276c accessories

[Bighead]

I am looking at buying a 276c as a birthday gift to myself and was wondering what accessories other owners would recommend getting with it. I might use this for on-road turn directions during business trips (still unsure of it's capabilities in this area) but the primary use will be in the 4Runner for offroad travel.

Thanks for the help...

 

[mountainpete]

Ram mounts, data cards and additional maps are ideal.

 

[MuddyMudskipper]

Ram mounts, data cards and additional maps are ideal.

x2 The basemap that is preloaded isn't as detailed as the ones you will purchase seperately.

 

[Bighead]

Ram mounts, data cards and additional maps are ideal.

I found the 276c package Ram offers and was leaning towards that unless I find something better.

x2 The basemap that is preloaded isn't as detailed as the ones you will purchase seperately.

Is this true for the Topo maps or the on-road maps also?

After doing some more reading on the Garmin site, I've been wondering if I should wait and check out the GPSMap 620 that is coming out next quarter.

 

[goodtimes]

If the primary purpose is on-road navigation, particularly with auto-routing, the 276c....uh....sucks.

Seriously, I love mine, but if I had to use it for finding my way around town, I would hate it. The nav feature is terrible. It seems to consistently take me WAY out of the way, or if I take a detour (due to road closure, traffic, etc), the damn thing continually tells me to turn around....with no option of "take a detour"...I have to figure it out on my own by turning the auto-routing off.

I do really like the screen size, color, contrast...the space between the buttons (making it easy to operate when wearing gloves--on the motorcycle--), etc. It is a great unit....unless your primary purpose is navigating around town.

Fortunately, I don't use that **feature** much. But if you do, I'd suggest some other GPS.

 

[Bighead]

My primary use for the 276c is offroad. If it was going to be okay for on-road directions I thought it might be able to pull double duty while on the road for business (rental cars) but it sounds like that is a no-go.

 

[clinnet]

I would skip the 276c and look at the new Garmin offerings that focus on "offroad" with good screen size like the Oregon and Colorado if you are willing to spend the money.

One thing also about the 276c is the battery. Mine only lasted for 5 months before giving me a "no charge battery icon". But the unit does have a charge. Because of this no charge icon, it fools the unit to saving energy by not having the backlight on which I programmed it to do on start up. I have recently returned the battery to Garmin under warranty.

I have recently read some complaints on the battery issue so mine is not an isolated one.

Like above, the onroad feature sucks. I have a Nuvi 200 for out of town trips which has performed marvelously.

 

[MuddyMudskipper]

Is this true for the Topo maps or the on-road maps also?

Both. You have to buy the Topos seperately and upgrade the on-roads for greater detail.

On land, the GPSMAP 276C’s autoroute basemap can route you on interstates and major highways. For even more detail, get the optional automotive kit (sold separately), which includes City Navigator® detailed maps, a data card and an automotive mount. With this kit, just load the detailed street maps on your 276C and pop it into the automotive mount for voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions to over six million addresses and points of interest, including restaurants, hotels, gas stations, marinas and other attractions.

If the primary purpose is on-road navigation, particularly with auto-routing, the 276c....uh....sucks.

Did you upgrade the maps to City Nav?