<p>*Except when you leave the beanbag thing on the dashboard with the Garmin in it, in plain sight. *</p>
<p>which is maybe a plus to having it on my cell phone.
Plus, I sometimes need it when I am out walking in a strange city- cause I don’t know what direction I am heading!
I really love it- it tells me in advance what lane to be in, and where I have to turn, unlike my usual backseat driver who tells me only after I miss the turn
( screen size is much smaller than GPS though)</p>
<p>However- with the program on the cell, there is a monthly fee.- but you can also just use it when you need it- [which</a> I what I have done so far.](<a href=“Private Site”>Private Site)</p>
<p>I think the advantage for having GPS on the cell phone is that the phone goes every where with you - where as something like a Garmin doesn’t. For students with - or without - vehicles - it is of great benefit - cuz even if they are in someone elses vehicle - or in a strange place - they can always find where they are - where to go - how to get there. I don’t mind the expense of it via my cell phone - much less expensive than a big unit - even over time.</p>
<p>I have been out with friends who have gotten lost - wip out my cell and find our way instantly - it is great And for my gal - who travels alot - it has been a godsend as well.</p>
<p>JeepMom - I plan to get a GPS for my daughter soon, and until I read your post, I had not considered the cell phone option. Do you find that you rely on the verbal directions more than the screen, and is the size of the screen too distracting for a rookie driver? My car came with a GPS and I have encouraged her to glance at the screen for distance to upcoming turns so she is in the right lane and so on, but it seems like a screen the size of a cell phone would be tough.</p>
<p>Actually - I find the screen on the cell phone quite adequate - I have it placed at eye level on the dash - I uses a universal cell phone holder - that I screwed onto the dash - so it sits directly at eye level - to the left of center of the middle area of the dash (under the rear view mirror area but to the drivers side) - so that it is an easy move to glance at it. (It will hold a cell - ipod - etc.) I hate the holders that fit in a cup holder - or on an airvent - they are very awkward to use/look at - IMHO dangerous). </p>
<p>As far as distracting - I find my cell phone on the dash alot less so than my DH’s big GPS - which seems to be in your face all the time. With the cell on the dash - you know it is there - but it is not overbearing - and at night it is very easy to use as well - and you can flip the top of the cell down a bit - or push it back - flat - by adjusting the holder - if you don’t really need to look at it - but can still listen - just don’t close it completely or the GPS shuts off.</p>
<p>I do use the verbal directions all the time - funny - I use the guy voice - DH uses the gal voice - it gives very concise directions BEFORE you approach where you may have to make a turn or take an exit - has a meter on the left side that gives you a very quick eye-ball view of distance to the turn when you are within a certain distance of that turn - and it has arrows that tell you which way the turn is going to take - red for L - blue for R. The visual changes as you go - sometimes it is very large - when approaching a change - sometime it is more generalized for cruzing along. </p>
<p>One thing you can do - if you already have a cell phone that will take GPS program - you can download it and try it out - for a day or 2 - or for a month - you don’t have to keep it - see how you like it. At most it will cost you ?? $10 for a month to try it.</p>
<p>Quick question - what type of cell service do you have - and is the phone GPS capable. If not - you would have to get a phone that is compatible. Actually - with Verizon - you can ‘‘test drive’’ a cell phone for ??2 weeks and try it out - just an idea.</p>
<p>I have Verizon service and am due for my upgrade in a week or two so I’ll be cell phone shopping. I’m not sure if my current phone supports GPS - I got it because it was Blue Tooth compatible, but there are lots more BT compatible phones out now from which to choose.</p>
<p>I have Garmin Nuvi 350, which is very small. I also bought a bean bag accessory because suction cups do not work. I will put it under my seat when I am not driving.</p>
And for my gal - who travels alot - it has been a godsend as well.</p>