Question for Nuvi 350 Users

[1boomer]

When you enter information into the "Calculate Routes" for Car, Truck or Bus etc. is there a setting for RV? If no Rv choice is there, what do you enter for your vehicle?

If you enter Car, would it possibly direct you to somewhere that a travel trailer couldn't or shouldn't go?

Have found a 350 for $388.95 and am considering ordering it as it sounds like the right choice of a GPS.

[Mark]

I think its more of a "preference" thing. I think the "car" setting might give you steeper grades and/or two lanes, where a "bus" setting might keep you on he highway more.

It won't get you into a jam. I know many people who prefer two lane road when towing---instead of highways----as 55 and less MPH is a "safer/calmer" way to tow anyhow.

Trying to do 55 MPH on a highway these days could induce road rage

[kanyonkitty]

Hi,
Sorry I'm slow posting a reply. I was in TN for a week with Sunny at the East Coast GTG for Open Roads Singles.

I have a Nuvi 350, though I haven't used it much (YET), I have it set for "BUS", knew I didn't want car, and wasn't sure about truck as I figured it might keep me on tractor-trailer routes.

Headwed west July 10th, so will know more then, BUT, that don't help you now.

Sounds like your able to get a great price on it.

Kitty

[Charlsve]

I am thinking of getting the 350, as my wife wants one in the worst way and it was highly rated in a recent non-biased 'review' magazine. I had no idea of all those choices (car,bus, etc). Sounds pretty neat. Thanks for the food for thought!

Charlie

[1boomer]

Well, after fooling around with this little wizard I've found a flaw that could cause some trouble when we're traveling with the Sunnie.

On my most recent trip to our local Wal Mart, I set the destination. The NUVI sent me off in the correct direction but when I approached the busy intersection where I turn left to the WM, it told me to turn right

Traveling solo, with nothing being towed, this would be no big deal but I can envision the agony of trying to find a turnaround in a busy area such as this.

Now I'm a little leary of the accuracy of my "little helper."

[Charlsve]

1boomer, I just today ordered the unit you have (Garmin Nuvi350). The news you gave is a bit dissappointing, but guess I'll hope that whatever errors exist are few. Mapquest is notorious for the occasional surprise error. I wonder how flawless whatever map databases are that get used for GPS work? Thanks for the report!

Charlie

[donreitz]

If you expect the unit to be absolutely correct every time, you'll end up disappointed. The results are only as good as the data used in calculating travel routes, and as a director of planning for a local government, I can tell you with absolute authority that maintaining accurate, up-to-date records of streets and addresses is not always easy. I've run into situations with my nuvi 350 where it doesn't recognize one-way streets. But given its ability to recalculate your route on the fly, it isn't too much of a problem.

Another thing I've noticed is that the nuvi will sometimes pick different routes coming and going. That is, it'll pick one route going from A to B, and then pick a different route going from B to A. I've seen this happen with Mapquest too, so I assume it's a peculiarity of the route-making algorithim.

As far as the bus/car/truck preference goes, in my travels around Indiana and Michigan I've tried different settings and not found any difference in route selection.
Don

[Tweety]

Try getting directions from Lexington, VA to Montebello, VA. There is NO WAY anyone should travel up rt. 56 from I81 through Vesuvuis. However, in a car it's just a white knuckle. I'd be interested to see if there's a difference in directions when you plug in car vs. bus.