# Which GPS unit should I purchase? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 17, 2012, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-gps-unit-should-i-purchase/609839 "2012-01-17T23:12:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-gps-unit-should-i-purchase/609839/1 "2012-01-17T23:12:15Z")
I live close to a Walmart so I decided to see what brands of GPS units they sell. Going with three criteria I’ve narrowed it down to three choices. First, the criteria: [ol] [li]The unit itself is $100 or less.[/li][li]Lifetime map updates (not all of the GPSs I saw had this)[/li][li]Battery life at least three hours.[/li][/ol] Now the GPS units [ul] [li][Garmin Nuvi 1300](http://www.walmart.com/ip/Garmin-nuvi-1300LM-4.3-Portable-GPS-with-Lifetime-Map-Updates/15266006)[/li][li][Garmin Nuvi 1100](http://www.walmart.com/ip/Garmin-Nuvi-1100-LM-Portable-GPS-Refurbished/17781645)[/li][li][TomTom 550M](http://www.walmart.com/ip/TomTom-XXL-550M-5.0-Portable-GPS/14585208)[/li][/ul] If you have any experience with any of these I’d love your opinions on them. Or, if think there’s a better one that’s sold somewhere else or only on-line I’m open to other suggestions. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-gps-unit-should-i-purchase/609839/2 "2012-01-17T23:55:55Z")
Over time I’ve found Garmins have the best maps and Amazon (in general) has the best prices. The very, very best prices are on Black Friday when GPS’ are used as doorbusters, but that’s over and done. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-gps-unit-should-i-purchase/609839/3 "2012-01-18T01:14:02Z")
My parents have a Garmin Nuvi (I’m not sure which model) which I borrow often. It’s good. I’ve never had it get me lost (although it has sent me on roundabout routes), but I drive in urban areas. ---
**Author:** ![ExcitedIdiot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ea5d25/32.png) [@ExcitedIdiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExcitedIdiot)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-gps-unit-should-i-purchase/609839/4 "2012-01-18T02:59:49Z")
I have a Nuvi 40LM. It’s a great unit, but the battery doesn’t last more than 2 hours for me. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-gps-unit-should-i-purchase/609839/5 "2012-01-18T03:43:36Z")
Thanks everybody. Since everybody’s suggesting a **Garmin Nuv** i then I’ll get the **Garmin nuvi 1300LM**. If the list price of $249.99 is correct then I’m getting a hell of deal paying $99.98. Of course I’m sure the list price is inflated, but I’m still sure I’m getting a good deal. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-gps-unit-should-i-purchase/609839/6 "2012-01-18T03:57:09Z")
OK, free shipping to store, but when it asks for the zip to locate the nearest store it lists one 23 miles away in another city, even though there’s a Walmart in my city. :dubious: Guess I’ll try Amazon. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-gps-unit-should-i-purchase/609839/7 "2012-01-18T17:21:41Z")
Make sure you get a model with ‘Lifetime maps’. Personally, I don’t like the Bluetooth models because dedicated hands-free phone devices have much better battery life. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-gps-unit-should-i-purchase/609839/8 "2012-01-18T19:21:12Z")
Oh yeah, I made sure I got lifetime maps. And my cell phone is a cheap type that doesn’t work with Bluetooth anyway, so that wasn’t an issue.