Garmin Sat Nav Buyer Guide

When it comes to buying Sat Navs the range of different features, manufacturers, designs and price ranges can be quite overwhelming, so hopefully you have already had a read of our Sat Nav Buyers Guide.

If you have decided that Garmin is the Sat Nav for you then you have made a very good choice, Sat Navs don't come any more feature loaded, reliable or as good value for money as a Garmin Sat Nav.

With a fully loaded range of Sat Navs available just from Garmin alone, the information below should help you find the perfect Garmin Sat Nav to buy as always at a very low price from Shop.co.uk.

• Who Are Garmin
• Garmin History
• Garmin Future
• Which Garmin Should I Buy?
• Garmin Key Features
• Garmin Design Features
• Key Garmin Products

Who Are Garmin?

With now over 20 years of innovation, great ideas and amazing products the Garmin name is now synominous with GPS and Sat Nav technology.

Garmin have provided some of the most influential and practical in car satellite navigation devices the world has seen, setting extremely high standards when is comes to product reliability, usability and most importantly accuracy.

Garmin History

Founded by Gary Burrell and Dr. Min Kao in 1989, Garmin have had amazing success with there ever increasing range of Satellite Navigation products, spanning not just automotive usage in cars and on motorbikes but also aviation, marine, fitness, outdoor recreation and wireless applications in the city or in more rural parts of the world.

Garmin Future

After creating products for use in such a wide range of different lifestyles and scenarios if is impossible to tell exactly where Garmin will go next. The biggest news recently was Garmin choosing to sidestep the rise and demand for an iPhone and Android style applications for mobiles, small computers and gaming consoles, choosing instead to launch the Garmin NuviPhone, a 3G touch screen mobile phone that comes with a range of features including of course Garmin's GPS / Sat Nav software.

Which Garmin Should I Buy?

After Hearing about Garmins past, present and future you're probably wondering which Garmin Sat Nav is right for you. With so many different styles, features, ranges, uses and of course the Garmin prices ranges take a minute to read the information below on the key elements to Garmin's designs and features to help point you in the right direction.

Garmin Sat Nav Key Features

Its Garmin's ability to tap into the lifestyle and needs of their Sat Nav users that has granted them so much success, rather than creating a Sat Nav product that just works, Garmin take the extra time needed to understand the needs of the user beyond getting from A to B, creating a rich feature list that will make you really want to Buy a Garmin Sat Nav.

Bluetooth

If you need to make or receive calls whilst driving many Garmin Sat Navs feature built in Bluetooth connectivity. After simple standard Bluetooth pairing you can use the Garmin Sat Nav to make legal and safe phone calls whilst driving.

cityExplorer

Many Garmin Sat Navs can also be used handheld GPS systems thanks to their built in rechargeable batteries and the Garmin cityXplorer software. cityXplorer turns your Garmin sat nav into a portable, hand held tour guide, providing location information, routes and transport information including the London Tube network.

ecoRoute

We all want to complete our car journeys in the quickest, easiest and stress free way. However many people trying to reduce their carbon footprint Garmin ecoRoute calculates the most fuel efficient route, ensuring you not only save money but also improve the environment.

Voice Prompts

Having a clear display is great but sometimes you don't want to have to keep looking at your Sat Nav to know where to go. A selection of Garmin models feature voice prompts, spoken information for upcoming turns and street names so you can be prepared and ready to make safe turns without having to take your eyes off the road.

Lane Assist

If your driving in an unfamiliar area then it's quite possible that without the experience or knowledge of what's coming up next or the flow of traffic you may find yourself in an awkward position for the next junction, causing unnecessary stress and delay for you and other motorists. Garmin's Lane Assist software provides on screen indications of upcoming junction information, letting you not only the type of turn coming up but also which lane you should be preparing to move into.

Garmin Locate

It's a common problem, your in a new area or visiting a massive shopping centre and you can't remember where you parked your car. Garmin Locate smartly remembers your exact parking position, making a note of where you were when you removed the Garmin Sat Nav from the windscreen or dashboard. Now simply turn on your Garmin Sat Nav and it will direct you back to your vehicle, no stress, no time wasted.

Live Traffic Updates

It's always wise to prepare for everything when making a journey but there are some things you can't prepare for like unexpected road closures, accidents and sudden delays in traffic. However if you buy a Garmin Sat Nav with Garmin's Live Traffic update software not only will you be told of the latest travel information that may impact your journey but your Garmin device will advise you of alternative routes to avoid the problems ahead.

Garmin Sat Nav Designs

As well as having ground breaking features Garmin also come up tops with breathtaking Sat Nav designs, providing beautiful gadgets that you want to display proudly in your car or in your hand whilst walking around the city.

Sat Navs come in all shapes and sizes, from Sat Navs built into you car with no display to the tiniest of portable displays that can go unnoticed on top of your dashboard.

Garmin provide a wide range of different Sat Nav designs for all purposes, below is a selection of their different, unique styles.

Garmin Nuvi 200 Series

The familiar small, lightweight and square shaped Nuvi 200 series Sat Navs feature 3.5" displays and are perfect if your looking for a compact Sat Nav which won't take up much room or distract your eyes to much from the road.

If however you like the design and features of the Nuvi 200 series but the display is an issue look out for the 200W models which feature a 4.3" display.

Garmin Nuvi 1200 Series

The Garmin Nuvi 1200 series provide a mix of size and design from the 1300 and 200 Nuvi series Sat Navs, being the smallest and lightest Sat Navs Garmin offer they are also best for those on a budget as they have been stripped back in features and aim at being the perfect A to B in car solution.

Shop.co.uk also has the cheapest prices online for the Garmin Nuvi 1210 and Nuvi 1240.

Garmin Nuvi 1300 & 1400 Series

The Nuvi 1300 & 1400 Sat Navs are great mid range Sat Navs, provide the best value for money on both looks and features.

Typically sporting 4.3" wide screen displays the Nuvi 1300 series provide many of Garmin's high end features including Bluetooth calling, cityXplorer and Lane Assist, all in a super slim and beautiful wide design.

Garmin Nuvi 700 Series

The Nuvi 1300 & 1400 Sat Navs are great mid range Sat Navs, provide the best value for money on both looks and features.

Typically sporting 4.3" wide screen displays the Nuvi 1300 series provide many of Garmin's high end features including Bluetooth calling, cityXplorer and Lane Assist, all in a super slim and beautiful wide design.

Garmin Zumo Sat Navs

You may think that as many couriers tend to use motorcycles that's it's easier to get around on two wheels but bikers need some help navigating the roads too.

With the Garmin Zumo Sat Navs Bikers have been completely catered for, with Sat Navs that have been designed to be durable and fully weather proof, feature anti glare screens for the more intense sunshine that motorcyclists face and even 3D building maps, lets face it you can see the world better on a motorbike.

Key Garmin Sat Navs

If your still not sure which Garmin is right for you then here are Shop.co.uk's Best Buy Garmin Sat Navs;