Is the Garmin StreetPilot C340 the Best Navigation System in Its Class?

If you are like me, you have a poor sense of direction when you are traveling. Do you sometimes find yourself lost in traffic and have no idea how to get where you are going? If so, you may be a good candidate for an automotive navigation system. They can be a great help when traveling, and the prices have gradually been on the decline. There are a vast amount of units available, so it may be difficult for you to make a decision on which one to choose. One option you may want to consider is the Garmin StreetPilot c340. This unit is somewhat middle-of-the-road without tons of bells and whistles, but it is a well-rounded package with a good set of features.

The Garmin StreetPilot c340 comes with a preloaded set of maps, and you can upload maps to it when necessary along the way. There are many nice traveling options provided by the StreetPilot c340 that contribute to its value for the price. It has the ability to re-route you on your trip automatically when detours become necessary, and you can choose whether or not you want the fastest route or the shortest. Also, you can choose a route that avoids using such things as highways and tolls.

There is one feature that sets the c340 apart from the lower line of StreetPilot models that I consider vitally important. That feature is the turn-by-turn voice directions. The Garmin StreetPilot c340 announces the street names you need to turn onto. Also, it announces the names of the exits you need to take on the highway to get to your destination. Because of this feature, you can keep your eyes on the traffic where they belong. This will help keep you safe, and it is a very handy feature that I consider a must-have.

If I had to recommend any automotive navigation system, this is the one I would pick hands-down. Garmin has great customer support and is always on the leading edge of consumer automotive navigation systems. I think this is the best value for the money because it has the features I consider necessary such as the voice-guided directions, and it is easy to use without a bunch of unnecessary features to confuse you.

The cheapest place you will find this unit is on eBay from what I have seen. If you want to buy it from an actual store, it is currently priced at $240.71 from pcRUSH.com, which is the cheapest I have seen them other than eBay.

There are generally warranty plans available with the rates dependent on the place you purchase the unit from. Garmin products have a great reputation, and I personally wouldn't go for a warranty. It is up to you whether you want to play it safe just in case, but either way you can expect a quality product with your new navigation system.