How many of us still use a TomTom or Garmin?

[MI_Roger]

My cell phone has a maps and traffic app but it seems as if every time I am in a situation where I desperately need the vocal navigating commands, some idiot calls my phone and traffic directions shut off. So I still use my Tom-Tom.

I was relating a story this week to some much younger co-workers regarding somehow losing the tip pieces to the TomTom's car power cord then finding most of the parts (all but the fuse) laying loose in the glove box of another vehicle, when they stopped me to ask what was a TomTom? And if it was a GPS device? Obviously the use of these devices has fallen off precipitously.

How many others still use one?

My newest car is 10 years old and does not have a built-in GPS.

 

[Bambam]

Still have my Garmin and use it, don't use my cell phone for navigation.

 

[Dave Sherman]

I still have my Garmin. The phone is nice since it has the live traffic info and can show holdups, but it also uses data. The Garmin works fine for free, although it takes a minute or two to find a signal.

 

[JayhawkRoy]

Still have a Garmin. Use it daily. Also have an old Tom Tom that I can't update that is also usable in a pinch.

After watching my sister and brother in law try to use their built in navigation devices, I have doubts about how easy they are to use, as compared to my current Garmin.

 

[Kestas]

I have no smartphone. I have a Garmin and Magellan that I use. The maps are over 10 years old. When I went to update the maps and software, I was told my units don't have enough memory. I think there was a little planned obsolescence built into these units.

 

[AirgunSavant]

I use a Garmin because the screen is bigger and its mounted and over a 16 hr drive the cell phone doesn't cut it.

 

[Leo99]

Threw my Garmin in the garbage. You need real time traffic.

 

[CARJ]

Still use both of our Garmins. Hate using my phone for directions.

 

[Carbuff]

I still use my circa-2009 Garmin.

The thing I like best about it is that I can create Routes on the computer that I can then follow. (Many motorcycle clubs and car clubs use routes like this.)

Another drawback with the phones apps is they won't 'begin' to navigate if they don't know where they are (no cell service). Whereas, a 'Sat-Nav' will usually pick up a signal out in the woods.

+++++++++++

I'll admit that I am impressed on how the phone apps take real-time traffic into account, that is a REAL benefit.

 

[pandus13]

Originally Posted By: AirgunSavant
I use a Garmin because the screen is bigger and its mounted and over a 16 hr drive the cell phone doesn't cut it.

I use a combined approach:
both.
Only issue is getting power and cords to couple devices, and for phones, using mounts that clip onto AC vents.
If using the phones with windshield mounts, It triggered thermal protection in couple phones....

 

[Kamele0N]

Originally Posted By: Leo99
Threw my Garmin in the garbage. You need real time traffic.

 

[02SE]

I Have an older TomTom which I use occasionally in my vehicles that don't have built-in navigation. I have a Garmin BMW Motorrad unit that I use occasionally on my bikes, and I sometimes use the GPS on my phone while traveling.

 

[CharBaby]

We still use our TomTom and/or smart phone.

 

[4WD]

All vehicles have built in … but I carry a Garmin in my bag when traveling somewhere by plane/rental …

 

[Chris142]

My wife wants to get into geocaching. I dug out my old Magellan. The gps on my phone isn't accurate enough.

 

[gregk24]

I still have a Garmin and like to use it on long trips.

 

[Virtus_Probi]

I still keep a TomTom with lifetime traffic and maps in my car and will rely on it for drives outside my usual Boston-Worcester-White Mountains range because it just plain does a good job.
The GPS built in my vehicle is much less useful (and the maps are on a freakin SD card!), but I use it a lot for shorter trips just because it is convenient. It has Sirius XM traffic (for now), but that is not nearly as comprehensive as the TomTom info.
My wife uses a Garmin unit with traffic in her old Avalon and my daughter uses her phone in her base model Impreza. I'm thinking about having a better unit with GPS installed in the daughter's car sometime soon, I bought her what seemed to be a well made phone holder that I mounted on her dash but I think she still just drives with the phone in her hand and that bothers me.

 

[ZZman]

Nope, threw it away a year or so ago as it never got used.

 

[NormanBuntz]

With multiple vehicles, I use an older Garmin, a new TomTom and Waze on my phone if it's convenient for a short trip. I don't like to use the phone for extended periods because I have to keep it plugged in so the battery doesn't run down.

It was a bummer that my Garmin didn't have Canadian maps, so last summer I bought the TomTom with both USA and Canada maps.

 

[GravelRoad]

Originally Posted By: Bambam
Still have my Garmin and use it, don't use my cell phone for navigation.


^this