Looking to buy a GPS

I purchased a TomTom One recently. I was looking for the same things you were looking for, Webster. My wife needs it for, well, anything. I occassionally need to travel for work and found that it would be very helpful.

I punch in addresses or cross streets and things seem to work out just fine.

The unit isn't perfect as there are streets that could be under construction and thus closed or streets that have recently come into existence (like one in my town) which ultimately doesn't show up. It isn't a big deal on the construction, as I just turn and it will adjust automatically. It is a bit funny when it looks like I'm driving off the map and I'm really just driving on a road that is fairly recent (in fairness the road isn't even available on Mapquest).

 

Go east over yonder, turn right at the big pine with the knot in it...

 

After you enter in your destination there's a button called 'add waypoint.' I bought the cheapest GPS I could find (mio c220) and it has every 7-11 in its database. I paid 200 about six months ago but I've seen it advertised for 150 recently.

I'm very good with directions and such, but just about every time I visit a foreign city I'll miss a turn, curse a lot, then drive around in circles. So for me the GPS isn't so much to tell me how to get from point a to point b, but to adapt to a closed road or my impulse to get white castle or something.

 

Consumer Reports' website has recently had some listings of good GPS units and where to find good deals on them.

http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/

 

Geez, Slappy. Everyone knows you turn left at the knotty pine.