Best GPS for $100-150?

[Eric.]

So I'm looking at getting a GPS for my dad as a Christmas gift but wanted some input from anyone with some experience. We don't really need anything really special in it. Just the standard navigation really. I'm currently looking at a Garmin Nuvi 200W which is around $140, but I also received an email from TigerDirect today for a TomTom One 125 for $99 (not refurbished). The Garmin looks nicer being a widescreen but there's no reason to spend the extra $40 for aesthetics.

Is there anything I should be looking for specifically or other recommendations?

 

[TB]

Results from consumerreports.org:

TomTom One 130 - $150, rating - 63/100
TomTom One XL - $150, rating - 63/100
Garmin Nuvi 200W - $200, rating - 63/100
TomTom One 3rd Edition - $150, rating - 60/100
Garmin Nuvi 200 - $150, rating - 61/100
Magellan Roadmate 1200 - $150, rating - 58/100

Prices are approximate retail, so in store pricing will possibly be different. Also, for reference, the highest rated GPS's were the TomTom Go 930 ($450) and the Garmin Nuvi 255W ($250), both with a score of 72/100.

CR's negatives for the 200W and the 130 (as they haven't reviewed a 125):

As common with entry-level models, the Nuvi 200W does not have text-to-speech, so its verbal directions do not include specific street names. The manual detour function to reroute around a trouble spot is not as complete as most. Can't exclude a specific road from the route list. Volume level may be too low for some users. Voice quality not as clear as others. Does not include USB cable.

Does not speak proper street names. Does not include the new "IQ" intelligent routing using historical traffic-flow data nor reality view available on other higher-line TomTom models. No multi-destination routing. Does not include traffic receiver.

 

[Eric.]

I knew the Garmin had the lack of speech for street names, but it still reads when to turn so that's acceptable really.

Thanks for the bit of research. Hopefully someone here has some experience with them to get their thoughts.

 

[Eric.]

I just wanted to add that Newegg is putting the Garmin Nuvi 250 on sale for $99 on Black Friday when it is normally $150. I think I'll probably go with that.

 

[Eric.]

I'm gonna go ahead and triple post...Its been a while.

Got the Garmin Nuvi 250 from Newegg as a Black Friday deal, $99, as I said above. I opened it and tried it out already and it works great. I might try to find a different voice for it, as the default one is a little annoying. It does a great job of changing your route if you miss a turn and really does everything it should the right way. I was impressed with its database of points of interest, such as food, fuel, etc. Can't beat it for the price.

 

[YSSMAN]

I'm still conconvinced that I "need" a GPS thingy, but if I were shopping for one, I'd try to hunt down that Knight Rider one (I think its available only at Radio Shack). Its pretty sweet.

Otherwise, I'd be impartial to just using a cell phone. Sprint has a pretty good turn-by-turn system, and I understand that Google Maps (and such) works pretty well in the iPhone and G1 to "replace" (possibly?) a GPS unit.