I'll try to make this a unique review by comparing the pros and cons of FOUR different Garmin units I've tried: c330, 265t, 765t, and the 885t. There are few reviews that offer face-off comparisons between models which can assist in making a purchasing choice. I'll share some highlights for each model, beginning with the one I've owned for over three years. Bottom line: If you want to go cheap, the c330 still works fine with new maps loaded - I literally drove all over the country and rarely had any problems. If you are looking for a new model, get the 265t and you won't be disappointed. Don't buy the 765t. Consider the 885t but be ready to return if the volume output is too low.
Note - with all models I had the latest firmware updates and maps at time of writing the review.
>> Streetpilot C330. Owned it over 3 years. It is an older model, and not flat like all new models today. Instead of flat, it has something of a triangular shape, and the mount has takes up more space. It is harder to pack in bag or suitcase because of this, and is the primary reason I decided to upgrade. To its credit, it is built more sturdily than any of the new models. I'm sure it could survive multiple falls. The screen is smaller, but plenty bright and easy enough to read when the sunlight falls on it. The touchscreen is sensitive and I never had much complaint with it. It is has an important feature missing from all new models - a wheel volume control on the side. All new models make you hit an icon on the screen to adjust the volume, and then you must touch again to change the volume in increments, and touch one more time to return to the map. The volume is plenty loud on the c330, which is not always the case with newer models. The icons on the map are simpler. For instance, the vehicle is a blue triangle rather than a car. The maps are not as detailed, but sufficiently so. There are no spoken street names, but the prompts are good enough to get you where you want. You can still purchase map updates that will load on the unit, although the onboard memory can only support a region of the US at a time. The GPS receiver is fine most of the time, but failed me in Chicago with all the tall buildings, and I sometimes had to wait for service when leaving a rental car garage. Overall, it is a very good unit and Garmin would do well with future models to bring back the side volume control, and the tank-like build quality.
>> 265t. Owned it about two weeks so far. This is the most recent model I've purchased, and I am impressed. I will lead with a weakness, however. I bought a refurbished model on Amazon. It saved me about $40 over a new model, but I had to contact Garmin multiple times to get the free map update. It had been previously registered and the free map update was not available. Garmin had to reset the registration. I wrote them and sent a copy of my purchase receipt, and they reset the registration. Other than this, I would not have realized it is refurbished just by looking at it. The operation is also fine.
I want to emphasize something - you really don't need a widescreen model (e.g, 265wt). Trust me on this. The only thing afforded by widescreen is the QUERTY-style keyboard. A few people might miss it, but I don't even though I'm a daily user of keyboards. The widescreen gives you more visible map coverage on the left and right, but it is not needed for navigating. Everything you need to see is in plain view on the squarish screen of the 265t. To best of my knowledge, all of the other functions are the same. The 265t is also smaller and easier to stow away. Save yourself the extra dough and get the 265t over the 265wt.
The 265 shares the most important features as the more expensive 700 and 800 series. In fact, I only miss a couple of things from these other models. For instance, the 800 series can be controlled by speaking commands - very nice. The 700 series can display time remaining to destination, or distance to destination. Handy! I understand there are more flexible routing options with the 700 and 800, but I never use those so can't comment. Gpsmagazine.com claims the 700 and 800 have stronger GPS receivers, but I noticed I can get a signal from inside of my home with the 265, so I am hoping that it works just as well as the 700/800 in cities with big building all around. The 265 lacks 3D buildings, lane assist, and junction view. Lane assist is helpful, but the other two only show up once in a while depending on your location. It lacks a built-in MP3 player, but I don't think I miss that either (more on my experience with this below). The 265 has smooth scrolling of the map like the 765, which the 885 lacks. It also has free traffic service, but so far I haven't benefitted from this (more below). One thing better about the 265 is the volume. It is just as loud as the c330, louder than the 765t, and MUCH louder than the 885. Using the bluetooth, I can make a phone call and hear and be heard without any problems. Overall, I think the 265 would be a far better bargain for most people - saving $100-$250 over the high end models but sill including great features.
>> 765t. Used it for a couple of months then returned. I won't repeat what I said above. Actually, I was really disappointed with this model for a couple of reasons. The traffic feature did not work at all for me. I drove over 500 miles to DC, and then back, and it never helped me once. I hit construction. No warning. I hit accident backups. No warnings. I got stuck in horrible downtown DC traffic, and was told I would be delayed 3 minutes, which stretched into 2 hours! Here is what I found unforgiveable, though. It sometimes told me to turn in one direction, then correct itself after I made the turn to get me going the other way. At first I thought it was me, but no, the darn thing actually got the turn direction wrong about 5% of the time! This is totally inexcusable, especially when you are entering or leaving a highway. If you are told to go onto an onramp, and then it changes its mind, you could spend another 5-10 minutes getting turned around again. I don't know why this unit had this problem. It was the one reason I had to return it. I recommend purchases from Sam's Club or Costco, which allow you to return items months later (hold onto that receipt!).
The bluetooth worked for my phone, and the volume was good enough to make calls, although callers told me I was hard to hear sometimes. I did not try the MP3 player to see whether the volume was sufficient. The FM transmitter is a joke - the signal is super weak and unuseable. Some reviews say to get an external FM transmitter to compensate, but that means spending more money and seems silly.
On the plus side, I used the 3D building view to help me find the Lincoln Memorial on foot in DC, but that was only the one time it helped me. The junction assist (photo realism for highway interchanges) is nice, but you will only see it in some cities.
>> 885t. Used it for 3 weeks then returned. I'll lead with the one problem I had with my unit that caused me to return it. The volume was too low. I could hear the turn prompts well enough. But it was not nearly loud enough when driving at highway speeds for phone calls or the MP3 playback. When making calls, I could not hear the caller very well, and could not be heard clearly. When using the MP3 player, I really strained to hear an audiobook, and using earbuds did not help any. It could have been a problem with my particular unit. I can't say. I may purchase another unit to see if the volume is better. Like the 765, the FM transmitter is unuseable.
However, I really liked controlling the unit through speech commands. It works very well, and is safer to do than taking your hands off the wheel to use the touch screen. You may to strap a button onto your steering wheel that is used to engage the speach recognition. It takes getting used to having it there when turning the wheel and feeling it under your grip sometimes. Even so, if they put this feature on all of their other units it would be AWESOME. Please, Garmin, keep this feature for the future! I also liked the MSN Direct service. The traffic service actually worked for me, much better than on the 765t. You can see weather forcasts and even look at a local weather radar. This can be helpful if you are driving a long ways and concerned about heading into a storm. You also can monitor stock prices, get fuel prices for nearby gas stations, and movie times. I found however movie times were not displayed for second run (discount) theaters in our area.
Lane assist and junction view worked as well as the 765t. I did not have problems with the unit telling me to go the wrong way, like I did with the 765t. As I said above, I might buy another 885t to see if the volume issue was specific to the first unit and not the model.