GPS Systems and Reviews

3 Reasons that Car GPS Navigation Systems save Gas

There should be no doubt in anyone’s minds that fuel prices have become simply unbearable. And as a result of soaring oil prices, so much more has been affected, including the cost of food and other forms of energy. With this type of unplanned cost thrown into the financial equation, many consumers are trying to figure out ways to cut their costs everyway they can. And some have found their solution after realizing that car GPS navigation systems save gas. If you’re familiar with GPS systems, then it may be possible to comprehend how they can help you save on fuel costs, but if you’re not familiar then this topic may fly right over your head. So let’s take a brief look at these units to understand how they can benefit you on a daily basis.

Understanding Global Positioning Units

Global positioning units are well loved because they offer the opportunity to get directions to and from any location in the country by simply punching in the addresses that you’re leaving and heading for. Now you may be used to having this luxury with one of the many online mapping services available. But when was the last time that you could haul your computer with you to update those directions if you changed your mind on your destination? And when was the last time that this online service was able to guide you turn by turn to your location. That’s how these handy little units up the ante on their perks in relation to the online system.

Now you have an idea of what they can do for you, but have you learned yet how car GPS navigation systems save gas? If not then continue reading. There’s more for you to learn.

Find the Shortest Route Every Time

One of the benefits of one of these gadgets is that they are set up to find you the shortest route to any location you want to travel. Of course, if you’re familiar with your own city, then you know that there are dozens of different ways to get where you need to go. But how car GPS navigation systems save gas for you is by choosing the quickest, or most fuel efficient, route to your destination.

This is especially beneficial for those who are new to the city they’re in and have yet to find the quickest route. For example, imagine that you have just started a new job in your new city and have been offered by co-workers a great route to take that will give you a view of the lake on your way in. This is fine and dandy until you realize that you have been traveling 10 minutes out of your way every morning. If you owned a global positioning system, you could have communicated with it instead of your co-workers and saved a ton on gas.

Take Advantage of Detours

Accidents on the road are about as common as blinking your eyes – you can count on them to happen. The same holds true for bad weather. But while these things are bound to happen from time to time it doesn’t mean they have to hold you up on your way to the office, or back to your house. It is for this reason that many of GPS units offer some type of traffic and weather alerts system to warn you of impending traffic tie-ups, or bad weather on the way that could affect travel. But even companies creating this feature probably didn’t predict that their car GPS navigation systems save gas too.

Think about it, if you are traveling on a road that is known to flood when it rains, yet you had no idea that thunderstorms were moving into the area, you could be rapidly approaching a situation that will leave you having to find a quick detour, or worse, get caught in the water. The benefits of one of these devices is then two-fold because you not only can learn of the problem before you reach it, but also have the system create a new route for you that still is the shortest and fuel efficient possible, while keeping you out of harm’s way.

It is a definite that car GPS navigation systems save gas. But how can you take advantage of this great perk? By seeking out some great units on the market like Garmin, Magellan, TomTom and Navigon that are known for being very accurate and reliable. That way, when you take your next trip in town or out of the area, you can see for yourself how car GPS navigation systems save gas.

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Travel Safely with Car Gps Navigation Systems

Whether you’re traveling to a friend’s house in the next town, or driving across the country, it is always a good idea to have as many travel resources handy as possible, that includes maps, water, extra blankets, flashlights, and a little food. It may seem to be an excessive thing to do, but you never know what situation you could end up in – caught in a storm or broken down on the side of the road. The more safety precautions you can take the better. The good news is, in addition to the normal precautions you can take advantage of, technology has taken the liberty of creating one more – car GPS navigation systems. Let’s learn more about them.

What Are They?

You may have heard of GPS systems either from an advertisement on television or from a friend who has gone out and bought one. In recent years, they have become very popular among everyday citizens because of the many advantages that provide. Where once they were pretty much only used by military officials, now they have been tailored to be of great benefit to civilians.

For example, if you getting ready to visit a restaurant on the other side of your town and you’re now sure exactly where it could be, instead of getting on the computer and visiting Google Maps, having to look up the addresses, then printing the map and directions, your in-car system will map the information for you and give you turn-by-turn directions similar to the Internet maps. The bonus, however is that you do it from the convenience of your car and don’t have to worry about your map blowing out of the window.

One thing you should know about these systems though is that car GPS navigation systems and the standard system I just described are slightly different. A navigation system, like the standard system, work from a satellite feed to provide real-time directions to its users. However, the standard version provides you a static map, whereas the navigation version actually gives you turn-by-turn directions as you head toward the location. It can also let you know when you’ve made a wrong turn. It is more interactive – and essentially a better purchase for someone who frequently gets lost when driving.  

Car GPS navigation systems are usually a part of the standard system, yet come with additional software that allow you to take advantage of the additional features. So when you invest in one of these devices, be sure that you’re prepared to spend a little bit more for the extra features.

What Brands are the Best?

As with any technological advancement, when it becomes popular, there will be the good, the bad, and the ugly versions placed onto the market – and it will be up to you to decide which ones are truly the best for your needs, and which are selling you a lot of features you don’t need. While I’m no supreme expert on car GPS navigation systems, I have done some research to guide you in the direction of the brands that have the best names in the industry, as well as what features they have that might suit your needs.

Garmin Nuvi 660 – Garmin is perhaps the most popular brand in car GPS navigation systems. They have been in business for almost 20 years creating electronic technology geared in this direction, so it is no surprise that they are able to create a system that stands out above the rest. In particular, their Nuvi 660 is high-performance and versatile with navigation basics (pictures of roads with turn-by-turn instructions), as well as tools for a person who travels the world, and Bluetooth options. It comes very highly recommended by experts and customers alike, but the only drawback for some would be the price, which falls into the $550-$700 range. Before you hash out that type of money, be sure you need all of the features advertised – you never know, you might find one that suits your needs for a lot less.
    
HP iPaq rx5900 Travel Companion – This device is a part of the Hewlett Packard collection of devices ranging from printers to computers. Their Travel Companion was created as an all-in-one solution that not only works to navigate you through your streets and neighborhoods with ease, but also keeps up with your schedule, working as a PDA. Many reviewers rave about its capabilities, also noting how compact and stylish it is compared to other devices on the market today.

Magellan Maestro 4250 – This is one of the mid-level car GPS navigation systems on the market (it doesn’t have top capabilities, but it certainly gets the job done). As with the Garmin, it gives you turn-by-turn navigation, which is great. But one of the other features that people love with this device is its voice command features. In addition, it is extremely accurate and performs well overall, making it a top pick among reviewers.

TomTom GO 720 – This is another one of the recommended car GPS navigation systems available. Like the HP Travel Companion, it is sleek and stylish, which works great if you want one that matches your stylish car. In addition, it has a Map Share community tool that provides you with constant map updates in real time. Also, it has a safety option included that allows you to seek help from your car in the event you have an emergency and are without a cell phone.

Mio C520 Navigation Receiver – Another sleek and stylish model, this device has advanced navigation features and a larger screen than most. It actually has more bang for the buck, offering these additional features at around $250-$350. However, in overall capabilities, some of the competition is more reliable and smooth.

Of course, there are more car GPS navigation systems on the market than these, but the ones listed have the best overall reputation and can provide a more reliable experience. But before you run out to buy one do additional research. There may be some car GPS navigation systems that look great, and even work great, but don’t suit your specific needs. And the last thing you need is to spend a few hundred dollars on something you really can’t use.

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