Roadtest: TomTom versus Garmin

[The Danes Are Coming]

3 month ago I purchased a new GPS so for 3 month I have been running 2 GPS systems at the same time in my RV.

My old GPS is a TomTom 910 and the new one is a Garmin nüvi 1370T. The reason for my choise for the new GPS was the feature "lane assistance" which I expected a lot of. Driving a 40 foot rig with a toad can cause a few headaches if you are not in the right lane. As it happens the "lane assistance" is pretty much non-existent except for very very few occasions. It's never there when you expect it to be.

As mentioned for 3 month the GPS's have been operating side by side and here is my verdict:

The old TomTom is far superior in all categories. The Garmin is a lot slower. It often cant find the required destination and it doesn't take you the best way to your goal. It will give you "the run around" rather than take you where you want to go.

Finding an "Interest point" is substantially quicker with the TomTom and the TomTom gives you more hits and more accurate addresses. Especially on this feature the Garmin is trailing the TomTom by a country mile.

I trust my old TomTom to take me to my destination. I don't trust my brand new Garmin for a second. For 3 month - every time the 2 GPS's have "been arguing" on my dash the TomTom have been right. Not even once have the Garmin been more accurate.

I know which brand I will purchase next time I need a new GPS.

[Elkhartjim]

I've been using the

Garmin765T for more than a month and about 1200 miles. The lane assist works great in certain metropolitan cities. Driving through Houston from north to south and then making a southwest turn Heifer (my affectionatename for her) not only gave me fair warning but the display also graphically

let me know which lane to been in. The traffic info was also very useful. I was warned of a 15 minute delay 10 miles ahead so I decided to use this time to refuel.

Granted, the lane assist does not work in smaller cities and this is pretty well stated in their specs.

My only complaint is Heifer is sometimes a little hard to understand.

I did download the latest maps when I bought it and so far she has not "steered" (Heifer) me wrong.

[The Danes Are Coming]

Jim - as for the "hard to understand" I have heard this before. The solution could be this:

Try out the female British English voice. This appear to be a lot more clear for some reason when coming out of the small GPS speaker.

[Izzyblueye]

The Danes are coming: I found your comparison of the two most popular GPS units interesting. I have always wanted to see a user comparison. I have had two Garmins and am not real satisfied with either one. Actually I found the newest one I have is not much better than the original unit that is now several years old.

[Gary - K7GLD]

I have a much older and cheaper Garmin C-340 - it needed help too, in regards to accuracy in more rural areas - the purchased map upgrade made a world of difference.

And while I haven't actually documented it, the lane direction/distance bit SEEMS to be dependent upon the zoom level of the display - and I'll have to try the female British voice - the female USA English was grating and annoying - especially that "Recalculating" when I passed the road that had been mapped out - the male voice seems MUCH less annoying.

All in all, I'm happy enough with the C-340, and being a country kid, would not be without a GPS in large unfamiliar metropolitan areas, especially in an RV...

[Dmiles]

I had a very old Tom Tom, I think it was a 710. Very old technology, granted. Also the biggest piece of crap that ever came down the pike. I was actually happy when it just would no longer turn on. At least instead of locking up when I needed it most, it was now dead. RIP. And I wouldn't have another Tom Tom product if they gave it to me. It's not worth the aggrivation.

And if you ever are unfortunate enough to need their tech support, prepare to deal with the least helpful group of abject jerks you will ever speak to, or exchange emails with...that is if they ever respond at all.

I now own a Nuvi 885T which is fantastic. It is one of the few that has speech recognition, and it works great! Instead of poking your destination into the screen keyboard (which you can still do if you want) you simply push a button on your steering wheel and tell it where you want to go. And the voice recognition works a thousand times better than I thought it would. That has been so much more handy than I even thought it would be.

Granted, the lane assist only works in major metropolitan areas, but those are the only areas I have had a need for it. It has never lead me astray, but if I don't agree with the route it chooses, I simply push the included wireless button on my steering wheel, wait for the tone, and ask it for an alternate route.

Oh yea, it also handles my phone calls via bluetooth, plays mp3 music, and Audible books, of which I have many. I guess you could say I'm pretty much satisfied.

[FATMANAR]

I don't care what kind or how much you had to pay for a GPS but it has to be the best money I have ever spent. These things are better than a xwife trying to read a map! Even with the occasional blip, I never leave home without it... Can you believe we have things like this? I thought when 8 tracks came out it was the greatest thing since pockets on shirts..Happy trails..

[John Hilley]

Last fall my Garmin Street Pilot 320 started failing on a trip to New Yorks City. After being on for 30 minutes it would loose the satellites and not work until it had been off for at least 1 hour. Replaced it with a Garmin 1350T. The "Lane" feature worked great in New York. Went out west to Arizona this winter and the Garmin worked great in the Phoenix area with the Lane feature being a big help. On the way back it would quit unexpectedly and not work until the next day. I like the unit, but don't think much of the reliability.

[diandtom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FATMANAR I don't care what kind or how much you had to pay for a GPS but it has to be the best money I have ever spent. These things are better than a xwife trying to read a map! Even with the occasional blip, I never leave home without it... Can you believe we have things like this? I thought when 8 tracks came out it was the greatest thing since pockets on shirts..Happy trails..

I agree with you FATMANAR, it is much better than the wife. I got a new Garmin 1390T and used it the first time last weekend on a trip to Charleston, SC. It is far better than my old Lowrance. It shows the next turn not mater how far away and I love that feature.

[Wayne M]

I have the TomTom 740 Go Live. It has the Advanced Lane Assistant, which give you a view of the lane you are supposed to be in. (in large cities). It also gives directional warnings, like "exit right, then stay in the left lane" or what ever lane you are supposed to be in. It has blue tooth for hands free. It also has speech recognition, plays Mp3's, audiobooks, etc., etc., etc.,

Live search is connected via cell towers to a google search engine. So searching for your favorite store, mall, or whatever you can search for on google, will give you a selection. You just choose "Navigate to," and you are on your way.

They all have their faults, but I'm totally satisfied with TomTom 740 Go Live.

Oh! and it has traffic updates and will reroute you if you choose "yes" for a faster route. And I love the low clearance warning.

[slabman]

Henrik, as a fellow (Part) Dane, I might have to agree with you. I recently replaced my Garmin 780 with a newer 5 in. 1450 model. I do like some of the new features it has, but it seems a little slow in tracking my location and showing a road to take as a turn-off. This had me going through the city of Raleigh NC today during rush hour! Not fun! I do love the larger screen, though.

Maybe next time I'll give Tom Tom a chance....

[geeksrus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Danes Are Coming 3 month ago I purchased a new GPS so for 3 month I have been running 2 GPS systems at the same time in my RV. My old GPS is a TomTom 910 and the new one is a Garmin nüvi 1370T. The reason for my choise for the new GPS was the feature "lane assistance" which I expected a lot of. Driving a 40 foot rig with a toad can cause a few headaches if you are not in the right lane. As it happens the "lane assistance" is pretty much non-existent except for very very few occasions. It's never there when you expect it to be. As mentioned for 3 month the GPS's have been operating side by side and here is my verdict: The old TomTom is far superior in all categories. The Garmin is a lot slower. It often cant find the required destination and it doesn't take you the best way to your goal. It will give you "the run around" rather than take you where you want to go. Finding an "Interest point" is substantially quicker with the TomTom and the TomTom gives you more hits and more accurate addresses. Especially on this feature the Garmin is trailing the TomTom by a country mile. I trust my old TomTom to take me to my destination. I don't trust my brand new Garmin for a second. For 3 month - every time the 2 GPS's have "been arguing" on my dash the TomTom have been right. Not even once have the Garmin been more accurate. I know which brand I will purchase next time I need a new GPS.

I have a Magellan 1470 & one of the biggest benefits is the "lane assistance" feature.
Also, only once has the unit mis-directed me & this was for a POI in Aransas Pass TX (purchased the unit in October 2009).

I am very happy with the unit.

Eh!

[Gary - K7GLD]

It's worth pointing out, that there ARE numerous internal GPS system programming settings available for most brands and models - these include method of travel - auto, truck, motorcycle, etc - and each user preference will affect routes and various related features provided. Also common, is the choice of route to be used - major freeway, or lesser roads - and fastest, or shortest routes preferred. One I have found useful, is the ability to turn off the continuous efforts of our Garmin C-340 to return/reroute us BACK to what it assumes was a missed turn, and instead, provide the next-best available route ahead of us.

Sometimes we're too quick to criticize a unit's "faults", when the "fix" is well documented in the instruction manual...