Don’t get lost
We shop and compare three GPS units to help drivers reach their destination,
Remember what an ordeal you had last time you tried to find your cousin’s new address when driving in Toronto? Maybe a GPS is what your vehicle’s dash is missing. While smartphone GPS and map apps are making real inroads in this marketplace, their smaller screen sizes can be problematic for on-dashboard use.
Prices for these mapping devices have fallen almost as much as the number of features on them has risen, so there’s really no excuse for getting lost anymore, unless you’re the adventurous type who likes the odd off-the-beaten-track detour from time to time. For the rest, consider this:
I tried out samples from the big three in GPS: Garmin, Magellan and TomTom and, while their features and prices might not be exactly equal, their operating characteristics and usability are what’s on trial here. Remember that blocking the driver’s view through a windshield with anything, including a GPS unit, can earn you a substantial fine if you’re pulled over for an infraction and a police officer feels your lack of forward vision had anything to do with the reason for the stop.
And don’t forget that operating an electronic device by hand (including a dash-mounted GPS unit) while driving can also hurt the wallet and your driver’s licence if caught.
For safety and glare reasons, it’s best to keep these units below the top line of the dash. All come with mounting brackets to make this possible. Besides the suction cup ring on your windshield is just an invitation to thieves.