Garmin StreetPilot ColorMap Car GPS Receiver

This is the 4th GPS unit I have owned and by far the best. The Streetpilot III by Garmin is very easy to operate and runs seamlessly to make any road trip more enjoyable. Garmin discontinued this item a couple years ago, but still backs it and provides software updates which makes it very affordable. Programming is easy, just load the maps and go. No reason to load routes or locations on your desktop anymore; it can all be done in the car, which gets you on your way sooner. There are several options which do need to be considered BEFORE your purchase of this unit. I would not opt for less than a 128MB data card. I live in Colorado and my 128MB card will hold my state and the surrounding states, but that's it. I'm sure the terrain has something to do with the limitation, but I wouldn't want anything less than that. Software is your next concern...Version 4 is just too outdated. You don't have to spend the money for the latest version, eight at this time, but I would settle for less that version 6 of the City Navigator software. Every unit should come with an AC adapter for your cigarette lighter in the car. This unit SHOULD also have voice included in the adapter. Some are being sold without the voice, but I wouldn't ant to keep having to look at the unit on a busy street when the voice will clearly tell me when to turn and keep my eyes on the road! Every model also needs to come with at least one cable for uploading data to your unit from the computer. A Serial cable with pins to plug into the back of the computer is most common. This is the only way to load waypoints or saved locations into the unit. There is, however, a better way to load the maps into the unit. A USB cable is the best way to go. What would take the serial cable between 45 minutes and an hour can be done in a matter of minutes with the USB connection. I highly recommend this cable and most quality units will include them. Mounting of the unit is a must. I prefer the bean bag mount offered by Garmin. A bracket goes around the back of the unit, then screws in for a more secure fit. The bottom then snaps into the bean bag base and you are ready to go. This is a secure, non-slip way to make your Streetpilot III portable and secure for your trip. The Garmin Streetpilot III has a large display, much bigger than the new, smaller, models, which allows bothe passengers in the front to view the display. It makes it nice when the passenger can program the unit while the driver can still see the display. The Garmin Streetpilot III is the only way I would go for a portable auto GPS unit.