Magellan RoadMate 700 Car GPS Receiver

What's GOOD:

Relatively large touch screen, excellent street and destination database, very smart routing algorithms, nicely designed maneuver prompts. It really did change my life (while it was working). It was the most useful gadget I've encountered since the cellphone.

What's BAD:

First of all, the air-vent mount is a complete disaster, and Thales Navigation (the manufacturer) never should have released the unit until a better system had been invented. It's unstable, and and frequently slides around and falls out during turns. In one vehicle I had to make a rather unsightly harness with wires to mount it in. Then I bought a new car, and the air vent mount has already scraped and scratched up the dashboard. Only by reading Cnet reviews did I learn that Thales now offers a free windshield suction mount, which is supposedly better. Why didn't they tell me that or send me one? Thales has proven a very difficult company to deal with in various respects, and I'd recommend buying a GPS receiver from a company with better technical support if possible. Another problem: when you start it up, the RM 700 usually takes a long time to find satellites and figure out where it is: up to 30 minutes or more if you're in a city. Thales told me the solution to this is to buy their rooftop external antenna, which improves reception. I'm not an engineer, but I don't understand why that's the fix for this problem, when the unit never loses reception once it has found its satellites. I'm skeptical of a solution that requires buying extra accessories -- if accessories are required for satisfactory performance in routine use, then why aren't they included? After a few months of only intermittent use (for occasional long trips only), my RM 700 stopped working. I think it's probably the hard drive that failed, although I can't really say for sure because Tech Support isn't available after hours or on weekends. Before buying this thing, I worried that a hard drive wasn't the best data storage method for automotive use, and now I think I was right.

I've owned a auto GPS unit before that was a total dud. This unit, however, suits my needs perfectly.

What I Like
* Built-in GPS antenna (no external and unsightly wires)
* Nice screen
* Easy to remove from mount (can be stored away with little effort)
* Good database of restaurants, ATMs, malls, etc.
* Works right out of the box with no set up
* Intelligent text entry - intelligent interface for entering cities, restaurant names, street names, etc.
* Price - low priced for the quality and features
* Includes solid windshield mount
* The automatic routing has never steered me wrong

What Can Be Improved
* Can't figure out how to update the maps. There is this one street near me that I use all the time but doesn't exist in the database. It may just be that I don't know how to update them.
* The device should allow me to set a home town, and default to that. I hate having to type in my home city each time I want to look up an address.
* The map does not indicate one-way streets visually, although the navigation seems smart enough not to tell you to drive the wrong way down one

This item operates very well. Maps are very accurate and the voice directions are great assistance. I actually bought this unit for my wife who can actually get lost when over 10 miles from home; I entered our home address and,now, no matter where she is, the unit will direct her to our house. Reception is very good as I have never had any problem as yet. I would recommend this unit very highly.

I absolutely love the Magellan RoadMate 700 GPS Receiver and I never leave home without it! Even when I travel to familiar areas, I have it set on map mode. I was very familiar with it even before purchasing it. I travelled all over the country and always rented from Hertz because of the "Never Lost" equipped cars which used the Magellan RoadMate. If I had to find just one thing that I would change, would be the suction cup arm. It does hold the unit well, however, I drive a Jeep Wrangler that has a very flat windshield. The arm is so long, that I have to really bend the arm to be able to get closer to the windshield to pick up the satelite signal. However, I understand that for most application, this is not a probelm. Overall, it is excellent and would recommend to anyone.

It fails to lock on to the sattalite for 1/2 hour to an hour on start up.
It does not comfortable anyplace in the car. The suction antenna is dismal.
It heats up and has lost data.
Once up & running (after locking into the channel.) it works fine.

Purchased this unit refurbished at trading_circuit on ebay. It did not work because of faulty cradle, company (Division of Circuit City) would not make good on cradle. they said unit is refurb as is even though listed as 100% working. I had to fork out 35.00 for new cradle now unit works fine. If your unit powers off or resets when driving cradle probably needs to be replaced. When I got new cradle unit worked flawlessly. Only issue I have after reading hundreds of reviews, I am waiting for unit to stop working, it has not yet and I own it 4 months. The only issue I had with the 700 is the lack of Say Where (announces Street Names) after contacting Magellan Customer Service they suggested an upgrade for 105.00 to make my unit a 760. I ordered upgrade and of course my laptop would not find their driver and I was unable to upgrade. I called Customer Service the reps are in India and everything is scripted. There advice to me was to try another computer after configuring my files it still did not work. I did it on a desktop and the upgrade worked fine. It takes about 2 1/2 hours to upgrade. What a ridiculous suggestion, what if I did not have more than 1 computer in my house? Once upgraded I had no problems, it was like having a new unit. The POI increased from 2 million to 7 million. The restaraunt is sorted by cuisine (Italian, Chinese, etc.) which is a nice feature. I used it to take my daughter ona ski trip in the Poconcos and it got me there accurately. The Say Where technology is a great addition as you never have to look at unit. It also has a traffic detour option it detects if you are sitting in traffic (going under 15mph for 5 minutes) and automatically detours you (you select amount of miles for detour). Also has automatic volume, when car goes over 45 mph unit volume is increased. Also has automatic contrast, when it gets dark out display automatically adjusts to lighting conditions. Upgrade is well worth it. If you are buying a new Magellan spend the extra few bucks for the 760 it puts GPS to a higher more technological level. Or if you have the 700 I highly recommend the upgrade. It can be purchased on the Magellan Website, do not buy upgrade used as you need an unlock code which comes with it on packing slip (which I had to fish out of trash when upgrading). All in all I can't imagine not having a GPS anymore, these things spoil you. I know many users have had issues with poor Customer Service and shoddy units, I have not, lucky I guess. The reviews on both the 700 and 760 are stellar, I spend hours checking reviews on many models and the Magellan seemed to come out on top. CNET loves these units. All in all I WOULD DEFINETLY RECOMMEND THIS UNIT. Prices have plummeted in the past few years, these units originally sold for 1300.00 dollars but you can now get the 760 for under 400 on ebay. A steal in my opinion. The maps are a bit outdated even with upgrade. My neighborhood is 5 years old and all the streets are on their. Folks don't let this get by you.

The ups: touch screen, relatively easy access to addresses, complete database in unit

The downs: sometimes doesn't give info for next turn quickly

Overall an excellent unit. Much better than my garmin. I would never ever buy a unit without all the data self contained. That is a nightmare.

I bought it for a trip across the country, it worked great. The only thing I disliked about it was the fact that it shows that my mapping data is over a year old and needs updated. I did not think, even buying it refurbished, that it would have old mapping data installed. The use of it is great, extremely easy to use.

I love Magellan RoadMate™ 700 GPS Receiver !!!
Amazing !! I will tell my friend to buy Magellan RoadMate™ 700 GPS Receiver.
Very goooooodddd !!

I used to rely on written directions to get to where i'm going if i didn't know the way. Now with the Roadmate 700, i just enter the adress or location i want to get and get visual and voice directions and it takes me where i want to be. I haven't had ANY missed turns or driven by my destination since i've had the roadmate. I really love it.

I REALLY LIKE THIS MAGELLAN ROADMATE 700 GPS RECEIVER. WE JUST USED IT ON A 2800 MILE VACATION AND IT REALLY SAVE US A LOT OF TIME. I MADE A COUPLE OF WRONG TURNS MY FAULT AND IT GOT US RIGHT BACK ON TRACK REALLY FAST. THIS WAS ONE OF THE BEST THING I HAVE BOUGHT IN ALONG WHILE. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THIS GPS RECEIVER BECAUSE IT IS REALLY USER FRIENDLY.

Works excellent...easy to install and use.Occasionally loses satellite signal but that problem is not in the gps itself,but with the satellite position.

I'm a sales trainer and consultant for the automotive industry and I fly all over the country. I purchased the Megellan GPS so that I could take it with me to navigate around the cites that I travel to. It's very portable and easy to hook up in the rental cars. It's very easy to use and I really like the voice commands. The only drawback is that I don't want to drive anywhere without it now.

Megellan 700 is a great second to our other GPS TomTom 700. Magellan 700 does take a little longer to get set up and does require more selections then our TomTom 700 to ask it for a map,but for the money I'd say buy it! great back up and GPS for the teenagers in your life that some times don't take care of items with the best of care. Later buy them a TomTom.

Bought it for my wife after moving to a new state so I would not have to worry about her getting lost. timely delivery, Unit works fine.

Hi,
I love this item. It is working very good. You will not mistake the road and street. I love it...
Thank you

After I recieved the unit it worked for less than a week send back was repaired now seems to work ok

It is easy to use, fairly accurate, uncomplicated. Even though there are new models now coming out this one still maintains great standards and is very usefull,

The GPS works great for the most part. A few glitches now and then which can be easily overcome. The GPS was advertised by the seller as having the latest software installed. Upon further checking the Magellan website I found a later edition that has been out for sometime. The unit works well for what I need it for at the present time. I the near future I will purchase the software upgrade. An excellent buy if you have need for a GPS for your vehicle.

The visuals and ease of use are excellent. I did not have to read the manual to understand the general use. The maps and prompts are clear. It has been pretty much on target, except for a couple of times. Some of the addresses are wrong. It got me to the right street, but wrong number. On one trip, this made it a little difficult, since it was a one way street and it was two blocks off. I don't know if it the "shortest route" is always the shortest. I am overall very satisfied. I can't wait to use it more and more.

I like to know new places, and as I don't know these neighboring cities I always lost, I thought about buying GPS and I am satisfied

I was very surprised that the GPS did not have the newest mapes as originally advertised. It only had Version 4.34 and I had to order Version 5.15 from Magellan at an additional cost of $106. I will no longer trust the sellar and what he claims are facts.

The Magellan RoadMate™ 700 GPS Receiver was an excellent buy. Prior to purchasing the GPS receiver, I took time to research the product and compare against others. After comparing, I found that the Magellan RoadMate™ 700 GPS Receiver was by far the best in comparison to those available in its class. The GPS is user friendly; it allows the user to set the GPS screen collar and format to their individual liking. I have already recommended this product to others.