GPS Shopping

Well I already bought/received/gave my GF her Xmas present due to it being a limited edition and only so many of them are in stock and no more will be made. So now she owes me. I decided I am going with replacing my existing GPS. It was a cheap $100 unit that I bought at BB back in 2008 I believe with "no unlimited map" updates. I see/read the newer ones are better, faster, and can get one with unlimited map updates. So leaning towards that direction. I am a fan of Garmin but will look elsewhere if there is something that is better. Lastly, I am also interested in it supporting Canada as well for while I have no future plans of going there, I can see me heading up there at the very least Niagra which was easy to get around but having a GPS that supports it wouldn't be a bad idea IMHO but not mandatory either. 

Putting this out there if there is any particular model people think I should look at. Other than that I will be doing the obvious research and the ones I am interested in I will be doing my typical fashion of comparing those models to customer reviews on Amazon.

Edited by Ivy74, 30 September 2014 - 03:07 PM.

Handheld, Dashmount, Backpacking? Lane identification, turn by turn? Range Finding? Small display, Large Display, Voice Naviagtion? Touch Screen?

Lots of things to consider to help narrow the field.

Good Point,

Dash is fine but Window Mount is actually my preference. 

I want the works:

Lane Identification

Turn by Turn (I usually turn off the voice for it always seems to talk when you are in the middle of a conversation)

Large Display would be nice but I am open to this

Voice Navigation - iffy about but sure why not

Touch Screen - aren't they all for driving?

Thanks.

I been doing my own research and here is what I found between Google searches and a lot of reading:

This gets high reviews but I read the low reviews too and while it's a nifty device I think it's a bit over kill and not as durable as their other models so leaning away this one: 

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/on-the-road/automotive/2013-line/nuvi-3597lmthd/prod121762.html

The rest please Google if you are interested and reading up on them:

Garmin 2797 or others around that number. I also read great things about the 2597. 

I might say to hell with it and buy whatever Costco is selling as long as it comes with unlimited map updates.

I ended up going with the 2797. I did look into the Windows phone but the extra measures I have to take plus not wanting to sign a contract with the phone was more hassle than it's worth. When it comes to phones I prefer the IPhone however the more recent droids I have started to like but still think they get slower as they get used more where my IPhone is still working/browsing as fast as the day I bought it. 

It's been less than 24hrs but I like it. I yet to truly use it but I am sure sometime soon work will send me somewhere that calls for it. In the meantime I am putzing with it, updated the firmware and maps already right out the box: first thing I did. It is quite big I must say and in some ways that is a good thing and others not so much but depends on ones preference. 

In short, with the limited amount of time I spent using it I give it 5-stars for right now. 

I would like if they made a visor for it that I can clip on it to help block out the sun, short of that I like it.