Which Garmin automotive GPS device is best?
By CNAQ Professional •
I want to buy a Garmin automotive GPS device for driving around Doha and the Middle East? The models range from QR1250 to QR4000. Which model have others bought? ARe there other features that you liked? Which of the following features did you find essential....?
1) Speaks Street Names (cheapest model with this feature (QR1500) is QR250 more than most basic model (QR1250). How important is this for driving in the Middle East where street names are often missing, confusing, or ignored?
2) Lane Assist (cheapest model with this feature(QR1700) is QR650 more than most basic model (QR1250))
Any Garmin device that runs maps of the Middle East will be ok. I have a Garmin Nuvi 370. There is an EXCELLENT Garmin dealer locally in Doha. You can find it through www.garmin.com . They have various Garmin devices on hand as well as middle east maps.
Garmin NUVI is excellent. It has prevented me from getting lost on NUMEROUS occasions.
The BlackBerry Bold has a built-in GPS receiver and runs Google Maps. That's a nice alternative as well.
The comments are really helpful. Thanks.
Get the Garmin in the 700 series. You have to get at least the 700 series as these talk to you which is a nice feature. My advice is to get a Garmin 770 which has
North America/Europe already installed and then you will require the Middle East add-on. DO not get the SD card add-on! These are not updatable! Get the CD format as these can be updated online with Garmin.
the Garmin 7200, they can be found on Ebay for a reasonable price. It has a 7 inch touch screen, MP3, A/V out-put for additional monitor for backing up. The audio can be channeled through your car speakers. Keep in mind that the middle-east software is separate and can be found at Lingawi.
He who dies with the most toys wins.
I still use my old iQue 3600. It's a GPS/PDA, though I never use the PDA functions. What I like is that the screen orientation is portrait so you have more 'look ahead' than a landscpe version.