Motor Vehicles have been a handy method of transportation for years, even though there will be instances when time and gas are frittered away or places of interest are missed entirely because of outdated maps or poor directions. To solve these issues and help you to benefit from a relaxing driving experience, automotive GPS appliances are now able to help and are very affordable for average commuters. It is highly recommended to have a GPS device on long trips to be certain that the most direct route is identified. The usefulness of particular GPS devices varies with different brands. To attract customers and attention, extra programs are included in certain models to add value and raise the fun factor. Following are a few of the entry level ones that are worth your consideration. A nice option is the Garmin Nuvi 1350 Portable GPS Navigator.

Garmin Nuvi 265W

The drawback to most of the more affordable Car GPS products is that their list of functions is so underdeveloped that you’ll question whether the product is actually completed. The Garmin Nuvi is a stripped down device, yet it nonetheless offers all the essentials and level of performance one would experience with its better developed cousins – the 705 and 805 series. Text-to-speech is integrated so you will not need to read the screen while driving and the Garmin should prove remarkably uncomplicated to install once you bring it home. The price tag may not fit everyone’s budget, but with its sensible applications and minimal issues, the Garmin Nuvi is a great value at any price.

TomTom ONE Classic and Routes edition

TomTom ONE devices seem to have retail costs that are far below their actual value, but its capabilities and options tell exactly why Tom Toms ONEs are dirt cheap. The Tom Tom’s navigation performance is ineffective and a few of the popular features like Bluetooth and text-to-speech were never found in most of the models. Even though the older models weren’t particularly well-received by value seeking consumers, new ONE models were introduced, including one or two with widescreens and others with convenient features including advanced lane guidance, which is exclusive to the Routes edition. The classic edition lacks this function, but the price could be low enough to help you get over that. A good item to consider is Garmin Nuvi 1350 Portable GPS Navigator.

Magellan Roadmate 1212

The Magellan Maestro products are the better selling Magellan products because they hit the market first, although the Roadmate 1212 is going to soon eclipse the Maestro because of its sleek profile in spite of its affordable price. The decent performance in tandem with the easy user interface obviously makes this a practical investment so long as you can put up with the slow menu button function. The text-to-speech function is also available, even though employing it too much may soon drain the battery and you will likely spend your time charging the battery every 3 hours.

Bottom Line

When it comes to lower priced Car GPS units, you might always be forced to choose between price and feature list. Garmin Nuvi easily stands out with its few annoyances, but the other brands discussed here are cheaper. The most sensible choice to make is to save up for a Garmin Nuvi unless you intend to allow your GPS device take control of your driving. You might also want to look at the Garmin Nuvi 1350 Portable GPS Navigator.