When I last traveled to California to visit family, we trekked in a rented large SUV or minivan type of vehicle from Orange County to Lake Tahoe. To help us along the way, my mother purchased a TomTom, a portable GPS navigation device.
Years ago, TripTiks from AAA would have been sufficient for my family. We used them religiously in planning long trips. With Google Maps and a combination of free online services, the TripTik became obsolete. Navigation devices won’t replace planning ahead of time, but they still provide a convenience that has been unavailable.
Money Magazine has something to say about navigation devices in their recent shopping feature. They say the factory-installed devices are too expensive and a better deal can be had with aftermarket devices.
Check out Garmin’s StreetPilot c550. It’s reliable and easy to use, and it has a built-in traffic receiver that can route you out of trouble. With its wireless speakerphone and MP3 player, it’s a good buy at $800.
A less expensive model without a traffic router (which is helpful when you’re stuck in congestion and looking for alternate routes) can be had for $600. That’s a savings of more than $1,400 off the typical dealer price.
What I like about the TomTom mentioned above is that you can purchase voices to personalize your driving experience. My favorite is, without a doubt, John Cleese. The New York cabbie doesn’t sound like any taxi driver I’ve ever encountered in the city.
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