from Minnesota

Overall, good for directions but makes occasional blunders. Like all other GPS units I have used, I recommend that when you are in unfamiliar territory, check a map first --- and take the paper map with you for backup.
Traffic feature is almost worthless around Minneapolis, but it has been very helpful in Florida --- even re-routing automatically around traffic problems. Unit was invaluable guiding me on intricate route on mountain roads from Dulles Airport to West Virginia after midnight. Worked very well in Hawaii, Washington state and Vancouver, B.C.
Sometimes takes 10 minutes to acquire satellites --- other times it takes 10 seconds. Definitely needs to be mounted on dashboard.
I updated the maps in the unit as soon as I bought it --- strongly recommended. But I still find the unit's "points of interest" surprisingly outdated. Sent me to a Target store that had closed 3 years ago.
I look to a GPS unit as more of an assistant to getting me to a destination in unfamiliar areas than an infallible director, so this unit works well for me overall. I also recommend it to my geographically clueless friends as one of the best deals for the price.

What's great about it: Usually reliable directions; very clear screen;

What's not so great: Sometimes very slow to acquire satellite connection; traffic feature uneven

I would recommend this to a friend!

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Customer Rating

So far, so good. Very nice GPS

on October 20, 2009

Posted by: George2319

from Houston, TX.

I bought this as a repalcement for Garmin 350, which I really liked. Some jackhole busted my window a helped themself to it. This is my third Garmin and I really like some newer features on this one. the traffic updates for starters works pretty well. i am in Houston, which is on the map of places this feature will work. I also like the speed limit posted on the screen and i really like the 'where i am" feature that will locate the nearest police station, hospital and gas stations at one touch. So far it picks up satelites really quick, which my 350 had trouble at times. I like the wide screen and points of interest, which is outdated at times. No big deal, no gps will be 100% current. A littel advice, do not leave your gps in your vehicle. the police told me it is an easy target, easy to grab, and can get loser drugheads around $10 to $15. They also told me not to leave your mount on the window to advertise you have one. They will bust your window thinking you hid it in the car. Conclusion: really good gps, get this one.

What's great about it: Nice features, easy to use.

What's not so great: Advertisement for Best Western keep poping up when stopped. Just annoying.

I would recommend this to a friend!

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Customer Rating

Returning Garmin 255wt - is it just me?

on October 24, 2009

Posted by: axnjport

from nj

My first GPS - are my expectations too high?

I have to return this unit, because it gives very strange directions. Have updated the SW under directions from Garmin support.

Examples: under "fastest" settings it routes me along a suburban road with lights and a draw-bridge!!! instead of the Garden State parkway (NJ). Nearly missed a flight when on the way to JFK from NJ it told my son to pull off the the freeway approaching Verazano bridge and routed him through suburbs for 40 minutes or so. Same again on southbound NJ Turnpike, with about 20 miles of clear freeway ahead told me get off the freeway. (I did not - totally suspicious of any directions from the unit by then.
Cannot tell freeways with with express and local lanes, got totally lost on rt78 west of Newark NJ until I pulled off at my exit, then it recovered.

Not acceptable to me. It's a shame because generally the unit gets such good reviews from everybody else. Are the bad reviews not published? Do people who give up - like me - not bother to write?

What's great about it: Nice unit

What's not so great: Strange directions

No, I would not recommend this to a friend.

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Customer Rating

Worth Every Penny I Paid For It

on October 30, 2009

Posted by: Bluememaw

from Indianapolis

We are directionally challenged. We recently went to the Navy Pier in Chicago. I programed in the address, sat back and enjoyed the trip. The "lady" led us directly to the entry to the pier. Later I typed in the address of the restaurant we were looking for. It took us right to the front door. No problems at all. This is not the first trip we've taken with her, but it is the first time for this particular spot. Other venues were repeat visits.

The only thing I find difficult is the keyboard. Why oh why can't it be normal? Takes me f-o-r-e-v-e-r to type in an address.

I am a grandmother. I bought the GPS for me for Father's Day (single parent). It is worth every penny I paid for it.

What's great about it: Easy for a technological illiterate to use.

What's not so great: I hate the keyboard. Rather have a QWERTY board.

I would recommend this to a friend!

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Customer Rating

disappointed

on November 6, 2009

Posted by: Rich45

from Brewster, NY

I thought it would be easier to use. I have been using Verizon Navigator when I needed it without any difficulty. I bought this Garmin for my wife to use, as it was recommended to her to be the one to get.
You have a lot to type in to enter the destination address. It defaults to the state you were in last when entering city, so I kept trying to enter Danbury, CT and it kept putting me in Danby, NY until I backtrack and found a screen to change the state to CT. then Danbury.
Also, the keys beep on typing, but if it enters two same characters, because you held it too long, you still only get one beep, not repetitive beeps, so you have to check each letter to make sure it entered properly.
We are planning a cross country road trip- so it will get a workout soon.
For now- I'll stick to my phone- I don't need a bigger screen.

What's great about it: it works

What's not so great: long setup to enter destination, enters letters without key beeps

No, I would not recommend this to a friend.

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Customer Rating

255WT GPS - Highly Recommed, A++ rating.

on November 7, 2009

Posted by: Larry1001

from Dallas, TX

I’ve used the nüvi 255WT for two months and have found it to be a great GPS. I frequently travel for both business and pleasure and wanted a slim design with a wide screen that would be easy to carry and read while traveling. I’ve used the 255WT in a number of cities (Chicago, Detroit, Nashville, Miami, St. Louis, Toronto, and locally in Dallas), and the unit has worked flawlessly. The traffic feature worked perfect in multiple cities warning me of traffic delays and provided me assurance that I could make my flights on time. The 255WT comes with lifetime traffic updates at no additional cost!
The wide 4.3” screen is large and easy to read even in the sunniest conditions. The unit finds and connects to the satellites very quickly and gives accurate directions 95% of the time (anyone who has owned an in-car or portable GPS know they do occasionally make mistakes, but will ultimately get you where you are going). The speaker is loud and clear and the turn by turn directions which speak the street names is a feature you don’t want to be without.
I paid $179.00 on sale and have absolutely no buyer’s remorse. I did not need a Bluetooth interface for hands free calling and saved quite a few dollars (265WT has Bluetooth which is the only difference from 255WT).
Remember, no GPS is perfect…I have two factory installed GPS units in my cars at home, and this unit works equally as well for one tenth the cost. I highly recommend it!

What's great about it: Feature Rich, Easy to Use, Accurate Directions, Traffic Reciever

What's not so great: No Complaints

I would recommend this to a friend!

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Customer Rating

Garmin 255WT was a literal lifesaver!

on November 12, 2009

Posted by: jermcfish

from Iowa City, IA

The first time I used my Garmin 255WT was last week when I made a 250-mile trip to St. Louis. Being something of a skeptic, I printed maps & instructions as a back-up. I arrived in the St. Louis area after dark, coming in on I-70. My Garmin directions indicated I had 4.7 miles to go to my exit, but suddenly there was onslaught of emergency vehicles, and 4 lanes of traffic slowed to a crawl. I was in far L lane when Garmin advised me that new traffic info came in, my route had been recalculated, and that I needed to exit on the R in 0.3 miles. Thanks to kind drivers, I was able to work my way to far R lane in time to exit (over the course of 15 minutes)--it was then I learned that a major accident had occurred up the road, and our 4 lanes of traffic were being funneled off the freeway at my new exit. Of interest was the map on my Garmin screen when I exited I-70, which showed a 'road-closed' sign over the stretch of freeway I was originally instructed to take. Garmin guided me safely through several miles of back streets, back on to the freeway beyond the closure, and even directed me into 'express lanes'! Garmin 255 WT not only saved me an incalculable amount of time that I would have needed to navigate a part of the city for which I wasn't familiar nor had any maps, but because the instructions were so incredibly clear and easy to read, I was able to concentrate exclusively on my driving. An added benefit to me was the calm & clear GPS voice, which had a very positive impact and lessened my anxiety level that I KNOW I would have had without my Garmin GPS! I absolutely believe that putting my navigation in the 'hands' of Garmin also saved me from possibly (probably?) causing or being involved in an accident due to my infamiliarity with the city, especially at night. My Garmin GPS paid for itself my first time using it!!!

What's great about it: Easy to use & understand, even during times of stress-filled driving!

What's not so great: nothing yet, but I'm a 'newbie'

I would recommend this to a friend!

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Customer Rating

GOOD UNIT

on November 17, 2009

Posted by: bella65

from Virginia Beach Va

The only problem I encountered was to make a turn at a road that was dead ended. It was never opened. I like the feature were if you miss a turn the unit re-calculates and has you directed back to your destination.

What's not so great: easy to set up and easy to directions

I would recommend this to a friend!

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