Well we were the last people on earth to buy a CD player and we still dont own an IPod but we are looking at purchasing a GPS for the cars.

We have successfully navigated around the country for many years using only maps and atlasses and what Brocky affectionately calls Jac-Nav (thats me).

But now with all of the changes happening in Brisbane and the fact that the Valiant still has a mph speedo - we are considering stepping into the 21st century and purchasing a GPS.

Does anyone have any suggestions about what to get, what not to get etc etc. We need something that is easy to see, easy to use, has advanced lane information and Brocky said something about bluetooth (now there's a whole new concept ). We need to be able to transfer it from the Val to the PT easily.

Your advice would be greatly appreciated!! Even if you would like to recommend right down to make and model would be great.

Thanks everyone.

LONG story so make a cuppa !!
I purchased a Garmin unit 5 years ago .. we used that brand at the time for the boat & I liked the shape to suit the PT .. ended up with 4 of them ( the fellas & the sales guy) updated as needed .. 3 are still going one was taken apart & used as a nav system for a model boat !! don't ask ,... up dates have been doen by a friend as I am not pooter savyy ... Phantom has a NEWer one as does RTDV too square & modern for the pts !! Garmin had great back up service on phone & internet while I was learning .. POI s & things like that were NEW then ! .... we stuck with Garmin as .. we got used to the menues .. RTDV did try a TOM TOM ( he was interstate and forgot to take his Garmin charger & cig lighter thingie ) and he "threw" it away after two weeks be(*& menues ... also the NAVMAN suffered the same fate it came with his mobile phone but he coudl NOT get used to it .. he went back to his Garmin usd it in USA & UK ( has the maps now) ... so my advice would be .. try all the brands at the store your self .. see which one U can use by your self .. don't listen to the salesperson they flick buttons & make it look easy ... & make sure the unit DOES have the up to date maps .. some are in the shop for MONTHS before getting sold & if real cheap are probaly run outs ( been on shelf new model coming out ) .. then U get home & U have a OLD map they then need to be up dated shoudl be free but check ... ALSO charge the battery BEFORE U use thme it will assist in keeping your back up battery working .. so U can use it walking around or in an other car without the leads ... also read that the maps on some cover NZ as well ..... ?? or was that the Marine ones .... hmm .. could be wrong there... ??

Got 2 tom toms and I am used to the maps they show. One is a an early model and a bit hard to update without costing money but the last one I bought early last year and it seems fine. ( Still got lost in Melb & Tassie a couple of times..............but I was following the PT in front. So probably wasn't the tom toms fault. )
About to get rid of the early one and get a more up to date one that is a little easier to use.
But as Dot said, look around and see what you think suits your cars the best.
Some of the latest ones are super slim and don't look bulky like the earlier ones used to.

agree chief .. lucky my "friend" is pooter savy update on two OLDer units didn't cost .. new old one came twith FREE upgrade ... maps are all on a par .. run by whereis or similar & they all seem to have an off moment here or there (tell U to turn left & map indicates right !!) ... it is the menues & the user friendlyness & what U get used to .. a bit like mobile phones .. U get used to using it this or that way .. get a new one & it is different even between makes ... and what features U want .. I am staying with newest old unit . it doesn't have a blue tooth or Ipod connection (getting that through the stereo anyhow ) or camera .. & has inbuit map with POIs on a card (older ones have the maps on card & no inbuilt so POIs are limited) .. some have the lot inbuilt & a card for storing pictures & GPS co ordinates so U can find your way BACK to where U were !! .. depends on how MUCH U want to use .. 3d images also avaialable ... and pick your car . the list goes ON !!
also your budget .. more features MORe expensive .. had run down of the NEW Garmin 3790T via the boat show rep .. fits in your pocket .. about THE size of a credit card .... & fetures !! ... best to say WHAT hasn't it got !! IT DOESN'T BOIL WATER !! . but price is UP there !! & if U aren't going to use the fetures why bother ... if U can try the menues on a few ( any mebers got one that u can have atry of ??) & figure out minimum of what U want & price bracket then take it from there .. !

I bought a Mio.
Why! Liked the shape and the style. It was quite thin but had a big screen so it could fit in your pocket...without causing a bulge.
I also felt it offered more than the Aust main stream brands. Mine has Blue tooth as well, stores pics and music etc but its several years old now and as you know technology changes over night.
Recently at Port Macquarie some bloke I know was showing me his GPS and it takes photos and i thought it could run a video while you were driving.
Anyway buying a GPS i guess is like buying a car ...very confusing and depends on the budget.
You know there are GPS units out there now that show actual footage of the road in front of you but superimpose the directions or lanes to take over the top of the view!!

- Ray

Thanks for your help everyone. Brocky had a look around Toowoomba and Brisbane on Friday/Saturday and we ended up getting a Garmin 765T. We saved $100 by buying a brand new one off ebay. So we should have it by the end of the week.
Thanks again everyone.

Thanks to Aussiecruza for bringing his along to Cleveland Markets last week and giving Brocky a 101 of GPSes. Aren't they clever little things?