Customer Reviews

Garmin StreetPilot c340 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator

5 star:		(732)
4 star:		(339)
3 star:		(64)
2 star:		(38)
1 star:		(26)

 

 

Pros: Easy to use, sharp screen, clear voice instructions and less expensive than other GPS units with comparable features

Cons: Needs more dynamic search capabilities for POI (its a little too simple which is good and bad)

The Garmin C340 is a wonderful unit, I've tested several other units such as the Navmans & Magellans, but the Garmin was the hands down winner.

It has built in street level maps for both US and Canada - so there is no need to download detailed maps from your computer. In addition, the interface is a breeze to use - w/o even reading the manual I was able to get it up and running. The screen is razor sharp and the navigation controls are intuitive. Another bonus is that it has a built in rechargable battery, so you can walk around with it for a while or even program your next destination while you're away from the car.

I recommend this unit very highly - especially after reviewing the alternatives at this price point.

---------Update--------------

Just an update because I've taken my Garmin C340 to: 1) Toronto, Canada 2) Omaha, NE 3) Salt Lake City, UT 4) Denver, CO and 5) Seattle, WA. I have to say it worked wonderfully. It NEVER led me astray and got me to my destinations without any problems. This is a definite must have because it's so compact and easy to program that it makes exploring new cities a breeze. Who needs to rent an expensive GPS unit from a rental car agency when you have the Garmin C340 with you!

I was originally going to get the C320 but the text-to-speech feature made me decide to get the C340 instead. Overall, after having owned this unit for approx. 2 years, I am pleased with it. When I first got it, to build my faith in the product, I used it for a week just entering the places I normally go to see how the unit performed.

First I tried to enter a restuarant I have been going to for years. Route planning was very fast - the only problem is that the route took me 6 miles away from the restuarant into a residential neighborhood. The destination was someone's house in this neighborhood! To retest, I chose the restuarant address from the built in POI listing instead of typing it in...and the result was the same. It had me going into a subdivision and to someone's house. My second test was entering my work address. This worked fairly well except that a 2-year old change in the road was not registered on the map. So the unit got really confused when I was driving through what looked like a lake on the screen. Recalculation can be irritating as the unit repeatedly tries to force you to do U-Turns to get back on what it thinks is the best route. I'm sure this is region specific.

Bottom line here...don't rely on the restuarant listings.

My next test was a little longer - it was a 25 mile drive to my mother's house. Again, route planning was very fast (3-4 seconds). The route was very accurate to her house but the route seemed to favor toll roads and highways. The result was the same when I modified the preferences to prefer "back roads" and avoid highways. About 7 miles into the trip to mom's house, the C340 locked up completely. I reset it and reprogrammed the route (you have to stop the car to do this safely). Then, 5 miles down the road it locked up again. I checked for later firmware when I got home and there was none, but an email to customer support was all it took to get a firmware update that resolved this issue.

So with various other tests, I give it a ~90% chance of picking the correct route to wherever you are going (at least in my area)...but often times it does get you where you intend to go but takes you far out of the way. A few major highways are missing from the basemap in my area, which were corrected when I paid $75 for the 2006 map update. Common sense and a backup map are sometimes necessary.

Ok, about the unit itself...the text to speech is worth the extra money of you are considering buying it for that reason. Text to Speech pronunciation has been corrected with several firmware revisions. I have not had any major issues with the text-to-speech pronunciation since these firmware updates were applied.

The screen is bright and the whole thing is smaller than I expected - but there really is no excuse for being upset about the size when you can go to Best Buy or Circuit City and see it for yourself.

So:
Pros - bright screen, doesn't wash out too bad (I have deeply tinted windows) and speech volume is appropriate. Planning is quick.
It is very accurate on where to turn, giving ample time for braking or lane changing.

Cons - with earlier firm revisions it used to lock up frequently, power cable goes to mounting base, routing not accurate in many cases, and some POI are incorrect. Searching an address is glacially slow. Shows many obscure restuarants but overlooks the mainstream ones. Some of the cardinal directions are reversed. I was going to get on an expressway going east and the directions said to go west. (The drawn map was correct, just the speech was wrong)

Bottom line is that after using this for routine trips around town as well as jaunts into unfamiliar areas, I recommend it.

Update: 11/25/05: On Thanksgiving day I took a longer trip of about 50 miles. Set to use WAAS, the C340 locked up at exactly tyhe same point as in my previous review, about 7 miles from my home on a major highway. The unit definitely locks up at this point consistently and I will be informing Garmin. I did find that turning off WAAS reduces the amount of lockups but I can still get it to lock up with WAAS turned off. When it does work, the C340 is impressive in its accuracy and display. The automatic daylight to dark screen contrast is nice. But I still can't recommend the product because of the instability. I'll post an update here if I can get a response from Garmin.

12/30/05 Update: Several weeks ago, Garmin released updated firmware for the C340. I downloaded and installed the firmware update. Address entry appears to be improved and I have not encountered the lockups previously mentioned since applying this firmware patch. That said, I still have a hard time recommending the c340 for the price and other minor to moderate issues, but I am happier now that the lockups are gone.

5/22/07 Update: Changed my recommendation and rating of this product. I have gone many places with my Garmin and it is still a solid performer. Just recently, I went from Orlando to Hampton Roads, VA and the Garmin was very accurate. One thing I do want to add is that the Garmin likes to use major highways. Unchecking this feature is not advised as the Garmin will go "bonkers" using back roads and even dirt roads to get you to your destination. You must update the firmware frequently as Garmin continually irons out the bugs in the product. I still don't think this thing was ready for prime time when it was first sold...too many bugs! But now, with the latest firmwares and maps, I solidly recommend the Garmin to my friends, family and anyone. I now give it 4 stars, not three, though Amazon won't let me edit that part.

First of all, I'm an electronics junkie. My house looks like the Star Ship Enterprise, and I'm extremely picky concerning the function of everything that I purchase. Probably too picky. So, after being more than impressed with the Garmin StreetPilot c340, I decided to write this review. I purchased this unit due to an upcoming road trip to Florida, and I'm HORRIBLE with directions. It seemed like the logical thing to do. After much research on the latest GPS units, the c340 seemed to be best suited for my needs, financially and functionally.

PROS:

As stated time and time again, the c340 is extremely user-friendly straight from the box. No bulky manual is included (although one can be downloaded on-line), most likely due to the fact that it is not needed. There's a brief start-up guide which is more than sufficient to get this thing up and running. Simply let the satellite locate your home location, which takes a few minutes and only has to be done once, and you're ready to input your next destination. Hit "Where to?" on the touchscreen and everything is made perfectly clear. It could not be any simpler. You'll then have options to enter addresses, food locations, lodging, your saved favorite locations and recent browsed selections, fuel, intersections, attractions, shopping, parking, entertainment, recreation, community, near-by cities, hospitals, transit, and auto service locations. There's no guess-work involved: just touch the type of place you wish to find and go; you'll get plenty of options. You can also touch the "Near..." option, type in a city of destination, and it'll pull up businesses in that city for your convenience. Again, this unit is extremely easy to navigate. Pick your destination, hit "Go", and you're all set. Just follow the highlighted path and you're sure to get there with ease. I've had no problems or long-term satellite loss in my area so far. Phone numbers are also shown which would be especially convenient when making hotel reservations on the road.

The suction mount is also very nice. I was skeptical about it at first: What if it falls off? Will I be able to see the road? No worries; it's great. Like the unit itself, the mount is high-quality and very sturdy. Just attach the c340, place the mount into position (I have it right under my rear view mirror), and pull the lever down. I don't see any way that this mount could fall off, and it's not a distraction while driving. I hear that it's illegal in California, but I really don't see why. It provides the perfect location for the unit and is no more distracting than the rear view mirror. A dash-mount disc is included also for CA residents or in case you'd prefer a lower location, but it's a permanent mount, so I'd advise caution if going with this option. I won't use it myself.

As far as power goes, a 12V adapter is included for the car, but don't worry about buying the AC adapter. The c340 includes a USB cable that allows it to be powered and charged via any computer with a USB port. Very convenient when planning out trips at home to save battery life. The USB cable also allows you to download male voices from the Garmin site such as American English Jack, Australian English Lee, and British English Daniel which is very cool.

CONS:

Not much to say here. The only 'major' thing I've noticed so far is that some local businesses are not in the database, and a few businesses are present which no longer exist. It's kind of strange: local mom and pop stores can be pulled up, but NO Walmarts in my area. I have three Walmarts within 25 miles of my home, and none are in the database. I didn't subtract any points since all Garmin GPS units seem to utilize the same database (nearly 6 million points of interest) and it does have the potential to be updated. Also, keep your eye on the road during exits as it may not detect recent route changes. It will recalculate a new route if you simply go past the road that has changed; you won't get lost, but it can be an inconvenience. It's happened only once to me so far and I've been doing a lot of traveling. It was a familiar area and I didn't even realize that the road had changed. Again, this is a Garmin database problem which hopefully will be addressed in a future update.

The voices for the most part are spot on. They can pronounce streets that I've been mispronouncing for years. However, every now and then it's hard to decipher what they're saying as they can sound overly-digitized. This is just a minor inconvenience since most of the time they're flawless, but keep your eye on the screen just in case you don't understand the street name. No big deal really. I use American English Jill, and she is usually very accurate with pronunciations. British English Daniel is also easy to understand, although he must be downloaded.

CONCLUSION:

All-in-all, I'm very, VERY impressed with the performance of the Garmin c340. This is my first GPS, and I can't imagine needing anything more. I'm not sure what these $1000+ units do, but unless they drive me to my destination and pump my gas, I don't need them. I've heard people complain that the touch screen collects finger prints. Hmmm...unless you have jelly, paint, or motor oil on your fingers, it does not detract from the display. Hello, it's a TOUCHscreen. Of course it's going to get finger prints on it. Wipe it off now and then and you're good to go. I've also heard complaints that sometimes the unit doesn't give you ample time to turn via text-to-speech. Well, I've been driving everywhere with this thing for the past three days, and it verbally tells you TWICE when to turn, by street name and in which direction to turn. It tells you once within a 1/4 mile or so and once again right before the turn. If you miss your turn after two verbal prompts, a big white arrow on the GPS screen, and the name of the street at the top of the screen, you may want to reconsider this whole driving thing. The turn alert is almost overkill; if you're awake and free from severe brain damage, you can't possibly miss it. Maybe this was a problem with some of the older units, but mine is perfect. Perhaps these people didn't hear the first prompt and of course the voice prompt times will be shorter with city driving, but that's to be expected. As far as satellite loss, I've only experienced a couple seconds of it while driving so far which is no inconvenience at all. There is an optional generic antenna that can be purchased for around $20 if this is a problem in some areas. The actual Garmin antenna costs more, but I've had no need for it so far.

After three days of taking the c340 everywhere, I absolutely love it; I have no regrets whatsoever. It's one of the top 3 electronic purchases I've ever made in my life. I can't wait to take it to Florida and find all the local attractions that I would never have been able to locate otherwise. This thing is great. I've already had two friends order the c340 after seeing how well mine works. I guarantee you won't be disappointed!

UPDATE:

I just returned from Florida, and I love this thing even more. We never had any need for a map: I simply typed in each destination and we got there with no problems whatsoever. When we got a craving for some baby back ribs on the interstate, I simply hit food, barbecue, got a nice little list of local restaurants, picked one and hit GO. It takes you right there! It then took us right back to the interstate. I'm still amazed that this type of technology can be purchased at a reasonable price.

I was looking for a solution to stop driving my fianc''s car, which has a factory installed GPS, because my car gets better gas mileage. When considering the options, for my car to get a stereo faced GPS unit (the new Panasonic), it was going to be more than I wanted to pay, in the area of $2500 (this including installation, the stereo faceplate for my car (Mazda6)). That option was unacceptable so I went looking for another option.

I chose the Garmin C340 for a few reasons. First, I'm a gadget freak and it was a new model coming out. Second, it has a traffic ready option which means if you buy the antenna and pay for the service, it will navigate you around a traffic jam...the only word for that is COOL! (especially since I live in the DC area). I haven't bought the antenna, so I haven't tried this option. Third, we travel a lot out of the country, and wanted a unit that could be taken all over the world. Fourth, Garmin has such a great reputation, that I felt confident in buying a brand new product from them.

I received the box two days ago, and took the GPS out for a spin immediately. I was amazed at how well it worked. I didn't have a problem with it acquiring satellites in the city at all. The only problems I did have with the GPS are: 1) that I couldn't input an address until I called Garmin because only two states would appear. I called Garmin about the problem, and apparently it's a common problem with new units and they had a simple solution for it. 2) The bracket/stand that comes standard is hard to tighten, so for someone with arthritis or bad hands will have a lot trouble fastening the bracket/stand so that the GPS unit does not move when in use on the dashboard. 3) I expected more in the box, it essentially only came with a driver CD, and the GPS unit.

All in all, I fully endorse this product. It's a viable GPS solution for those who don't want to spend a small fortune to get their car into the 21st century.

~/~/~/Update\~\~\~

I've traveled to several US cities, Canadian cities, and European cities (see posted pictures) and this thing has NEVER let me down. It loses reception in tunnels and garages, but quickly reacquires satellites upon leaving those places.

The complaints I have are that: 1) while navigating, the Garmin will change my zoom perspective when directing me to make a turn, and not return it to my original view, 2) it will not allow you to transfer pre-selected routes from your mapping software (i.e. City Select Europe) BUT it will allow you to transfer Waypoints, which can then be mapped to, and 3) that it will direct you to "turn" when you're actually staying straight...which, if I don't have the voice activation going OR I'm listening to music loud, will lead me to make wrong turns. Other than that, this thing is flippin' sweet!

%-% second update (3/15/07):

So, I had to send my Garmin in to be replaced; the battery died. I learned that 1) Garmin has some excellent customer service. I didn't buy the warranty, and they replaced my unit free of charge - unit and window mount. I was only without a GSP for 8 days. And the transferred my saved locations and upgraded the software. WoW. Nothing but thumps up. If I could change my rating to 5 stars, I would based on the customer service. 2) I learned that you must plug the unit into a wall or computer via wall every few months to charge the battery. If you don't, the battery will lose charge and eventually die. But if it dies, CALL GARMIN.

I love this product and can very highly recommend this unit to anyone. It's a great feeling to have this thing by your side as you freely roam aound places you may not have otherwise gone because it's so easy to find your way home or to somewhere else. I love having this in my car and would never go anywhere without it again. You'll find yourself using it to find those hidden streets and shortcuts you never knew where there ;-)

Also Garmin's tech support is very responsive and helpful. After about 11 months of using the c340 the battery stopped working. After calling tech support it turns out there is a known fundamental problem with the charging circuit in the c340 (maybe other units as well) in that the battery will not actually charge while the unit is turned on. It needs to be in the turned off charging screen for it to charge. So that means if you just leave it in your car for months the battery will never charge unless you turn it off manually. Because of this the battery drains so badly that it actually destroys the battery and it will no longer hold a charge at all anymore. I'm sending mine to Garmin for a free fixup but now I know to periodically (once every 1 or 2 months should suffice) charge the battery overnight.

So other than this glitch which I know how to avoid (and now you do too) this is absolutly the best unit on the market especially for the price it's at now-a-days. Also don't believe the hype about saving a couple of bucks on the c310. The voice on this thing is GREAT and speaks most street names perfectly, and you'll appreciate it saying the street name to turn on to instead of just turn left or right. The new units have the newer voice pack that fixed a few of the older voice problems (even if they didn't the new one is easily downloadable). The c340 is the BEST of all the streetpilot versions as it's just right. Not too much and not missing all the cool stuff. I got mine about a year ago and still LOVE it. Get one and enjoy, you won't regret it I promise.

Cheers,
Russ

I have to admit, I'm a GPS junkie. I've had a variety of GPS units over the past decade and currently own 3 - the c340 being my latest acquisition for use solely when driving.

I am greatly impressed with this unit. It was fast to get going right out of the box and after the initial satellite acquisition and almanac download (for those who are interested, when a GPS unit is turned off and moved a significant distance, say 300+ miles, from where it last thought it was, it needs to recalibrate itself by downloading the current almanac of satellite positions from the GPS satellites. This can take a few minutes.) In any case, after the initial automatic recalibration, the unit acquired satellites quickly whenever I turned it on.

The user interface is very easy to use. I've used Hertz NeverLost systems for years and have always thought they had a good interface. I think Garmin's is better. The touch screen is intuitive and very easy to use and the adjustment I want to use most, tinkering with the volume, is an easy-to-use wheel on the side that allows instant access without requiring interaction (and interference) with the on-screen navigation/map display. Very well thought out!

One highly useful feature is the ability not just to search for Points of Interest (POI), but to have the unit search for those points of interest that are along the route you are currently navigating. This allows you to identify, say, hotels along your route while you are driving and then, using the telephone info provided by the unit, to call the hotels up and see if you can negotiate a lower rate before you arrive - "let your fingers do the walking..."

If you don't tell the unit where to look, though, it can take quite a while to search for a Point of Interest. I didn't know which city to specify and I did a search for "Eagle Rock Rec" (I was too lazy to spell out "Eagle Rock Recreation Center" which turned out to be about 175 miles away) and the unit chugged away for several minutes but eventually came back with the right entry for me to navigate to. I later realized that even though I didn't know the exact city the destination was in, I did know a city that was near the desired destination. When I specified that information, the c340 took only a few seconds to find the right location.

The advanced user can also create your own POI lists complete with custom icons and load those into the c340. I have done this for all In-N-Out Burger and Krispy Kreme locations. The advantage to having your own custom POIs even though these places are in the built-in POI list is that the custom POIs are visible on the c340 map screen at certain zoom levels. If you are a Geocacher, you can do the same with geocaches, but you'll still need your handheld unit to find the cache.

The newer (and more expensive) c5xx units evidently have the Sirf circuitry in them which is more sensitive, allowing signal acquisition indoors, but I found the sensitivity of the c340 to be fine - especially since I have limited my indoor driving lately :-). In fact, I was just playing with the c340 in my office yesterday and it was able to acquire a GPS fix on my position, so it seems to be fairly sensitive even without the Sirf circuitry. I haven't tried the c340 under a thick tree canopy with cloud cover or in a city with lots of concrete canyons yet, so I could change my tune. The comparable c5xx unit at this price point, the c530, lacks the c340's text-to-speech capabilities (this prevents the c530 from announcing street names).

Since I already have a Garmin handheld GPS unit as well as Garmin's MapSource Topo mapping software, I used the unlock code that came with the c340 to unlock my MapSource maps for the unit. I then loaded the topo maps for the entire Western US onto an SD card (between 300-500 MB) and plugged it into the c340 to see what would happen. It worked! So now I have the c340's excellent built-in maps and POIs for on-road trips *and* Topo Maps available to me for off-road adventures.

One thing you should do if you are in the US is enable the unit's WAAS capability (the default is for WAAS to be disabled). Enabling this capability increases the accuracy of the unit when certain satellites are in range.

Also, since this unit has a touch-screen, fingerprints on the screen are inevitable. You should *never* use an ammonia-based product (like most window cleaners) to clean electronic screens - it will cause them to fog. Instead, use those little antiseptic alcohol towelettes. They are cheap and if you don't use them for cleaning your touch-screen they might come in handy for first-aid.

I give this unit a highly positive rating. I like it.

Having switched from a petrol car (with built-in navigation) to a diesel one (without built-in navigation), I decided to invest in a portable navigation unit.

Having owned a Garmin GPS2 in the past, I trust their technology, and so considered the c340 & Tom Tom 700 . In the end though, my decision was based around how useful Bluetooth connectivity (available on the Tom Tom 700) was against traffic avoidance (available on the c340). I decided that traffic avoidance is more important for me (but didn't want to have to rely on my mobile to get this data (Tom Tom 700)).

A couple of things to mention about the c340.

0 the c340 doesn't have dead-reckoning on-board. Once it looses
sight of sattelites it stops guiding you until it
re-acquires. Built-in systems have positional technology
on-board, along with connections to your reversing lights and
speedometer; therefore, once they loose sight of satellites,
they use data obtained from these additional sources of
information to continue guiding you to your destination. If
this ability is important to you, look at the Garmin
Streetpilot 27xx range. Garmin is the only company that makes
a portable unit that offers this functionality. Of course,
because of its additional capability, be prepared to pay more
for it. The 27xx range of units have to also be
professionally fitted.

o if you buy an additional antenna (the GTM11) (& turn the
option on) the c340 will warn & guide you around any jams
etc... One point to note though; this service is a
subscription service in other countries like the US, but comes
with lifetime subscription in the UK.

o always check that you're comfortable with the unit at maximum
volume & the radio turned on. Some units (such as Navman
Icn520 & some PDA/GPS combinations) are too soft at maximum
volume. The c340 is loud enough. Oral instructions are very
imporant especially as you'll be moving.

o realistically assess your future needs; if you travel widely,
then a unit with more maps loaded on-board may make more
sense. If you're going to stay in one place, then buy a unit
to which you can add maps. The c340 (mine anyway) comes with
the whole of Europe pre-loaded.

o whilst i have read about screen visibility issues on the c340,
I myself, haven't had any issues with this. The screen is
clear and crisp, automatically adjusting for day / night
driving. Bright colours for daytime driving & dark ones for
nightime driving. The unit (if programed to do so) will
automatically switch between these modes when sunset/sunrise
is reached. This can be distracting when you're learning to
live with the unit, but you soon get used to it.

o Two types of voice guidance are available on the c340;
text-to-speech (where the street names are announced) &
distance (where you're warned to turn in so many feet / metres
etc). Not many other units have text-to-speech capability.
It's very usefull whilst driving. One note though; if you
travel outside your own country (and they happen to speak a
different language) then text-to-speech
doesn't work (unless you switch the unit to that countrie's
text-to-speech capable voice). What you'll have to do is
switch to the "standard" voice (feet'n'metres) for your
country.

o Garmin make it very easy to update the actual software
engine. Just download a small piece of software from their
site & install it, connect up the c340 via the supplied USB
cable and double click the icon. Then leave it to do its
job. Other items (like the various voices) are not updated
in the same way, but, it's just a case of downloading the
update from the Garmin website and (whilst still connected to
the PC) double-click on the update.

o the c340 has an SD memory card expansion slot

o It doesn't come with a wall plug, but ships with an in-car
windscreen suction mount and power adapter for the lighter
socket. You don't need a wall plug, as, when it's connected
to a PC via the supplied USB cable, this powers the unit. It
has an on-board, rechargeable battery, which means you can
walk about with it if you go sight-seeing.

o I'm not so happy with the map. Some addresses are located in
the middle of intersections! Whilst this isn't a Garmin
problem (they buy the maps off a third-party company) it shows
a lack of quality testing. For the price of this unit, I
expect door-to-door navigation. It has to be said though,
that all the portable units have problems with this aspect of
routing. Check this out whilst still in the shop; plot known
routes on the unit (but none involving your home!) and see
if you're happy. Plot the same route on as many units as you
can & see what the outcome is.

o Garmin don't supply any information on how the software work
(ie, when you set your vehicle type as car / taxi / bus etc...
how this changes the way in which routes are calculated. When
compared to my previous car (a Nissan with their own version
of navigation (Birdview) installed; for a given route(in this
case my drive into work) the unit doesn't plot the shortest
route (I never use "fastest time"). Additionally
when "highways" is set as an avoidance, the unit not only
avoids motorways (sorry, I'm from the UK) but also avoids
A-roads as well (one down from motorways for those outside the
UK)! I suspect that this is a cultural issue. The difference
between what I know is the shortest route(which my Nissan used
to plot) and what the c340 plots is minimal though. Still....
it does raise some doubts which need careful consideration in
your decision (especially so if you're outside the US I think).

o If your windscreen is heated (or has solar reflection
capability) test the c340 in your car before you buy it. Some
people's units have problems acquiring satellites when such
windscreens are fitted. I don't have any such problems though.

o you can do some pre-travel planning; the unit will tell you
what is available near a city you specify. All points of
interest are categorised; you choose what you want it to
display.

o Only one waypoint (a stop-off point between your start and
destination points) can be input into a route. If you need to
input more than one, then the c340 isn't for you.

On the whole though, I am happy with the unit. I'm trying to find out from someone at Garmin if they can tell me how the software behaves (for reasons mentioned above). Once I have this information, I can use my unit optimally. If anyone from Garmin is listening though; I would resolve the cultural issues that have crept into the programming of these units, which should make for much more happier drivers!

I wanted to wait and hear the reviews before I dropped the money on the c340. The previous model had been well received and I'd heard good things about Garmin from friends and relatives. I went ahead and ordered the c340 a few weeks after it was finally released and several customer reviews had nice things to say.
Right after I ordered it I thought I should check up on the reviews and make sure I wasn't going to be facing $625 dollars worth of buyers remorse the next day. Lo and behold! The c340 is freezing up on people left and right!! I read about some other little software glitches that seemed to add up to Garmin's delayed release of this unit.
To date the buyers remorse has yet to set in. I have been relatively pleased with the c340 overall. It turns out that the software issues were similar to problems with the 2720 and the c330 Street Pilot models. In those cases Garmin eventually released some firmware updates that fixed the issues. This is also the case with the c340. If you have a PC (that's right, the unit is NOT compatible with Macs) you can simply download the software updates via a USB port located next to the volume wheel.
The touch screen menu is very intuitive and the screen size is just right: unobtrusive yet easy to read.
The window mount is a chintzy piece of you-know-what! I was worried about this after testing the c330's out at several Best Buys, but figured they were screwed up from being floor models. Not the case...The swivel that you mount the unit on does not tighten properly resulting in the unit tilting over if you take a sharp turn or hit a bump in the road. Very Annoying!!! I don't know if there is a difference in the optional dashboard mount or not...Though considering the quality of the window mount I'm hesitant to spend the money on another potential lemon. In the meantime I'm going to have to fix the problem with tape.
The text-to-speech option is a nice feature, though it is only available when you choose the American English voice "Jill." Additionally, there are several languages pre-loaded. The maps are up do date and astonlishgly accurate. Occasionaly, like all other mapping products, a route the unit suggests will get you where you're going in a roundabout way. All you have to do is touch "Detour", or make a wrong turn and the unit will recalculate a new route within a couple of seconds. Satellite acquisition is quite fast and map redraw is also relatively quick.
Overall the Garmin c340 is a worthy purchase. The few glitches it does have appear to be getting attention from the Garmin engineers. The built-in features are laudable and make the experience of using this unit fun and easy. The maps seem up to date and it is easy to load or save points of interest with the touch of a "button." The speakers are loud enough (minor distortion when turned all the way up) and the voice options are clear and understandable.
For the features and price this unit is a must buy. The optional traffic monitor seems like a nice upgrade if the price and time spent for installation is in-line with your needs. The window mount included with the unit is problematic but the suction cup is strong, so you don't have to worry about the gps flying off the window, just tilting over so you have to readjust it often. If you buy this and find it freezing on you while in 3D mode, just go to the Garmin website and download the software updates. Enjoy making wrong turns, you won't get lost again!

I recently bought a little sports car for jaunts through the countryside with my wife. The one thing it doesn't have is a compass. Knowing that we would be going to unknown places and areas, and having had compasses built in to our other vehicles, I was aware of the help the compass could give on back roads when you are trying to find a road or a place. The aftermarket compasses all seem to be quirky at best and completely wrong at worst (digital or otherwise). Initially I bought a (...)bubble Bell compass (suction mount). It worked (or didn't work) as mentioned. So I started doing research on the Internet. I ran across the Garmin StreetPilot C330 during my search. (...). After reading the first 10 reviews, without totally knowing what I would be getting, I decided to order the C330 ((...)) from Amazon. Still researching since I had picked the SuperSaver freight and had a few days before shipment, I found the Garmin website which explained both the C330 and the C340. I found that the C340 had many of the features the $1000.00 units had. It has a better map data base, it tells users the name of the street and it is also capable (although I won't be using the feature) of receiving traffic data signals (with a plug-in adapter and a yearly subscription). (...). I figured that I would try it out and if it didn't at least solve the compass problem, I would return the unit to Amazon. So I cancelled the order for the C330 and ordered the C340, this time paying the $6.00 shipping to get it sooner. In the meantime, I downloaded the C340 Owners Manual (http://www.garmin.com/products/manual.jsp?product=010-00401-20) and quick reference guides to study before it arrived. It looked a little too simple to believe it would actually work. (P.S. Download the manual, because the C340 ONLY comes with a Quick Reference Guide; no Manual).

Well, yesterday the C340 showed up. It cam in a large enough box to concern me, but that was only to protect it during shipping. Once I opened the box, I found a sealed package (envelope) that said OPEN ME FIRST), the windshield mounting bracket and the power cord (12v). I noticed right away the on the back of the OPEN ME FIRST envelope it stated IF THIS PACKAGE IS OPENED, THE ITME IS NOT RETURNABLE OTHER THAN FOR DEFECT. Being an old and irritated software buyer, this didn't impress me very much. I figured I would return it somehow if it didn't stack up. I opened the envelope and took out the CD and the USB cable. The directions say to install the CD and have your C340 with the USBN cable ready to plug into your computer. I put the CD in and after a couple of menu screens, the program instructed me to plug in the unit to the computer. Then it went through the registration process. It said "congratulations" and the program ended, having installed the USB Drivers for the C340 on my computer. Garmin has what they call a "POI Loader" program (Points of Interest), which you have to download from the Garmin website. I haven't found any of these on their website. Evidently the USB Drivers are there for future map updates, etc.

IN ANY CASE, I finished with the computer and began to play with the C340. I found that I only needed to refer to the Owners Manual once or twice. The C340 is incredibly user friendly and allows you to play with it in the house (it came with charged batteries; which by the way recharge in the car). The touch screen is super, clear and quick. I was able to go through a lot of the procedures listed in the reference guide with the satellite hookup (the C340 does that once you get outside).

So, today was the big day for testing the unit. I just had my truck worked on and wanted to test the cruise control. I decided to go to a known location first. When I searched for stores, the C340 came up with the exact Outlet mall I was going to. Once on the screen you just press "GO". The unit shows you the 2 or 3 dimensional map (I prefer the 2D map) and starts talking to you. I selected English-Jill for the voice since it supposedly speaks the names best. I had chosen "shortest route" instead of "fastest route" (the 2 options the C340 gives you). Without doing anything else I intentionally followed "her" directions to see how accurate the C340 would be. Frankly, I was impressed and amazed. The unit was flawless in getting me there (@50 miles), even telling me the correct names for roads I've been on hundreds of times and didn't know. Once we got to the Outlet Mall in good shape, I decided to go to an Amish restaurant WAY OUT in the country (50 miles of small backroads). The Garmin C340 didn't have the exact place in storage, but it allows you to type in a city and I found a place that was nearby. I figured that if I made it to the actual restaurant, I would use the "Save Favorites" button to put it in the C340 memory. Then in the future I would be able to get there from anywhere. This is a super feature of at least the C340 and probably the C330. When you are at a place that you will want to go to later it is a simple task to save the location, and then the C340 will take you there from anywhere. In any case, I followed the directions the C340 gave me and soon we were traveling on little country roads I had never been on. It shows your compass heading as you drive, and we were heading in approximately the right direction and had all day, so I let the C340 run the show. It shows your speed and the estimated time of arrival. It told me from the beginning that we had about 1 1/2 hours to drive to get to the restaurant. Needless to say, we arrived at the location I had picked (which was about 1/2 mile from the restaurant) in just about that much time. The 2 times I got off track because the roads weren't marked very well, the C340 recalculated the trips and gave me directions to get back on track with a new estimated time of arrival. The unit has a "Detour" function on it, but I haven't found it necessary yet. If you just go another way, the C340 initially tries to get you back on track, and then gives up and recalculates a new set of directions from your current location to the destination. Once at the restaurant, I saved the location for future use. Now I was ready to go home. Before I left the house, I had programmed (not really "programmed"; its about a 2 step button push) my HOME. Now I just pushed "Where To"; "Home" and we were on our way. Since I have traveled this route many times, I decided to go my regular way (I was getting tired), and make the C340 correct any differences. On the way back, there were two instances of "differences". Both involved small jogs that probably were "shorter" by a few feet. I ignored the instructions and within seconds the C340 had made the adjustment to get us back on track. The C340 used almost the EXACT route we always use to get us home. It was flawless. After getting home, I decided to go to the store. Rather than programming something in, which I (A) didn't need directions to; and (B) wouldn't save anyway, I just decided to push "Browse Map". This brought up a map show my exact location, compass heading and speed. I did lose the satellites for about 30 seconds during this ride (it shows on the screen which stops moving also). I turned the C340 off and then on, and it found the satellites. I continued on. Once done at the store, I pushed "Home" and it gave me directions right to my house again.

I think enough of this C340, that I bought another windshield mount and an AC adapter for it (I found them on eBay). I have seen complaints for the Garmin case that Amazon sells that it isn't big enough. I feel it's too big. I just wanted a case to contain the main head of theunit, since you don't want to leave it in the windshield when you are out of the car and I wanted it protected. I found a Sony LCS-CSD Soft Carry Cas for a Cybershot Camera that fits the head perfectly ((...)) at Staples. So far in the 2 days that I have owned this unit, I feel that it works great, is simple to operate and I think it was money well spent. It should really be useful this summer for our country road trips. My wife was impressed with this GPS also. I may get her one for Mother's Day. I have listed below information from the Garmin website. You should visit their website and download the manual if you are interested in this GPS. One world for the C340: SUPER




Information from the Garmin website (http://www.garmin.com/mobile/products.html#automotive) AS OF 3/10/2006

The StreetPilot "c-series" GPS navigators feature a simple touchscreen interface, with automatic route calculation to any destination and turn-by-turn voice-prompted directions along the way. Selecting a destination is straightforward and requires only a limited amount of input from the user. Plus, the StreetPilot c320 and StreetPilot c330 allow you to choose between a three-dimensional navigation view or the more traditional "bird's eye" overhead view.
For the ultimate out-of-the-box convenience, the StreetPilot c330 comes preprogrammed with highly detailed MapSource City Select street data. The database features nearly six million points of interest-including hotels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs, and attractions. (The c320 comes with a 128 MB SD card and a MapSource City Select CD-ROM for data transfer from a PC via a USB connection.)
As an added benefit, you can now import customized points of interest with the help of Garmin's free POI Loader software. The possibilities are endless - upload safety cameras or school zones, and you will receive a warning if you are traveling too fast. In addition, an optional proximity-alert feature notifies you of upcoming custom POIs.
The centerpiece of both units is a bright, 3.5-inch diagonal, 16-bit color display that makes navigation a snap. The StreetPilot c330 features dual integrated speakers for high-quality voice prompts, and an internal lithium-ion battery for out-of-car route planning.
The new StreetPilot c-series boasts distinctive and sleek styling-the only buttons are a rotary volume knob and an on/off switch. The device is secured by a suction-mount cradle that fastens to the windshield for easy portability between vehicles. Users can customize their unit's appearance with an array of colored faceplates (sold separately).
Garmin part number: 010-00401-10 (...)(for domestic US market only)

The StreetPilot c340 provides in-car navigation that is simple for anyone to use directly out of the box. After selecting a destination from the user-friendly touch screen interface, Garmin's text-to-speech feature tells users the name of the street, when to turn, and in what direction. If you miss your turn, the c340 automatically calculates a new route to the destination.
Notification of traffic delays is a c340 option that lets drivers see congested areas via a color-coded map. This feature lets users avoid traffic by simply pushing a button that will calculate a new route. This traffic awareness is made possible via the new Garmin GTM 10™ FM TMC receiver that connects to selected Garmin street navigation products. The GTM 10 receives digital data from specific FM broadcast stations in select major metro areas throughout the United States and Europe.
The StreetPilot c340 comes preprogrammed with highly detailed City Navigator® NT street data of the entire United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. The database features nearly six million points of interest-including hotels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs, and attractions.
As an added benefit, you can now import customized points of interest with the help of Garmin's free POI Loader software. The possibilities are endless - upload safety cameras or school zones, and you will receive a warning if you are traveling too fast. In addition, an optional proximity-alert feature notifies you of upcoming custom POIs.
The StreetPilot c340 joins Garmin's growing line of automotive GPS navigators. It has a bright, 3.5-inch diagonal, TFT display with touchscreen; dual integrated speakers for high-quality voice prompts; and an internal lithium-ion battery for out-of-car route planning.
The StreetPilot c-series boasts distinctive and sleek styling-the units' only buttons are a rotary volume knob and an on/off switch. The device is secured by a suction-mount cradle that fastens to the windshield, for easy portability between vehicles. Users can customize their unit's appearance with an array of colored faceplates (sold separately).
Garmin part number: 010-00401-20 (...)

I bought this unit here at Amazon around Nov.13th, played with it around town for a few days. Easy to set up, in fact you really don't need to set anything but your home address and where you want to go. THE BIG TEST! We just came back from our daughters new home for Thanksgiving in the mountains of Franklin, North Carolina. We have never ever been to this area in our life, our Garmin C340 took us right to our daughters front door. It never missed a road or turn, it warned us well in advance of all changes comming up. My wife and I are in our mid 60's, eye sight and hearing is not like once was. The unit is easy to see and to loud hear. We are very, very pleased.