Garmin Nuvi 500

[MrPepsi]

Who knows a bit about a comparison between the Nuvi 550 and the Nuvi 500? The 500 is only $300 or less if you dig around. How long has this product been out? What doesn't it have that the other more expensive items do have? They are both waterproof and 3.5"

[MrPepsi]

I think I just answered my own question. No XM and no bluetooth.

[mikeboileau]

No XM is Ok, but I need bluetooth.  I've been looking too.  Why can we get a Tom tom for 99.00, but a bike one is 500.00?

[MrPepsi]

Why can we get a Tom tom for 99.00, but a bike one is 500.00?

Waterproof.

[mikeboileau]

Might just use a baggie if it had bluetooth.

[Barry]

Who knows a bit about a comparison between the Nuvi 550 and the Nuvi 500? The 500 is only $300 or less if you dig around. How long has this product been out? What doesn't it have that the other more expensive items do have? They are both waterproof and 3.5"

I have a Nuvi 500 series GPS... the only difference between a 500 and 550 is the Topo map function.  Neither has XM or Bluetooth, both are waterproof.

Barry

[mikeboileau]

550 has bluetooth   Maybe it zumo 550.

[B.D.F.]

You can find out all about the different units at the Garmin site.

The three things that basically drastically increase the price of GPS receivers are 1) Bluetooth ability 2) MP3 (also audio books, etc.) and finally 3) Waterproof. There are just no inexpensive waterproof GPSs on the market with bluetooth and an MP3 player.

You can use just about any non- waterproof GPS in a RAM Aqua mount, which is waterproof. Not a perfect solution but it does work. After that it is just a matter of spending more money to get the next two major options (bluetooth and MP3 player) as you need them.

Brian

Who knows a bit about a comparison between the Nuvi 550 and the Nuvi 500? The 500 is only $300 or less if you dig around. How long has this product been out? What doesn't it have that the other more expensive items do have? They are both waterproof and 3.5"

[Jose C-14]

I bought a Nuvi 500 last year. I've being tru numerous rain storms and else. The Nuvi has out perfom any other GPS that I had in the pas. Yes no blue tooth but thats Ok.

[rar]

I have had the Zumo 550 for a few years, on my other bike and now on the C14.  It has been good but not great.  You shouldn't leave it on, on very hot sunny days.  It got fried once.  Garmin was willing to replace it for $150 (pretty sure that was the price).  If I had it to do over I might get a cheaper auto model.  Throw a bag over it in the rain and toss it and buy new if it fried.

[dbird29]

I'm using the Nuvi 1690 that was open box @ Best Buy for $65.
Works great in a Cortech GPS bag and stayed dry in the rain.
If I get a couple of seasons out of it there is bound to be something great by then.

[capt chaos]

550 has bluetooth   Maybe it zumo 550.

AFAIK only mono bluetooth. Zumo 660 required for music listeners   

[lather]

I have a Nuvi 500 and a Nuvi 550. Suposedly identical except that the 500 has a Topo map and 48 states. The 550 has Canada and Alaska but no topo. However, the Garmin Topo is not very good, I deleted it and installed a better free topo from www.gpsfiledepot.com. So in that sense I think the 550 is a better buy. That is why I bought one when I thought I had fried my 500.

But the two units actually have other differences as far as I can tell. Windows reports the 500's internal memory is about 1 GB larger than the 550. It also seems to me that the 500 has a more "twisties rider" friendly recalculation logic and is faster to redraw. But both are far better than my old Street Pilot. I prefer the 500 but glad I bought the 550 in case I ever get to Canada or Alaska.

One drawback they both have is the lack of an audio output jack. Instead there is a small built in speaker that can not be heard about 30 mph. Somebody on some forum has wrired in a jack but I am afraid to try that.