S2ksImon and a few other guys have experience with their Garmins maybe send them a PM. A few guys use street pilots. They won't know squat about the maps out in Alberta but many people in the Toronto forum have experience with them.

Wing has a Garmin Ique that he loves and swears by it. It's a PDA size though.

 

Good idea. I'll start a thread there with a link to this one.