Garmin Streetpilot 2620 GPS Nav System

[RustyJC]

After getting spoiled by the Alpine DVD-based OEM navigation system in my Acura 3.2TL-S, I looked around to see what was available to retrofit into our truck. After a lot of searching, I finally decided on a Garmin Streetpilot 2620 system in lieu of an aftermarket in-dash replacement system.

This portable system has the added advantage of being usable in Madame Boomer's Durango as well as the truck - in fact, she has appropriated the thing! It has all of North America programmed into the mapping database which is stored on an internal hard disc, so there are no fees for unlocking additional regions, and transcontinental routes can be mapped as a single route.

We've used the Garmin for about a month now and are very pleased with it. The mapping database is basically the same one used by MapQuest on the Internet and is much more robust than the one in my Acura. It has no problem with obscure addresses in the smallest towns and (to my surprise) even tracked us complete with street addresses as we traveled down some private roads. All in all, it will do everything the OEM system in the Acura will do and more.

Despite its healthy list price, the system is available on the Internet for less than $1,000 - I wound up purchasing ours from 4wheelbooks.com and paid less than $1,000 even with overnight shipping.

Edited to add link to Garmin website with more information.

Rusty

[RustyJC]

After getting spoiled by the Alpine DVD-based OEM navigation system in my Acura 3.2TL-S, I looked around to see what was available to retrofit into our truck. After a lot of searching, I finally decided on a Garmin Streetpilot 2620 system in lieu of an aftermarket in-dash replacement system.

This portable system has the added advantage of being usable in Madame Boomer's Durango as well as the truck - in fact, she has appropriated the thing! It has all of North America programmed into the mapping database which is stored on an internal hard disc, so there are no fees for unlocking additional regions, and transcontinental routes can be mapped as a single route.

We've used the Garmin for about a month now and are very pleased with it. The mapping database is basically the same one used by MapQuest on the Internet and is much more robust than the one in my Acura. It has no problem with obscure addresses in the smallest towns and (to my surprise) even tracked us complete with street addresses as we traveled down some private roads. All in all, it will do everything the OEM system in the Acura will do and more.

Despite its healthy list price, the system is available on the Internet for less than $1,000 - I wound up purchasing ours from 4wheelbooks.com and paid less than $1,000 even with overnight shipping.

Edited to add link to Garmin website with more information.

Rusty

[Warpath]

Rusty -

I had a hard time choosing between the unit you have and the Roadmate 700. I have been using the Streetpilot III for about 3 years and liked it, but hated loading maps and it was kinda hard to put a location in using the small controls.

I read a ton of reviews on both and heard pros & cons for both, so I rolled the dice on the 700. (I figured I would try Magellan for a change) I have used it for about 2 1/2 months now and will run down the cons first. The mounting bracket has to be the worst engineered device ever made. Mine broke on the first attempt to move the GPS into view. So I pitched it and with the help of my Streetpilot III bracket, made a bracket that works great in the RV. The only other issue I have is the volume, it could be louder, specially if I have a window open running down the road.

On the positive side, it is so much easier to use than the old Streetpilot III, the touch screen makes it a snap to pull up a address and map it. Routes have been excellent, which is important with my rig. Love the address database that keeps old destinations for quick return to home or back to where you started. Overall I have been very happy with the unit.

From what I have read recently both the 2620 & 700 are very close, but it does look like the 2620 has a few more features and a much better mounting system.

Bill

[Bill S]

We purchased both the Magellan Roadmate 700 and the Garmin 2620. Both my wife and I used both GPS systems before deciding which one we kept. After using both, we decided on the Garmin 2620. The Garmin has more features that we will use, and in our case, the Garmin was a little less money.

Bill

[ISLAPP]

Bill,
Could you possibly expand on what features the Garmin have that you thought was better than the Magellan? I am in the process of trying out the Roadmate 700 and was thinking of trying out the 2620. Give us some of your thoughts if you wouldnt mind.
Mike