2009 VIP
Jo
Plymouth, MA

Garmin c320 Pilots us onto the wrong Streets

3 star rating

married, computer literate, willing to pay more for quality, a luxury camper
Pros

    easy to see at night, decent features, inexpensive

Cons
    not reliable

JAN
7
2009
 
We finally got a GPS system for our SUV and for our current Florida trip. I did the research and chose the Garmin Street Pilot c320. Price was really the number one factor in our choice since my Lexus has a GPS as does my Blackberry. We spent about $100 on the Street Pilot - we got a great deal - sort of.

The Garmin StreetPilot has detailed maps throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. There are close to 6 million updated points of interest. It allows turn by turn navigation and it gives you postal code support for Canada.

The Garmin StreetPilot c320 has text and voice-guided directions. There is an SD slot and it comes with a 128MB SD card.

Pros

My husband and I are still together in spite of Gertrude the Garmin Street Pilot c320.

Garmin Street Pilot c320 is easy to read at night

The suction is good. We have not had it fall off the window.

The voice is easy to understand and adjust. We've listed to the English voice and the British voice and found them very clear.

We can touch a button and tell you what turn to make in .2 of a minute. For example on the right side of the screen it shows a turn in 10 miles.

Garmin Street Pilot c320 is easy to take on and off so we haven't had our car broken into.

There is a 16-bit color display with a 3.5 inch diagonal screen.

Cons

Garmin Street Pilot c320 screen is hard to see in daylight.

It doesn't take every address. On our last two occasions she has gotten us back to our destination but got us lost getting there. I've almost thrown this GPS out the window. If I had to hear Gertrude say one more time "recalculating" out it was going. My husband found the volume control and saved her life.

Unlike my GPS it can be played with while driving - very dangerous.

I had to activate my Blackberry's VZ navigation because we had to download software when we left New England and we couldn't find the software. Eventually we did and I've kept my navigation on for $9.99 because I don't trust Garmin Street Pilot c320.

This is a layperson's review. My husband defended Garmin Street Pilot c320 for days and days and days. Finally he agreed that we got wrong directions too many times for this to be a good GPS. Sure it is inexpensive so if you don't mind getting lost once in awhile it will get you to the right point sometimes as well.

Last edited on Jul 15, 2009



I_thumb_down Garmin - StreetPilot c320 is not recommended by Jo

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I_comment_shdw24 Comments about Jo’s Review

 


Fardreamer wrote on Jan 10, 2009 at 2:10PM

Imagine. A device that helps you to not get lost....get's you lost anyway. Sounds like something out of a Samuel Beckett play..."Waiting for Garmin," perhaps?

Susie-34668 wrote on Jan 9, 2009 at 9:27AM

We have one of the older Garmin GPS systems. We paid around $450 for it, and were stupid enough to buy a 4 year warranty on it. No new one for us, just yet.

Jo wrote on Jan 8, 2009 at 7:10PM

Great idea but then it would mean replacing the window which we had to do in NYC and nothing was even stolen!

Jo wrote on Jan 8, 2009 at 7:10PM

Ditto, Lisa. If I didn't have a GPS in my car I'd go that route. Jo

Jo wrote on Jan 8, 2009 at 7:09PM

In response to GigiandAdonai's comment from Jan 7, 2009 at 9:18PM:

Gigi - no if anything we get really nervous not knowing the neighborhood! Now for the trip back!

LisaCarey wrote on Jan 8, 2009 at 10:21AM

I love Jovial's idea! Honestly I used VZ navigator in New Orleans last month. It was so easy! And I don't even need another "applicance" for it.

GigiandAdonai wrote on Jan 7, 2009 at 9:18PM

Did you see any interesting sights when you got on the wrong roads? Hey, I'm trying to be optimistic here ;+)

JovialCougar wrote on Jan 7, 2009 at 8:05PM

Leave it on the dash and someone will probably steal it. Then you can get a better one :)

LoveisJoy wrote on Jan 7, 2009 at 7:07PM

I'm sure Gertrude the Garmin Street Pilot appreciated your restraint. Can you imagine driving along and watching someone suddenly toss a GPS unit out the window?! :-)

PattyTherre wrote on Jan 7, 2009 at 6:31PM

I don't think we would want one of these. They sound confusing, especially for me. My husband may find one useful but I can't read map let alone one of these techy things. Good pros and cons!