Best GPS for Sky RL - BlackOnyx also for International Travel

[Chris-Chicago]

I have a Sky RL - BlackOnyx, Black Leather, 5 spd scheduled to be built the week of Nov 5th.

What's your opinion on the best GPS for Sky? Best fit on Dash or near radio? Best look for the car.

And I need one that I can load international maps on it. Won't be driving the sky, but will be driving rentals. I work for Honeywell and have been all over EU, UK, ASIA, ME. No South America or Africa yet, but I need versitility, mobility, and it needs to look nice in the Sky RL in Black.

Does any particular model work better in the SUN with the top down?
Loud enough Turn by Turn directions for the top down?

I would probably want to spend about $300

Any suggestions on models people are happy with... or good resources for product info?

[SkyBaby]

Hi there... WELCOME AND CONGRATS..... I have a garmin.. love it.... but I think we paid about 700 for it.... SkyBaby

[Chris-Chicago]

Which model was it?

And how are the screens in the sunlight with the top down? I know when I have my laptop PC outside I can hardly read the screen.....

[SkyBaby]

streetpilot... c330. havnt had a problem with sun... just adjust the screen..... what part of chicagoland are you in? i am out by Byron.. the power plant... west of chicago.. SkyBaby

[Chris-Chicago]

We live in the N.W. Suburbs, Des Plaines / Mt. Prospect.
We like to take side roads, tour around, but when it's time to get home we want to just punch in the "fastest way home"

I've used them in Rental cars for work in Jersey and Arizona and it was very helpful.

Some brands have some of europe, but not all.... They don't seem to have Middle East at all.... Or India

[1Man1Sky]

Originally Posted by SkyBaby

Hi there... WELCOME AND CONGRATS..... I have a garmin.. love it.... but I think we paid about 700 for it.... SkyBaby

Yikes! $700! I was just looking at these today at Buy.com. $250 for new, $210 for refurbished.

http://www.buy.com/retail/searchresu...y=col&dclksa=1

[marlboromike]

I know of no GPS that has ALABAMA...still undiscovered territory...I understand there lives a drunken ALIEN on that site.

[Skip]

Excuse me but the last time I looked New Jersey was a suburb of New York City....Skip....

[Chris-Chicago]

I think it may be the same for several other regions down there.... Most of the products I've looked at only seem to have N. America, or less... TOMTOM on their website has multiple Countries for the selection, but their MAP site is down. And I don't know if there are compatibilty problems in other countries. I believe it's all US satilites, so I just need the maps....

[marlboromike]

Originally Posted by Skip

Excuse me but the last time I looked New Jersey was a suburb of New York City....Skip....

But it was not in DEEP SPACE... GPS does not go that far

[Chris-Chicago]

I've been to Jersey for work too, then I need an armored GPS

[Spag]

A Garmin nüvi 770 would fit your bill - pre-loaded with maps of both North America and Europe - it has a huge bright screen but is very small otherwise!

It can be programmed for full routes, leaves breadcrumbs, has bluetooth, warns you of traffic and even has a black casing to match your car!

Little pricy, but I really think you get what you pay for when you get a GPS.

[Chris-Chicago]

Thanks
I will read up on that one. It seems that new models come out quite frequently. I don't have any big trips in the next 3 weeks so maybe if I drop some hints Mrs. Santa will get me one

[Chris-Chicago]

TomTom ONE XL • S was one of the other models I was looking at. It has voice turn by turn with text to speech to read street names to me. I frequently have to travel for work on my own, so I don't want to be looking down at the screen.

[Graysky]

There's a new GPS on the block at Radio Shack. It's called a Mio C320 on sale right now for 250.00. It has everything you could possibly want or need. Covers Europe and North America. i believe it's manufactured in Belgium. Google it by entering Mio C320.

[Chris-Chicago]

Thanks, I will check that out too. It looks like the winner for maps is GARMIN so far though. Their website has maps for Middle East, Africa, Singapore, just about every where. The quest goes on.... have you seen the Radio Shack one in the sunlight ? I do want to use it in my SKY with the top down and SPF on

[Rustyknight]

Originally Posted by Chris-Chicago

Thanks, I will check that out too. It looks like the winner for maps is GARMIN so far though. Their website has maps for Middle East, Africa, Singapore, just about every where. The quest goes on.... have you seen the Radio Shack one in the sunlight ? I do want to use it in my SKY with the top down and SPF on

I have used Garmins they are pretty good, still no maps for Mexico beyond a few main highways. Also even the main roads in Mexico can be up to kilometer away from where the maps say, and don't go near Mexico city unless you already know how to get where you are going. Still looking for soemeone with good Mexican maps, if anyone knows of any let me know.

also note last garmin I had on my laptop would also use maps from third parties......

[Chris-Chicago]

Thanks, I don't think using the Laptop too would be an option in the SKY, however when I move the GPS into the Rental car.... then there's a chance that would work. the mio from Radio Shac/k doesn't seem to have any obvious list of countries they support for maps. It seems to be multi country based on their website, but it's not laid out very well. The unit itself looks pretty full featured for just over $300 I will have to stay on Santa's good side.

How are you mounting your GPS to the car? Just a suction cup to the windshield?

[Graysky]

Originally Posted by Chris-Chicago

Thanks, I will check that out too. It looks like the winner for maps is GARMIN so far though. Their website has maps for Middle East, Africa, Singapore, just about every where. The quest goes on.... have you seen the Radio Shack one in the sunlight ? I do want to use it in my SKY with the top down and SPF on

I haven't used it in the Sky yet. It works great in my SUV. Good point about the sunlight but it has voice turn by turn. So, I think the screen would be moot in most cases.

[Z03]

Originally Posted by Spag

A Garmin nüvi 770 would fit your bill - pre-loaded with maps of both North America and Europe - it has a huge bright screen but is very small otherwise!

It can be programmed for full routes, leaves breadcrumbs, has bluetooth, warns you of traffic and even has a black casing to match your car!

Little pricy, but I really think you get what you pay for when you get a GPS.

I just ordered my Nuvi 760 to upgrade from my Nuvi 660. It is the same as the 770, but with only North America maps. Along with the other additional features over the 660, I had to have a black one! You will never regret owning a Garmin product.

The Nuvi 660 is viewable in full sun with the top down. Reviews of the 760/770 say that screen is brighter than the 660.

Bill

[Blue04RedLine]

I don't know about the map availability, but TOM TOM makes a unit that is specifically for motorcycles, so it should be easily veiwable in direc sunlight. It has a little hood like the gauges. Worth a look.

[Chris-Chicago]

Motorcycle perspective is a very good point. It looks like for most manufactures, the maps are a good source of revenue. Some of the maps of European countries are $300.00 Thanks for the input, the research continues