Garmin StreetPilot® c330 Car GPS Receiver

I bought this gadget after getting lost one too many times...
Now I can set my mind at ease while I let the navigation system plan my route instead.

There are some great features that this particular model offers that other's don't. I was looking at comprable Garmin devices as well as the TomTom. The reason I went with Garmin is for its reliability of Maps and their establishment in the US. The TomTom is a European based company, and from what I hear, their US maps still have some kinks. Garmin apparently uses the most trusted sources of maps. Based on the routes that I've taken, the routes are comprable to the results that I've gotten from MapQuest.

Pros:
**Intuitive- I was able to use it out of the box
**Maps- Uses MapSource, a reliable provider of Maps
**Areas of interest- You are able to find restaurants, shops, gas stations, etc. based on name or distance. Great feature!!
**Small- easily transportable from vehicle to vehicle
**Map Views- You can select from 3 different views- I prefer the 3D view
**Battery Power as well as Car charger
**Clear Directions

Cons:
**Unit doesn't take Traffic into consideration- This unit does NOT have the option to add XM NavTraffic
**Quickest route does not take into account traffic lights
**One voice to choose from

Overall I think the unit is a great buy, and I'm hoping it will save me time driving in circles as I just moved to a new area. The TomTom apparently is a little more "fun", but lacks reliability. I think that you are making a solid purchace by picking up this Garmin unit.

The c330 is one of the simplest Auto Navigation systems I have ever used...literally turn it on & go! Full City Select North America map software is BUILT-IN! No need to download maps, connect to a PC or switch memory cards!

The touch screen menus are very easy to follow - you can look up over 6 MILLION points of interest along with cities, addresses, etc.

The c330 receives our highest recommendation!

Todd @ eBay ID: bridgestreetinc

Very good GPS unit. The touch screen menu is very easy to use, no need to read the manual and you already know how to use it. It connects to the satellite very quickly. Once you go off route, it will automatically recalculate for you. Unlike some GPS units that comes with the car, where you have to drive to the starting point, this unit will calculate right on the spot. One cool feature is that it has a built in rechargeable battery, so you can use it approx 8 hours without connecting to the power supply. You can also detach it from the cradle and carry with you. Input all your favorite locations without having to sit in the car to do it. You can use this on a motorcycle or in the car. Also, there are no external antenna required. The unit itself is very small and can be mount just about anywhere.

I did quite a bit of research before deciding on the Garmin C330 and I have not at all regret buying it! Here are my likes and dislikes:

Likes:
1) Compact with built-in battery that seems to last a long time.
2) All the maps are internally loaded so no need to upload any maps, yet there is a SD slot in case I want to load other maps. From what I understand the internal drive is not hard drive base but a flash drive so less prone to failure with daily use.
3) Turn by turn voice prompting, this is the reason I bought it. I tested it many times and the unit works like a charm. One still need to pay attention to turns since they can come up pretty quickly.
4) The additional features of finding restaurants, gas station, attractions... at a touch of a button. And did I mention the touch screen? Very responsive and easy to use.

Dislikes
1) The reflective screen do bother me some. Though one should not need to constantly look at it while driving!
2) Yes, I debated rather or not to get the higher end model with text to speech function so instead saying "turn left in 0.2 mile" to "turn at so and so street in 0.2 mile". It would be great to have but not at another 100 bucks or more.

So all in all I love the unit. Not getting lost and making the wrong turns are the reason I purchased the GPS unit. It is portable so I can take it from car to car and the suction mount that came with it works well and sticks to the windshield and removes fairly easily. I don't need all the bells and whistles on the newer models like MP3 player, voice recording... functions. To sum it up, I would definitely buy it again!