Customer Reviews

Magellan Maestro 4200 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Like all the Magellan products, this unit features a sharp, clear interface that is easy to use. You don't need instruction manuals to get started, it's very intuitive. The size of the screen is amazing. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that unlike many of the Magellan models I'm familiar with, you can't enable the unit saying the street names. I just announces "Right" "Left" etc. and the distance.

The Magellan 4200 has a few standard features that you will find in more expensive models. It is lacking the street name directions. All you get is turn left or turn right. That part is annoying. You can still mute the unit and you will be ok.I tried searching a few addresses and it was pretty accurate. So in that sense is good. I will probably sell this one and get a better model. Overall, it is a pretty decent unit. Easy to use.

Good looking Nav unit is easy to operate. Its reasonably accurate, and has an excellent database of points of interest.

It isn't feature-laden like more expensive models; this is a no-frills Nav unit.

The map is October 2007, so if you live in an area ripe with development like Las Vegas(well, there USED to be development), then you might be disappointed to find out there are no new map updates for this unit.

Final thought on this unit, and it applies to all Nav units, is that frankly I see very little utility in owning a Nav unit unless you travel often to places you are unfamiliar with. Nav units are no substitute for real knowledge and experience of the roadways.

The product itself is not bad. But BUYER BEWARE if you seek customer service of any kind you will run into the worst maze since the one the estimable Minotaur's victims had to endure. I simply wanted the map update I was entitled to, no more, no less. Four weeks later I finally recieved it after an unimaginable panoply of reps who are quick to give you their ID and name (located in the Phillipines) and then proceed to tell you nothing, make you wait on hold with incredibly static ridden electronic music, and come back on and tell you they "know nothing....NOTHING!". I kept picturing Sgt. Shultz from Hogan's Heroes. Then when you politely ask to be escalated you are given to a member of their 'resolution team' who tell you the same thing and attempt to chit chat your troubles away. I know they've been in transition with new owners but that is over and their new system is up and running and still they are incompetent as ever. I wouldn't even want to try and get technical service from this inept bunch of idiots. Finally, however, the maps arrived (four weeks late and one of the reasons I needed them was I use them in my work and was assured when buying the unit that the updates were available and would arrive 5 to 7 business days after I purchased and called them). Then this morning I open my bank account and find that they have charged my account double the shipping costs (the maps are free within thirty days of purchase with $10 shipping charged to your credit card. So now I have paid twenty bucks for my free upgrade ($80 if you have to buy them). Once again I called them and lo!...this problem is handled by the same incompetents who kept insisting that they only charged $10. Then they wanted me to get a letter from my bank stating that the charge was twenty instead of ten and mail it to them and they would review the charge and get back to me. Not on your life!!!!!! I won't do their work for them! I called the bank and protested the charge. Now let them prove it. I have spoken to many people who have similar horror tales of Magellan's customer service prowess both in the past and with the current owners. So again.....BUYER BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!!! Just stick with Garmin or TomTom. I've dealt with both and the service is prompt, satisfactory and they usually have the technical questions at their fingertips. Magellan managed to milk this past my thirty day return window with Amazon (tho I'm sure Amazon would take it back if I insisted...their customer service is 2nd to none), but I play by the rules and I gave it to my grandson to use on his Rock Climbing expeditions...but come to think of it...I'll probably never see him again.

I purchased this item for my dad, he checked to see if there were software updates as he found out the info in the unit was from 2007, first they tried to sell him software update,then gave it to him after he showed receipt with date of purchase, now software update isn't compatable without some other update which they will email to him but he will have to purchase a specific usb cord in order to download from his computer, guess I know now why it was cheap!!!

I should have realized that the price was too good to be true. Turns out the unit I got is several years old-version 1.3 or so, Magellan is currently up to version 4.7 or something like that. That wouldn't be so bad, but it won't update, their website will not recognize my unit for some reason, and to top it off I can't contact anyone because their website is "undergoing modifications". No more Magellan for me. Other than that, the unit works OK. It's just rather frustrating.

i wish it spoke the name of the streets. other than that it is awesome.

I purchased this after previously owning a TomTom. Definatly better quality than the TomTom, and better features. The biggestest down fall is it takes forever to load a map. It also takes long if it has to reroute. If you do accidently miss your turn by the time it has rerouted for you, its too late you have already passed the street its telling you turn around on.

Had a real good opportunity to use my Magellan 4200 to attend a wedding out of state. Put in the address of the church and within 5 hours of driving time arrived at our destination without any trouble. Love it and plan to use it every time we travel to unfamiliar places. Never have to worry about getting lost and the extra features are great when traveling long distances.Listings of restaurants and gas stations, hotels and motels are all available on the Magellan. Don't leave home without it!!

As a navigator, it's a functional and easy to use device. However, the maps are from 2007 and if you want the 2009 update, it'll cost you $80! Also, although the unit is sold as the "North America" version, there are no maps of Canada loaded or available for purchase!