# Telenav vs. Garmin

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/telenav-vs-garmin/49134>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [May 21, 2010, 3:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/telenav-vs-garmin/49134 "2010-05-21T03:02:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jeffmw05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@Jeffmw05](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Jeffmw05)\
**Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 3:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/telenav-vs-garmin/49134/1 "2010-05-21T03:02:15Z")

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I recently upgraded my phone thru my carrier and it has a nifty GPS function.  
  
  
  
 Today it saved my ass while on a trip and the first 60 days of Telenav are “free” and then its $3 / month thereafter.  
  
  
  
 I’m toying with the idea of spending $150 for a brand spankin new Garmin. But its not often that I will need GPS capability in my car.  
  
  
  
 So i’m wondering if it would make better financial sense to pay the $36 a year for a function that I will need only occasionally, or pay the $150 outright and be done with it?

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**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\
**Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 3:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/telenav-vs-garmin/49134/2 "2010-05-21T03:10:52Z")

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Buy a Garmin on eBay from somebody that’s ALREADY done with it…

[http://cgi.ebay.com/Garmin-GPS-i3-Street-Pilot-original-box-NO-RESERVE-/130391510275?cmd=ViewItem&pt=GPS\_Devices&hash=item1e5bf08d03](http://cgi.ebay.com/Garmin-GPS-i3-Street-Pilot-original-box-NO-RESERVE-/130391510275?cmd=ViewItem&pt=GPS_Devices&hash=item1e5bf08d03)

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**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\
**Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 3:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/telenav-vs-garmin/49134/3 "2010-05-21T03:37:44Z")

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I’m using the same service from Verizon, only pay for the months I need it, which is not very often. So it’s saving me money, it’s always with me, don’t have to remember it. If I had frequent need for a GPS I’d get a Garmin.

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**Author:** ![Jeffmw05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@Jeffmw05](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Jeffmw05)\
**Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 4:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/telenav-vs-garmin/49134/4 "2010-05-21T04:57:49Z")

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Thanks.

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**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\
**Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 1:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/telenav-vs-garmin/49134/5 "2010-05-21T13:31:11Z")

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If you’re still within the return policy on your cellphone, consider another alternative, which is to get an Android-based cellphone. That will have Google Maps with navigation built in for free. Since you won’t use it often, the smaller screen probably won’t be a big issue for you.