Review on 📵 Garmin nüvi 255: Discontinued 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator - Find out more! by Erik Haynes

After careful research and comparison, I decided to purchase the Garmin nuvi 255, which has the latest interface and processor, supports text-to-speech, and costs less than $200. I wasn't interested in Blue Tooth (I already have a hands-free kit) or the FM transmitter (I don't think this technology is perfect yet) or the MP3 player. I was actually planning on getting a Garmin 350 until I read that the 255 is a new model that will replace the discontinued 350. This is the first GPS I have and I've had it for about 2 weeks so I wanted to share some first impressions. Very good device with bright screen and compact size. I was concerned that the 3.5 inch screen would be too small, but it does the job. A 4.3-inch screen would definitely be more attractive, but it was a nice touch, not a necessity for me. I've read some complaints about the voice on this device and that bothered me too. However, this is completely normal for a standard GPS device. I'm not looking for a perfect sounding voice, but something that's understood and clear and works. The pronunciation of some streets is not always correct, but it doesn't really bother me since the street names are displayed on the screen. The volume is excellent. When the volume is 50%, I can still hear the audio clearly even with background music playing. However, this is the case with the windows rolled up, so most of the road/vehicle noise is blocked out. The satellite reception is excellent and I don't have to sit in my driveway for 15 minutes waiting for a connection. The longest waiting time so far was about 2 minutes. The interface is very intuitive, so you don't need to read a detailed manual to start using it right away. As for the downsides of this device, the first is the path it takes for you. Garmin takes the most direct route to my destination, but it's not always the quickest route given traffic lights etc. So sometimes I ignore Garmin's directions and take the road/road that I know is faster. Garmin then immediately recalculates the directions, which is a nice feature. As you can imagine, if I'm completely new to the road it's no problem - in this case I let Garmin guide me and at the end of the day it got me there. The second negative point is the on/off switch. It is very sensitive and even the slightest pressure can turn the device on or off, which is a problem if you store the device and accidentally turn it on (battery dead). To counteract this, there is a lockout setting. I'm sure there are many more features I still need to get to grips with, but at least in the early stages I feel that considering the price and the latest model, this product is definitely worth it. If you're looking for a GPS for less than $200, it should be on your list. I bought a Gilsson 3.5" leather carrying case which fits this device perfectly (the original box does not come with the case) and I also have a Garmin friction mount which is really great.