Review of Garmin Nuvi 205 Portable GPS in Metallic Pink

As someone who drives all the time, and drives with just a general idea of the location of my destination, a portable GPS in the car is necessary. Actually, for the longest time, I resisted the purchase of a GPS, even after I had the chance to use a Garmin on a couple road trips. It was not until I was hopelessly lost after a wrong turn, in a very unfamiliar and seemingly unsafe neighborhood, that I decided to break down and buy a Garmin GPS unit for myself.

Now that I own one, I do not know how I am ever going to drive around without one again. I decided on a Garmin Nuvi 205 portable GPS unit in metallic pink for its price, usability, and of course, the color.

With the number of GPS units available, it is hard to determine which one is the best for you and if you will be able to easily use a system without actually trying them out. That is why I suggest that anyone interested in buying a GPS unit go to the store and try out each one for themselves-- and it is exactly what I did to decide on the Garmin Nuvi 205. The first features that I noticed about this specific Garmin was how quickly I was able to bring up driving instructions, and switch back and forth between functions. The Where Am I? feature is also very helpful, and I never realized how much I would rely on this until I got out on the road with the unit in the car. Preloaded maps, location and address memories, and the ability to add a microSD card with additional maps and points of interest make the ride a little smoother. Other perks like the color, dashboard accessories and photo saver capability, are all just icing on the cake.

Of all the models I tried, the Garmin systems were able to give me directions or locate my location the fastest. I did not actually realize how fast this was till I was out on the road though, and I am very pleased with every aspect of the system. I generally hate it when I am given driving instructions as I am driving, which is why I avoided using a GPS unit in the first place. Remarkably, the GPS is not at all annoying or confusing while you are using it, and even if you choose not to watch the unit while driving, you should have no problem following the instructions. Prompts are quick, early and concise, so there is enough time to get where you need to be even with heavy traffic and high speed of travel.

With all that in mind, there is very little I would change about the Garmin, especially considering the price-- and I bought mine on sale. There were some models with larger screens that I liked, but the Nuvi's 3.5 inch screen is sufficient. Also, I find all the colors used to illustrate routes on the map a bit distracting. I would much rather see a system that uses a couple basic colors to map my route out and the surrounding streets than catch several bright colors blinking up on the screen in my peripheral vision.

For the price and all the fantastic features that come standard on the Garmin Nuvi 205 GPS, it is a very sound investment that will give you plenty of use for years, regardless of updates.