Customer Reviews

Garmin nüvi 260W Mexico 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This Garmin GPS was my choice as I live in Mexico and need a GPS for navigating in urban areas. I have had it for nine months.

1. The Mexico maps are about 85% accurate in the major cities. They attempt sometimes to send you the wrong way down one-way streets, and give confusing directions at traffic circles. Some streets do not appear on the maps, and names are sometimes misspelled. In addition, Mexican street names are often combinations of words, but the Garmin cannot determine what street you want, even for major streets. Nevertheless, in confusing Mexican cities with heavy traffic, it is an enormous help, and will deliver you close to where you want to go. In general, in major cities the Garmin GPS can get you within 2 or 3 blocks of any address, and one block of most.

2. Between the cities, the maps are far less accurate and omit some major four-lane routes (e.g., MX145). Detail falls off rapidly outside any major city. Thus, while the GPS can substitute for the Guia Roji street atlas of a major city, it cannot substitute for the Guia Roji road atlas of Mexico.

In sum, the Garmin GPS with Mexico map is worth buying for navigation in major cities, but cannot be trusted for navigation between them.

The Garmin 260W also has difficulty finding the satellites, with no obstacles, and at 20 degrees north latitude where the satellites are almost directly overhead. At times the Garmin takes 3 resets and up to 30 minutes to find the satellites. There is no predictability to this.

Perhaps a better Mexico map will be forthcoming at some point. If combined with a GPS that can find the satellites reliably, it would be a better option.

I live outside Guadalajara. I bought this for an upcoming trip around Mexico. I recently used it on a drive to Guadalajara to see how it worked. It took us pretty much the same way I always go which pleased me. I also tried it on a short trip to a nearby city near Lake Chapala and it had me going some bizarre ways that I knew were not right. So my opinion is still out on how well it works in Mexico.

I bought this thinking it would not be able to find where I used to live in Texcoco and where my wife's parents live in a small neighborhood in Cuautitlan Izcalli both just miles outside of Mexico City. I typed in the address of my in laws' house and it found it right away - I was truly amazed. This thing will be great to get around Mexico City - if you have ever driven there you know it's hard to get to know the city and where you are. I only had a few routes memorized and had gotten lost a few times - the roadsigns arent very helpful there and the road system is confusing, so I think this is a godsend for me.

The only complaint I have is that it seems it randomly puts things in your favorites list with names like 002. I don't think I'm hitting the wrong buttons, but its kind of whacky like that.

I don't know a lot about GPS's, but i really don't like that the thing takes it's time to start up, to acquire whatever it needs. What I do like is that it's accurate, knows it's was around town and has a sexy voice. Other than that, I've played with it a little and it hasn't messed up on me, or frozen or crashed. I like that you can scroll around the U.S. and take a look at maps just for kicks. This model has the maps for Mexico too, so live it up! I really liked the price too. Not a five-starer because it takes one ore two whole minutes to start up, other than that, awesome.

The GPS works well and is easy to use but it is not that great in rural Mexico as I would have hoped. There are numerous roads that are not shown on the map that are larger highways. The lack of these roads has added 1/3 more travel time on several instances. For use in Mexican cities it works very well.

Folks,

I just wanted to comment on the shipping from BlueProton. It was amazingly fast!! I ordered this Garmin GPS in the wee hours of October 1st, and I just received it this morning, October 3rd.

I am familiar with the Garmin GPS units, I purchased this particular one, because I am planning to drive thru Mexico to Costa Rica. There should not be any problems with the unit, I plugged it into the car and it works.

Am typing this as I wait for it to charge.

What can i say of a great price, great display, very easy to use, Mexico+Canada+USA all included in the same system... and did I mention, all for a great price...!