Is a GPS worth it?

[.♥. Cupcake .♥.]

I've heard the good and the bad with using GPS devices in cars.

I'm not bad when it comes to my sense of direction, but I'm also not that sharp at it either. Would a GPS be really all that neccessary? I've heard they can guide you a longer way to get places - which is something unwanted by me. I've heard if you get a GPS, go with the TomTom's... truth or fiction?

[CelticAngel82]

I have only found gps's useful if you're doing distance/travel driving (cairns to brisbane for example) and for around places you're not familiar with. great for holidaying.
Although I dont trust it when it wants to take me off the main highway because it "knows a shortcut"

[Ralph Wiggum]

My GPS (app installed on my iPhone) completely failed me this weekend. I wanted to go to a national park out of the city, and the GPS gave me completely wrong directions. I have no bloody idea where the company got its maps from, but when the GPS told me to take a left turn to enter the national park, there was literally nothing but bushland. No road, no way for me to enter. I ended up going on a visit to another town because the GPS had no idea.

It's best if you get a broad idea of the route using a more reliable source like a road map, then confirm the minor details with the GPS.

[Matty]

I've never really needed a GPS as most of the time I know where I am going.
And it the times I don't google maps is great.

[.♥. Cupcake .♥.]

I was afraid of this I think I'll stick to road maps and such when neccessary. I don't think I'll spend money on something I'll get frustrated at.

[tryonthis]

My GPS (app installed on my iPhone) completely failed me this weekend. I wanted to go to a national park out of the city, and the GPS gave me completely wrong directions. I have no bloody idea where the company got its maps from, but when the GPS told me to take a left turn to enter the national park, there was literally nothing but bushland. No road, no way for me to enter. I ended up going on a visit to another town because the GPS had no idea.

It's best if you get a broad idea of the route using a more reliable source like a road map, then confirm the minor details with the GPS.

Ha, sounds like you're using Metroview Australia.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Nope it was Sygic Mobile Maps.

In the end, unless you're the type of person who does a lot of driving to unfamiliar addresses (taxi driver, courier, pizza delivery dude) then they're not really that important. For the average schmo like me who drives 5 mins to the train station 4x days a week for work, its not worth it.

[TheScientist]

i rented a gps with a rental car when i moved to perth... made life easy to get some basic directions established in my head. now (10 months later) i just use googlemaps to check where i'm going before i go, then make up routes to get me back

sometimes it's a bit... interesting... but for the most part I do pretty well and don't think a GPS is necessary at all. We used to get by fine before they existed...

[That_Stevens_Guy]

I like them, we have had 2 now, the TomTom is great though cause of the free map updates. Sometimes we just use it as an arrival time estimator, we know the way but have it running for that reason.

[RogerTheIncredible]

Had a rental Merc in Germany last year. Thankfully I'm a genius and set it to English by randomly navigating menus. Worked great until we came across some new road works in between the festival we were at and Hamburg; It tried to get us to drive across a canal lol.

[Princess_Jade]

If you're not sure if you should get one or not, Dick Smith has a 14 day change of mind return policy. Try it out and if you don't like it return it for a full refund

Go for the Via series (the 160 has a 4.3in screen and the 180 has a 5in screen) it's the best value for the features imo. It's got voice command, blue tooth and an accelerometer (which is relevant when it comes to mounting).

Also Tom Tom has their 'new map guarantee' (first map is free, but you have to get onto that within 30days.

[Jeatalong]

Heh plan your trips to be less than 14 days and you can 'hire a GPS'.

[Disco LT]

I'd say yes, having just used mine on a weekend trip through Newcastle and Sydney I'd have been completely lost without it, and street directories are a headache (and they cause arguments because SOMEONE can't read one properly but wont drive).

They aren't perfect, but if you keep your maps updated it's worth it. I only travel to Sydney a few times a year, but it's got to be worth its weight in gold and time saving. And they aren't that expensive anymore either.

[Jeatalong]

The GPS on my HTC Desire with gingerbread is pretty awesome, route planning and pins (bookmarks) in via google maps on you PC, and then you have the important places pre-searched and ready to good. Also does turn by turn navigation.

[Disco LT]

The GPS on my HTC Desire with gingerbread is pretty awesome, route planning and pins (bookmarks) in via google maps on you PC, and then you have the important places pre-searched and ready to good. Also does turn by turn navigation.

I used the Maps app on my iPhone this weekend to find the McDonalds closest to the Katy Perry venue..great when you're a passanger directing a driver.