Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I am one of the most geographically challenged people on this planet, so when I got a chance to review this Magellan Roadmate 9055 unit, I jumped on it. I've never owned a GPS but have always wanted one. DH and I mistakenly thought, however, that we had to have a monthly service agreement to use one. How pleasantly surprised we were to discover that we just plug it in, tell it where we want to go, and go! We also are happy with how big and readable the screen is. Being older folks, we need that bigger screen. With the AV-in capability (for watching videos or DVDs on the Roadmate 9055), the 7" screen is a definite boon should we find ourselves on a long trip.
We are using this GPS unit in a Toyota Tacoma, so without having someone defeat the cigarette lighter's automatic shut-off, the unit powers down when the ignition is turned off. Actually, I think I prefer that to having it on all the time and having to remember to turn it off. We do not have cell phone service, but if we wind up getting it so we can use the 9055's awesome capability to function as a hands-free phone via Bluetooth, we'll probably want to have someone who knows what they are doing help us hook it up to a constant power source and trickle charger.
We wound up buying an AutoDASHMOUNT Portable Friction Mount with 360 Degree Fully Articulating Neck for OPTIMUM View and Dashboard Fit - Removable to use with this instead of the window mount that came with the product because we can just sit it in the floorboard of our truck when we get out (locking, of course) so it doesn't call attention to itself. But the included window mount is heavy-duty and works very well. You just can't remove it easily, although you CAN pop the GPS unit off of it fairly quickly and throw it into the glove compartment. The mount hanging there on the window, however, is a dead giveaway that you have something pricey in the car that someone might want to steal.
I like the POIs (points of interest) and AAA ratings programmed into the device a lot, especially the restaurants, educational institutions, service stations, healthcare/emergency facilities, and grocery stores. We just moved to a small mountainous community in North Georgia, and this unit is definitely helping us find our way around. When we're kicking around nearby towns, we've noticed that a lot of little hole-in-the-wall restaurants we did not know about are in our device—restaurants we would not have found on our own—but a handful of them are no longer in business. This is not surprising, though, because those restaurants have only very recently closed their doors.
For what we have needed, the roads have been pretty much accurate. (You just have to be sure the unit has a clear view of the sky. There's no telling what you'll get if you hold it flat in your lap. It can lose its mind.) Being able to see the map view with side roads definitely encourages exploration that we would not otherwise have done. We keep the autozoom/turn feature turned on, and we've found that even if a road name is "wrong" (probably because there are three or four different names for some roads in Georgia), the chime telling us to turn is always accurate. Although we haven't had occasion to use it where we are, we're looking forward to having the lifetime traffic feature and lane guidance when we go on treks to larger cities near us, such as Chattanooga or Atlanta to visit family and shop.
I like it that you can ignore turn advice and it seems to adjust quickly to give you a different route based on where you are. Perhaps my favorite thing about this GPS is that you can program multiple destinations into your trip, then (if desired) have it calculate the most efficient way to make all the stops. (You can also cancel one or more stops if you get too tired.) This could save a lot of money on gas by ganging trips and taking the best routes to "get 'er done." DH is the type who wants to go one place, then go right back home—a man, in other words—so I'm hoping this multi-destination feature will help us reach more fuel-efficient compromises.
Had I been purchasing my first GPS and not receiving the product gratis in return for reviewing it, the Magellan Roadmate 9055 would have been a pricey feature-laden bit of overkill given that we don't have cell phone service and don't take long trips with kids who need to be entertained with DVDs. But I have to say that I am just delighted with this unit's wonderful features. I think DH and I are far more likely now to get out and about than we were before, and that's a good thing for a retired couple.
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Magellan RoadMate 9055 7-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Lifetime TrafficIntroducing the exclusive extra-large 7" GPS navigation device from Magellan. This easy-to-read GPS navigation device is perfectly at home in your car, yet designed for large vehicles such as SUVs, trucks and RVs. The panoramic, high-resolution 7" WVGA screen makes viewing your map while driving quick and easy! This ultra-clear vibrant display lets you see where you are on your route with four times the detail found in a standard sized GPS device. The included Heavy Duty Extension Mount is extremely versatile and allows you to adjust the position of the RoadMate 9055 into the perfect viewing position in SUVs, trucks or RVs with deep dashboards.Nobody likes to be stuck in traffic. Enjoy subscription-free, lifetime traffic alerts at any time! The RoadMate 9055 provides you real-time traffic alerts and alternate routing to avoid delays while driving. Magellan has teamed up with the most trusted name in roadside assistance - AAA - to help should you find yourself broken down. The RoadMate 9055 comes with a specialized location screen that, with just a touch of a button, displays your location so you can direct help to you. The AAA roadside assistance phone number also is displayed. The Magellan RoadMate 9055 brings the best features of GPS navigators together with size and versatility. Its advanced features make it stand out from the rest. Plus, with preloaded maps of the 50 United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, it is perfect for everyday commuting as well as traveling across country.
Features
What's In the Box Magellan RoadMate 9055 GPS receiver; pre-loaded maps of United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico; extension windshield mount; vehicle power adapter; USB cable; and user handbook.
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