Garmin Nuvi GPS 205W

I have had several different types/brands of GPS units. I have had an earlier model Garmin which I am very satisfied with. Our family is still using it. Recently I bought my wife the 200 model which for her purposes are just fine. I did have a Nextar GPS unit, but I had nothing but problems with it. The unit kept loosing power even though it was connected to a power source, and the system was terrible at recalculating a new route. It always wanted to send you back to it's original calculation. I bought the Garmin Nuvi 205W to replace the Nextar and am more than satisfied. The system calculates your route fast and recalculates as soon as you change your direction. As with all the units they give ample time to find your destination. I like the wide screen as it is easily seen and you can view more of area around your route. This unit also has a where am i selection that give your exact location and can give you nearby hospitals , police, gas service, etc. I have not needed all the features yet but when I do use them I will add to this review. I did find the price of this model good for what it had to offer. The turn by turn directions are fine for me as it tells you to make your next left or right. I will look on the screen to see the street that the next turn is on. If you want to hear the Name of the street, then you must spend some more and upgrade to the Nuvi 255W. the Nuvi 255W tells you to turn on the street name, (example; Make Your next left onto Main Street) If you shop around you will find a great differance in prices from store to store. There are several E-Bay sellers with good buy-it-now prices too. Good Luck, make sure you research what you are looking for, then you won't be disappointed.

Easy to Use and Inexpensive Unit

The Garmin nuvi 205W gets an excellent rating from me. I have been using the 205w (w = widescreen) for almost three weeks. I took it out of the box new, plugged it into the vehicle's power port and began using it without any problems. I eventually read the owner's manual and some other basic reading material. I plugged the 205w into my home computer and registered the unit. During the registration process, I was given a map update for the unit.

Pros: Very simple to use. No fancy extras that I need. She (the 205w) talks the basic language: "Turn right in 1.2 miles" / "Exit left" / "Recalculating" / "Turn left" and some other things. She doesn't try to say the street names (like more expensive Garmins) which is fine with me. The touch screen works very well and is easy to see. I have placed my unit on the dashboard 'down low' by the windshield. I have a Dodge Grand Caravan and there is plenty of room on top of the dashboard. It almost reminds me of a "Heads Up Display" used in the aviation industry. I also like the idea that I can plug an actual street address into the unit and get directions to that place.

Cons: I don't always like the way the 205w trys to send me. I have a normal route from my home to work and the 205w likes to send me into town (with all the redlights) instead of trying to get to the by-pass street. Even when the 205w recalculates the time - it's almost always the same. Maybe it's right - if I catch all the green lights! Overall, that a minor problem/issue that I can live with. Really - who uses a Garmin between home and work?

The GPS is not extremely accurate - and it's not designed to be. Sometimes, in multiple lanes with multiple exit lanes (4 or more lanes total) the 205w may get a little lost and try to put you on a road that you're not on. It's only for a second or two - but then it comes right back to the normal. The unit does provide plenty of warning when the turns or exits are coming up (that's a plus!) and therefore you shouldn't be driving by looking at the map.

I have also notice that sometimes, when you aren't directly on the mapped street but a parking lot - the unit may try to put you on a street. Eventually, things shake out and the unit does its job.

Would I buy another? Oh, heck yes! Granted, there are not a lot of features and do-dads like some of the more expensive units. But, if you need just an inexpensive basic GPS to get you to and from places - this is the one. Overall, I am very satisfied with the unit. I gave it an excellent rating because of the great job it does and the best money value for the unit.

Great Christams gift for the lost

The Garmin 205W is very easy to navigate even for the technologically challenged, and it's easy on the check book too. I bought it for my girlfriend who is very directionally challenged and not to crazy about electronic devices that are hard to figure out. When she started using her Garmin it was very easy from the first address we put in. As we played with it more she just got more excited about all the different features the 205W has in it. She doesn't go anywhere without it and she feels more confident when driving to destinations she is unfamiliar with..It's the perfect gift for those who always seem to get lost or confused when driving. I would recommend this product for anyone if it's your 1st GPS.

Easy to set up and use, even for a non-techie.

Not a tech person, nor someone who had even wanted a GPS, but a move to a new city and a job that involved daily travel to unfamiliar sites made it necessary to get one. Family and friends had told me to check for products by Garmin because they were happy with theirs; I've now been added to that group. I was able to set it up and use it without difficulty and have successfully gotten myself back & forth from a number of appointments. Yeah!

garmin 205w gps

love this gps. it i have tried many other brands and this one is the best for me.
the biggest reason i love it is, the ability to search cross roads for the whole state. you can just punch them in and it will bring up any matches. my last two tom tom's you had to know the city you were going to or you could not find cross roads. i am a oil field truck driver and this garmin 205 saves me lots of time. this will be my second one. same model.