Finding the Right GPS for Your Next Road Trip!

Finding the right GPS is a surefire way to eradicate one of the major stressors of any road trip.  By finding the right GPS, you can avoid the whole “Honey, we’re not lost…  It’s a short cut!”.  There are many different products available nowadays to help give direction to the lost souls wandering the back roads of the middle nowhere.  Even though nearly every smart phone has some sort of GPS system in it, you will always have to deal with the vampiric tendencies of GPS apps draining your phone battery.  So let’s move along to the practicality of getting a GPS device for your car!  Like anything else, there is a wide variety of GPS gadgets on the market ranging from those with basic features to more advanced models to take you to infinity and beyond!  Let’s take a glimpse at the menu:

If you are looking for a dashboard companion that will get you from point A to point B without all of the extras,  you can look to spend around $100.  One of the products in this class currently getting great reviews is the Garmin Nüvi 40.  Users report that the simplicity of the device makes for great user compatibility.  However, a few of the drawbacks include no preloaded map for Canada as well as “butchered” pronunciations of Hawaiian street names.  However, when all is said and done, finding the right GPS for basic functionality lies within the Garmin Nüvi 40.

Finding the right GPS for those looking for the next level of features involves a bump in price by about $100.  The Garmin Nüvi 2455LMT pretty much guarantees all of the goodness of the Nüvi 40 but with a fresh look.  For the increase in price, this unit performs basically the same functions as the Nüvi 40, but is more aesthetically appealing.  This GPS also includes maps of Canada and Mexico.  So if you’re craving a Vancouver Canucks hockey game or some Mexican cuisine straight from the source, you can count on the Nüvi 2455LMT to keep you on the right track.  The screen is dually oriented which makes this device convenient when traveling on foot or by bike.

To kick things up a notch, a GPS with more advanced features makes finding the right GPS just a tad more expensive.  Actually, substantially more expensive…  If you’re willing to shed out the $360, the Garmin Nüvi 3490LMT is not only about as capable as they come, but its sheer design makes it incredibly portable.  Being slimmer than the iPhone, you can take this device with you when you decide to move on foot or on bike without being inconvenienced by the inherent bulkiness of other GPS devices.  Perhaps the biggest perk of this unit is its unrivaled voice interaction.  Sure many other devices have voice control, but the Garmin Nüvi 3490LMT is by far the most functional and easy to use.  Not only does this feature make it safe to use on the go, you can also vocally spell out the trickier street names letter by letter to ensure accuracy when putting in a new destination.  Unlike some of the more primitive GPS designs that merely suction cup to your windshield, this device has a mount that will keep this gadget in place.  Even though there is still a suction cup to it, this secure dashboard mount also serves as a charging station and not to mention, has speakers!  The bluetooth capability of the Garmin Nüvi 3490LMT also allows you to talk on your phone through the navigation system.  One other perk that I’ll mention is that this toy showcases an “eco-route” tool which monitors the efficiency of your car at any given moment.

All in all, finding the right GPS for your needs will save you some bucks by filtering out what you need verses what you don’t.  These three products that I listed are merely a few options from the plethora (I have been waiting all day to use that word) of GPS products on the market.  These are tons of options out there for you!  It is definitely worth taking some time to do some research to make finding the right GPS for you more cost effective and downright smart!  As with all mobile devices in automobiles, take some time to familiarize yourself with these gadgets before you hit the streets!  Telling a robot where you need to go does you no good if you drive off a cliff in the process.  Be smart and be safe!

- See more at: http://www.militarycarlot.com/blog/message-to-customers-2/finding-the-ri...