Garmin Nuvi 5000 Portable 5.2" GPS System

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the bean bag mount is that a euphumism for something?

This is probably designed for bus/truck drivers. I think it's size would block too much of the driver's vision in a car.

No bluetooth, but it appears to have a MP3 player.

Beside the screen is bigger, this one has no built-in battery, no bluetooth, no car locator, no world travel features, and $100 more compare to 760.

#2 - I never understood how people used the little 3 inch screens. My Acura has a factory NAV and it is about a 6 or 7 inch screen, and it's just right. I guess if you just listen to the voice commands you don't have to squint to see those little portable NAVs.

#1: it's a euphemism for your GF's predilection for mounting strangers "bean bags"

#4 my 1985 Buick has built in car phone and I have hard time understanding why people use cell phones nowadays. When I save enough money by buying cheap stuff here I'll definitely buy a car with built in navigation. I like to have big obsolete things in my car.

The only benefit I have seen from built-in GPS units are the up-market ones that support dead reckoning while you are in a tunnel.
The downside of built-in GPS units:
1. Expensive.
2. Maps and points-of-interest often way out of date and a badly administered upgrade system.
3. Highly user-unfriendly interfaces.
4. At the mercy of the auto manufacturer if it breaks.

So my preference is to buy a car without a built-in GPS unit and then buy a Garmin Nuvi (but not this model, something much cheaper).

I completely agree with #7. My friend has a 500 series BMW from 05. The car already has $120k+ miles and runs smooth as ever, but the built in nav system is terrible. Out dated maps, loopy directions and just a really dumb user interface that involved a knob rather than any sort of keyboard. He loves the car but hates the navigation.
I bought the nuvi 660 for $300 a while ago and am very happy with it.

#6 - Ummm these hand held devices have a long way to go to make the in car NAVs obsolete! I have real time traffic , flow data etc. Has Garmin added that XM feature yet???

S BMW has always had crappy NAVE systems. HONDA/ ACURA and have very user friendly interface and utilize the APLINE system. Again, real-time flow data traffic and there is a CD you can buy every year for a wopping $30 to $40 to update the info, if needed.

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