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Was familiar with lower-range Garmin models that AVIS rents with their cars.Setup and base configuration were easy.Main "quirks" found so far:- sometimes has phantom exit/entry while on highway - inexpicably asks you to exit then re-enter. Bought this as a backup/replacement unit for an older Magellan Roadmate unit. Have used it extensively in US, Canada, and a long driving trip through most of Spain.General features are OK. one learns to avoid these after awhile- hard to specify routing options (quickest time, shortest distance, avoid highway, etc). these are buried deep in the menusPRO: good value (got it on sale), easy-to-use, compact sizeCONS: phantom errors, route customization not simple
Easy to use from first moment. On a recent trip to Croatia, it did not know a freeway built a year or 2 ago, but helped us in some tight spots on other occasions. It recalculates quickly when we change our route or make an error. When we were on a tiny unknown road in Canada it did not recognize, it still showed surrounding roads which helped us find our way. I did not bother mounting it. It worked fine on the passenger's lap.
I used to be able to get elevation, the ability to pan out and see the entire route on one screen and many other features. I wouldn't hesitate, based on my own experience, to buy and use a Garmin device for travel in Europe.My only criticisms of Garmin are that I think it is ridiculous that they don't offer free updates to BOTH the North American and European maps on the x70 units that come with dual maps.
It worked perfectly taking us from the country-sides of Belgium and Holland to our hotels in the narrow, one-way, unpronounceable streets of Brussels and Amsterdam. I can't imagine trying to do this with a map.
I just returned from a two week trip to Europe where I used the Nuvi 670 to drive through Belgium, Holland and Poland. I am never certain whether the Garmin units they bought were defective or whether the users are defective.
Certainly, my wife and I wouldn't be on speaking terms if we had. Based on a lot of the reviews here, I am not sure that I would have bought one.
I also think Garmin GPS units have been overly "dumbed-down" since I bought my first Garmin several years ago. Maybe you still can, but since they don't provide a detailed manual, who would know.
The customer service reps I spoke to during the repair interval were unhelpful with status. My nuvi 670 died shortly after the warranty expired. It cost $250 to repair, and the repair process took 5 weeks. The repaired nuvi just showed up with no notice at the end of week 5. The 'repair' turned out to be a 'replacement with a refurbished unit' so it's not clear what was so time-consuming about that process.
It's great for navigating throughout the system iteself and all it's options, but sucks navigating the roads, where it counts. Does it do this for the states as well.Garmin folks told me to plug in detour to the highways.
While here, I have traveled much though the country and mainland Europe only to do so taking back roads. I am stationioned in England and bought the 670 just for the US/Euro map combo.
NEVER staying on the highways. The speed camera thing for me worked, but it won't take me on the highways.
I keep getting told "at round a bout, take 2nd exit." or the like. Well, it'll only let me use one, then it wants to replace the previous.This thing does suck.
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