GARMIN 010-00522-00 Streetpilot C550 GPS Receiver

A year ago I paid $850 for a Garmin c330 and returned it because the display was not sunlight readable.

For the same price I was thrilled with the c550, which includes a sunlight readable display, talking street names, built-in real-time traffic information (first 3 months free, $60 for next 15 months), Bluetooth hands-free cell phone assistance, and MP3 player.

The touch screen is very easy to use, probably the easiest of any PND (personal navigation system) on the market.

It also includes one via (mid-trip destination) so that a sophisticated user can force the routing to take a known detour.

The real-time traffic updates work, at least in Chicago. In one case I was actually warned soon enough to take an alternate route. The c550 quickly recalculated a new route. Usually there's not much I can do about entering a traffic jam, but at least the c550 shows me how long the traffic jam is.

The talking street names are easy to understand and help keep my eyes on the road.

The Bluetooth worked with my cell phone even though it wasn't on Garmin's approved list (Motorola E815).

The speakers do not give the same audio fidelity as a car radio with built-in Bluetooth. They are adequate for navigation, OK for cell phone use, and unacceptable for MP3 music. There is no problem understanding the person on the other end of the cell phone conversation. The person I was talking to told me that my audio quality was excellent. They couldn't tell I was talking through the microphone on the c550 which was an arm's length away. My phone was in my pants pocket with the cover closed. Bluetooth will also dial numbers for me, either from my phone book which is automatically loaded into the c550, or from the phone number listed in a point of interest such as a restaurant.

To Garmin's credit the c550 includes a headphone jack that could be plugged into an external speaker. Talking on a cell phone with an improved speaker is like talking to the person next to you. Its more natural. But in a rental car on a business trip it would be too cumbersome to schlep around an external speaker.

I see the c550 as an excellent PND for car rental companies. But for personal use, the Garmin Nuvi is still my favorite because its smaller and has more features.

What was Garmin thinking when they changed the mounting from the c300 series to the c500 series,instead of a secure mount that holds the unit in place.They added a ball and socket mount that literally gives absolutely no support to the unit.Go over a bump and unit will tilt downward.go over another bump and it moves to one side.another bump and it leans all the way forward almost facing the car floor.My unit in my old C340 never moved by itself,Garmin needs to rethink this mount and send buyers a new one that secures the unit.otherwise unit is great.For some reason i cannot downlaod POIs like i did in my c340.The blue tooth is great,I have no need for a MP3 Player as its easier just to put in a CD.And you can only program it to make one stop on your way to your final destination,inexcusable for a unit at this price.For those who no doubt will disagree with my opinion of the awful ball and socket window mount.Wait a moth or go over some heavy bumps and then tell me what you think.

I am a long time Garmin customer who previously owned C320. I was excited to see Garmin released C550 earlier this spring (2006) with bluetooth connection , mp3 player and traffice avoidance funtionallity. I immediately sold C320 off EBAY and bough C550 from CC ($ 680 by using 15% discound coupon + ordered from NH to save some tax). The GPS works 99% as same as C320. There are not much improvement in term of navigation.Though , Gamin improved some POIs and mapping issues( add more voices, icons , search , dragable map). The most important resons why I bought this unit are bluetooth connection and traffic avoidance abilities.
As far as I concern after using the unit for about 2 months, the Bluetooth connection work perfectly with my phone ( I have Samsung a-900 "blade" from Sprint. C550 always be able to sync with my phone (Address , call history , etc) perfectly. Though , I am hoping that Garmin update it software for C550 to be able to read text messages like the one Tomtom can. I somehow disappointed with traffic avoidance system. The adapter does not work the first time I bought (broken, had to exchange). Then when it works, it does not help me that much. Yes, it helped me avoid jamed traffic by putting me into local road which will double or even tripple my driving distance. By avoiding traffic you get to drive longer which sometime you better off waiting for trafic to move (i'm in Boston, traffic is not that bad here anyway) . Overall I'm impressed with the unit in terms of accuracy , entertainment , easy of use. I would rate this 5 out of 5 if the traffic function got improved.

P.S. please forgive my grammar and vocabulary as English is not really my first language.

I have been using the c550 for two weeks now. The unit is extremely user friendly and feature rich. In the Metro DC area, the navigation has been very good with the traffic avoidance capability a nice feature. I have been frustrated on only one occasion where after asking it to find me an alternate route around a backup of a few miles, it had me exit, take a side road, then get right back on the congested road. The Bluetooth interface with my Motorola RAZR V3M works flawlessly. With the phone in my pocket, it "sees" the phone within 10 seconds and automatically populates the GPS' phone book and call history. Even the voice dialing, i.e. "Call Robert Smith", works very well. I highly recommend this unit if you have a Bluetooth phone.

I have taken 3 trips with the GPS c550,Going there is horrible.On all 3 trips.the unit took me thru the boondocks,example,on my way to the Poconos.it sent me thru every small town and back country road in PA to get there.when all it had to do was put me on the highway 80e.On the way back.it put me on 80e.Going to Maryland,again i had to endure every small town and side road,and again it took me on the highway back.I have learned this is a bug in the c550 and most garmin units.it just avoids highways going to a destination,and uses them on the way back.Also,having just one waypoint in a $800 unit is crazy.garmin needs to update this asap.also the unit when on the awful windshield mount moves on its ball socket after every turn or rough road,and i constantly have to reajust it.annoying as hell and i dont know how garmin is gonna fix this disaster.plus,despite reports of its working under heavy skyscrapers,it says "unable to locate sateliites" whenever i am in Manhattan near tall buildings.I would not buy this unit until garmin gets the bugs out.and it LEARNS to use highways going and coming.

I buy lots of top of the line equipment, in just about every buying catagory you can imagine. The Garmin C550 is the most useful piece of electronic equipment I have ever owned. Its user interface is so intuitive, that you just don't need to review the owners manual in order to figure out how to use just about all of it's fetures. "Think Ipod"

I took it along with me on a trip through north east Maryland and southern Pennsylvania. Not only were the directions 100% accurate but when I missed a turn, it recalculated the route within seconds! I have read many GPS reviews where the units would let the driver go for miles before recalculating.

Route calculations and satellite fix occurs within three to five seconds, add in blue tooth phone compatibility and you can dail any number listed in the POI database or any number listed in your cellphones address book. You can even use voice dialing, if you phone supports it.

It earns it's keep and is worth every penny. Highly recommended.





My biggest concern before buying the C550 was whether it would work with my new Motorola Verizon E815 cel phone. I searched all over and other than Garmin's site having it not listed as a comaptible device, I took a chance as the unit is so new there were no posts. The only posts I found were people who had issues with Verizon phones not working very well with the Garmin (or any Bluetooth device for that matter other than headsets) as verizon cripples their Bluetooth phones.
Bottom line, the Verizon Motorola E815 seems to work fine... Bluetooth pairing, address book import, voice dialing, calling, receiving calls all seem to work. Amazing considering it's Verizon.
The only gripes I have with the C550 (after owning an original TomTom Go) is not having a compass on the map, having to dive into the menus to scroll the map, no in unit data transfer to/from an SD card, setting a "home location" not obvious, no extra voices (yet), no full Mac implementation (yet - just can see C550 as a drive), not being able to see the whole route easily, no included AC charger, limited customized options, and cartoony car icons (I'm using the arrows).
However, it outshines the TomTom Go in every other way. Great audio volume, bright screen, terrific Bluetooth implementation, traffic (we'll see how that works in real use later), more accurate maps (Navteq vs. TeleAtlas), seemingly better POIs and many more.

I've gone through two of these. The first i exchanged at the store, the second was past the 14 day return policy, so I had to mail it in at my expense.

They work great for the first few weeks. The first one died around when the temp was getting into the 100s, so I thought "Ok, maybe the heat did it". The second died overnight when the temp was around 60. Just won't turn on anymore.

I've read other reviews indicating a similar problem. Hopefully Garmin can send me a non-defective unit. In the meantime, be careful and make sure you can return it.

I use this unit because I am in sales in an unfamiliar territory. It is "spot-on" in it's ability to find any location. The traffic monitor is a "nice to have" feature; however, it notifies you when it is nearly too late to do a detour. The estimated time of arrival feature is invaluable. Unlike some other reviewers, I have had no problem with satellite access. I've gone through tunnels and it rapidly re-accesses satellites within seconds after emerging.

My only beef is that Garmin provided a windshield mount that is an absolute piece of junk. I have been driving along and the unit has fallen off. I was concerned that it was going to be broken. This problem, in my opinion, is serious of enough to consider a different unit that has a better mount. Garmin should "step-up" and design a new mount and ship it to those of us who "took the leap of faith" to buy this product.

Good touchscreen and simple menu's do not make up for serious flaws in design -- all directions disappear when connection to satellite is lost (this happens often in metropolitan areas). What would be better is when the conection is lost only your location should should stay the same but the directions prior to the lost connections should continue to be displayed; directions are listed using north/south etc instead of right and left turns; directions only show next turn even when there is an immediate turn after the next turn; zoom out is very limited.

I had been waiting for this spring's new generation of car GPS. I'm glad I waited.

The integrated traffic feature is incredible. Yes, its not perfect and often not quick enough. And common sense needs to be used on whether to accept the rerouting. But I commute several times a week outside of Boston for 90-120 minutes. There are multiple routes (495, 95, 93, 24) I can take. Within 5 minutes of leaving my house I can carefully monitor conditions and adjust my route at any time. I save 30-60 minutes/week since it lets me take more "aggressive" routes that are shorter but are often clogged with traffic. It also works well on bridge and tunnel traffic in NYC. Not so useful in areas which rarely have traffic (thus not updated as frequently) or where there aren't good alternate routes.

Bad points: Makes weird routing suggestions on many long distance trips. Sometimes, if you keep driving your way, it will suddenly agree and note that your way is ten minutes shorter than the way it suggested five minutes ago. I'm not sure why it didn't calculate that up front. Mount got sloppy after a month and falls off the windshield in high heat conditions. Also, the battery stopped working (only works when plugged in) which I haven't addressed with Garmin. It is hard to examine an entire route instead of just the current portion.

Good points: Traffic (see above). There are better deals if you don't need traffic. Spoken street names are great. In-city navigation is great. Bluetooth works well. MP3 is slightly useful. Having the entire database loaded is great (Canada works very well). The database of stores and landmarks is far more comprehensive than any I have used. Many golf courses. I will put in Walmart and it will show all Walmarts until you find one just off the interstate for a minimal detour.

The traffic feature is incredibly easy to use without the aesthetic and installation hassles of similar solutions.

I've had the c550 for 2 months and SEVERAL road trips. In addition to just telling you how to get to your address (or city, or intersection), it also tells you hotels (with phone numbers), restaurants, entertainment, auto services, etc. along your route OR at your destination.

I can save your favorite spots, and it serves as a speaker phone for my Treo650, and an MP3 player.

This is simply an awesome device- I'm no longer geographically handicapped!!

We really needed a GPS in our family. My lovely wife, whom I cherish and who gets far too little thanks for driving our children to their many activities (and who might read this), would often call me at work to use Mapquest to help figure out where she was and where she was going. Much as I enjoyed these calls, I thought it would be best if she had an onboard co-pilot. After reading the reviews on Amazon, I thought the Garmin sounded like the best choice.

First, the unit certainly does what my wife asks it to do: chart paths between points A and B. At that, it has been essentially flawless over the several weeks since we purchased it. In addition, it is tremendously easy to install (taking just a couple of minutes) and use. In the first two weeks, my wife went from a techno-phobe doubter to a true believer. Asked about the purchase in that first 2 weeks, I'd have given it 5 stars.

Then it died, for no good reason. The company (Garmin) was a bit hard to reach, with limited tech support hours (including no weekends). We had to send the unit back, and we did promptly receive a second unit. That unit has worked great for going on a month now. Given that there are a couple of other users with similar complaints, I'd have to say that these units may not be quite as reliable as a typical electrical device. Also, we have not had any trouble with the mount, unlike several of the reviewers.

In summary, for its core function, I think the unit is awesome. There are some issues with customer support that Garmin should work on, but these are not enough to seriously tarnish our experience.

ADDENDUM (10/16/06) - after some use, I have concluded that the function which estimates arrival time does so by using a best-case assumption about your speed. It seems to predict that you will always be traveling at the speed limit on a given stretch of road. This means is does not anticipate the inevitable red lights. It consistently underestimates travel time for in-city driving. If I could deduct a 1/2 star from my original review, I would.


I did quite a bit of research and after reading a lot of positive reviews, I decided to go with the c550. First, i'll start with the positives. Nice looking unit. Small enough to put in your pocket yet large enough to be seen on the dash board. The suction cup mount was easy to install and since I only had the unit a week, I didnt have the problem of it falling off like others said in their reviews. The unit was very intuitive to use, the touch screen was nice and no problems with it. I never used the mp3 player or the blue tooth options. However, the sample songs in it sounded horrible, like it was playing on an old transitor radio.
The negatives. The unit did not offer alot of features. I took a road trip from Florida to New York. All throughout the trip, hundreds of miles from home yet, the unit would tell me to get off the highway and take other streets. One address I put in, the unit took me to an old grassy field about 3 miles from my destination. Another time it had me drive past my destination about 1 mile, go about another mile in a circle and took me back to the destination. Another time, i knew I was only about 2 miles away from my destination and the unit kept telling me to make a u-turn. The traffic feature was a joke. it would say there was heavy traffic up ahead and suggest an alternate route. I would keep on my normal path with no heavy traffic and no problems. Although the unit would show businesses along the way it did not show rest areas along the highway or exit numbers on the exits.
I returned the unit to Circuit City and they charged a 15% restocking fee which was 120 dollars. I wrote to Garmin and reported everything and they responded with a form letter stating they were not responsible for the information the unit uses. Don't they test their products before subjecting the public to their crap? Very disappointed at the quality of the product and the poor customer service. I thought Garmin was suposed to be the best.
Bottom line: nice looking unit but has very few options inside it and the actual navigation stinks. I had better results from paper maps and Mapquest.
Stay away from this unit.

I had another vendors GPS and the cord was shorting out and had a protection plan. When I went to have the cord replaced the store no longer carried the brand and I would be entitled to a new unit. A comparable unit was the Garmin C550. After some time I decided to get this unit. After getting it home and checking it out further I hooked it up and it would not acquire satelites after 45 minutes. I took it back and enroute it finally acquired the satelites. I returned home. The next day after over an hour it never did acquire satelites so I returned it for another. This one did acquire satelites. Since I was going on a driving trip I was anxious to use this GPS. Well enroute to our destination it had us turn off the interstate and go through some local roads for no apparent reason. I just returned to the interstate even though the unit was not directing us to do so. Then we were going to a specific location and it was off by more than 2 miles as to the actual location. On the return trip it took us to an old 2 lane curve laden road to arrive at a destination. This road, in my opinion, would not be able to be traveled by anything bigger that a car. Luckily I was not driving the RV or I would have never been able to naviate this road. My older unit had some features I would like to see on this unit such as, selecting the use of toll roads or not, the screen identifying the direction of the next turn so you do not have to wait until you are .3 miles from the turn. I will continue to use this unit but I did buy another protection plan with this unit allowing me to exchange it. Time will tell how this unit performs. Hopefully Garmin will update the software to satisfy user comments about the unit.

After reading reviews on the many GPS navigation products on the market I settled on the Garmin StreetPilot c550 for ease of use and appeared high quality. I spent the extra $200 above the c530 getting the Bluetooth and MP3 player as an extra measure in purchasing a premium product. Well folks, you can imagine my shock to find the unit non-operational (broke, dead, nothing) on the fourth use within two weeks of delivery.

To be sure the interface was very intuitive, picked up the GPS signals extremely quick and was overall a nice piece of equipment to have in the big city. Heck, it was very amazing to key in Starbucks in a nearby suburb and find 10 stores close to my proximity.

The point is that the c550 met my needs instantly, yet the product quality absolutely did not meet expectations. As a means to avoid the direct (an often published) hassles of dealing with Garmin, I am returning the unit to the retailer. At this point I'll be looking at alternative GPS units to find a manufacture which subscripes to high quality standards (at least five sigma of quality, or 230 defect per 1,000,000 produced, a reasonable amount by today's top standards in electronics).

This is my second GPS, the first being a Garmin IQue 3600. The C550 is so much simpler to use that there is no comparison. It worked just as promised right out of the box. Zero learning curve. Highly recommended.

Have the c550 for about two months. First I bought the c530 but then decided I wanted the traffic and text-to-speech. Glad I got the 550, but the major and best features of both are the same -- very accurate, excellent signal retention (I often use it to plan routes INSIDE my condo), high quality, great display, solid construction. It's been through bumps, heat, cold and still works like the day it was new. Highly recommended.

This is the third Garmin GPS I've purchased, the first being a C320 for my mother and the second being a 2820 for myself. I've reviewed both of them here and I suggest you check those two reviews out first so that this one falls into better context.

Having purchased three Garmins I can say with no small amount of certainty that the c550 is the one I should have purchased for everyone. (As I write this I'm seriously considering selling my 2820 and buying the c550 for myself.) It is as close to a perfect GPS as Garmin makes. It really seems as if someone at Garmin took the best features of both the low-end and high-end units and put them together into this one unit.

As with other Garmin GPS's that I've used, the interface is very intuitive and easy to navigate. The LCD screen is touch-sensitive and all of the controls are laid out in a logical pattern with simple icons and bright (but not overwhelming) colors. It does everything you'd expect a GPS to do; it will create a route by speed ("fastest route") or distance ("shortest route"), allow you to save your favorite locations, etc. One of my favorite GPS features is the ability to make detours on-the-fly, and the Garmin makes this easy. Stuck in highway traffic? Touch DETOUR and it will plot a new course off the highway. I can't tell you how many times this has saved hours of potential sitting-in-traffic time. (The c550 is even better as it has the FM traffic receiver. If you drive through a supported area, the GPS will *AUTOMATICALLY* reroute you around traffic, construction detours, etc.)

The unit is slightly larger and bulkier than the smaller 300 series units owing largely to its additinal features. Improving on the low-end Garmin units, the c550's screen doesn't suffer the wash-out problem that exists in the 300 series. The screen remains bright and clear even in direct sunlight. The screen itself is the same size and resolution as the 300 series but a subtle change in the bezel makes it look a bit larger. Like the 300 series, the c550 has a built-in battery that's good for about 6-8 hours under normal use (letting you use it outside of the car, particularly useful in case you ever get stranded in the middle of nowhere), simple external controls (power button, volume wheel, USB port), and an SD memory card slot. Like the 2820, the c550 has hands-free Bluetooth, will speak street names and exit numbers, and has the same anti-glare monitor.

There's only one feature that the 2820 has which neither the 300 nor 500 series have which I've found particularly useful. On the 2820's display, there is an arrow in the upper-right corner that shows you what your next turn will be and, below that, how far ahead the turn is. The angle of the arrow tells you how sharp the turn will be; an exit off a highway will be at a slight angle while a turn onto a suburban side street will be at a more severe angle. While this may seem trivial it becomes EXTREMELY handy on the highway, as the arrow shows you which side of the road the exit will be on. (So if the exit's on the left, the arrow leans to the left. If to the right, then then arrow is to the right.) Both the 300 and 500 series will show you how far it is until the turn, neither of them tell you if it's on the left or right until you're about a half mile away. Personally I like having this information well in advance and the c550 doesn't provide this.

The c550 also has features that exceed both units. For example, the c320 offers a mono speaker, no mic, no Bluetooth, and no traffic receiver, while the 2820 requires an external speaker and mic, and the built-in traffic receiver requires an external antenna at extra cost. The c550 has built-in stereo speakers, a built-in microphone, and a built-in FM traffic receiver with a built-in antenna. And while both the c550 and 2820 offer MP3 playback, the 2820 lacks an SD memory card slot so you have to connect the unit to your computer if you ever want to upload new MP3 files.

The c550 uses the same WebUpdater application that Garmin supplies (free), to keep your GPS up-to-date with software updates and such. This is a no-brainer application; plug the GPS into your internet-connected Windows PC and run the app. It will poll your GPS to determine its model and software status, then compare that to Garmin's latest and greatest. It'll then download and install whatever updates it finds.

I'm giving the c550 four stars instead of five, but I would really like to give it three and a half -- but Amazon doesn't let me do halves so I'm rounding up to four. Things I DON'T like about the c550: First and foremost, Garmin's support flat-out sucks. They NEVER reply to emails, pre- or post-sale, and their telephone representatives are significantly less than helpful. For this alone I take off a full star.

If I could remove another half star from my rating, it would be for three minor shortcomings. The first is the "arrow display" as I explained above. With the addition of that one 'minor' feature I would drop my 2820 in a heartbeat and buy the c550 right now. Second, Garmin doesn't include the map CD with the unit. Although the c550 is preloaded, so is the 2820 -- but the map CD came with the 2820, so why not include it with the c550 too? And third, updating the Garmin takes a REALLY long time. The unit itself seems to operate on a USB 1 interface so you don't get USB 2 speeds, and the Garmin update site (which the WebUpdate application accesses) is often very busy. It took over two hours to update my brother-in-law's c550. Fortunately this isn't something you have to do very often but even so, a simple USB 2 interface would have sped things up immensely.

I would definitely recommend this unit to anyone.

I purchased the Garmin C550 for my girlfriend for Christmas! Neither of us had ever owned a GPS System. And I was a bit nervous in finding the best one, for the best price! Well let me say that right out of the box this unit was worth every penny! Instructions? Who needs the instructions....Just plug it in and GO! The Traffic receiver that comes built in with this unit was a life saver! To use this unit is totally free, but if you want to use the traffic alerter you need to sign up for a subscription for $60 dollars a year! We used it with our 3 months Free Trial Period, and it worked like you would not believe! On approaching a split on the Highway we were travelling the traffic alerter warned us of a 5 mile back up on the Truck Route Side Of The Highway Instructing us to take The Car Only Lanes! And sure enough in about 1/2 mile the other side of the highway was dead stopped, while we cruised right through!!! AMAZING!!!
With the voice interaction and the Points Of Interests Built In...
I don't know how we ever lived without it!
I purchased this unit online for about $540...
Hundreds of dollars less than at many BIG retail stores...so do your homework!
At $500 and change this unit is worth every penny in my opinion!!!


I got the c550 for Christmas this year 06. It came with the 3.1 version and reading other posts upgraded it manually to 4.1 and did not use the webupdate.exe app. It acquires the satelite very fast and it is really easy to use. Looking places up is great, the database will mostly not have places or streets that have popped up in the last 1-2 years as it takes time to get incorporated into the software, but garmin has a poiloader app and people on the web who have POI updated catagories that you can load into a customm POI database and your all set to have an udated POI database till Garmin's new City Navigator Version 9 comes out. Overall I love this unit and the map and the screen is so easy to see and read and the dash mount is great.

This is the second Garmin Streetpilot I've owned. The c550 is a lot easier to use than my old Streetpilot 3. It picks up satellites quickly and it's very accurate. The traffic receiver is a nice addition and the ability to update the unit via Garmin's web updater is a nice new feature. The only two issues keeping it from being perfect is the street maps are not up to date for Las Vegas and if you have large hands the touch screen can be a challenge at times.

This GPS has great features:
- A dependable GPS - Voice and visual prompts, not just lots of beeping like some. It quickly calculates (and recalculates) if you don't follow a route. It's quick to learn and very easy to use. The updates are easy to download. I chose the English accent, but you can go with many different dialects and/or languages.
- I was attracted to this unit because it also offers hands-free (bluetooth) phone calling. The microphone and speaker are crystal clear and the unit does not use any voice prompts while you are in a phone call. I love this feature because I hate the bluetooth earpieces and found other hands-free devices to provide less than clear transmission.
- the unit also offers a card slot for MP3 music playing, but I haven't used this feature.

Overall, I would buy again and highly recommend.

Please keep in mind that I am writing this review after using the unit for just over one week. I have researched and demoed several portable GPS units in preparation for an eventual purchase. This is the first unit I have purchased, though I have used others. For me it came down to this unit and one of the TomTom Go units. Ultimately I decided on the Garmin. This unit will do everything you expect it to, and even a little more.
The voice prompted turn by turn navigation works very well, and on screen display is very user friendly. The Garmin auto-update software and the USB connection make updating the unit fairly easy, but it can be a little slow depending on the traffic on their website at the time. It also includes the Garmin Lock security options. You can set a pin number to be entered each time the unit is turned on, or the unit is unusable. If you should happen to forget your security pin, you can set an unlock location that you can drive to, and the unit will unlock. However, should you forget both of these, you will have to send the unit to Garmin to have it unlocked.

The Bluetooth enabled speaker phone option is a great feature. Once setup, the C550 becomes an extension of your cellphone. You can make and receive calls by simply tapping the screen, and when you receive a phone call, the number appears on your screen. If the incoming number is listed in your phonebook, it will tell you who is calling. This hands free feature is incredibly handy, and works very well. If you phone uses voice activated dialing, this device allows you to use that feature as well.

Again, I have only used it for a week but so far the unit has held up to everything I have put it through, even dropping it from the dashboard a few of times with no ill effects.

Pros:
Compact Size
Non Glare Screen
Web Update Interface (USB cable included)
Bluetooth Cell Phone Interface
Built in 6 hour battery
Downloadable car icons and voices
Garmin Lock Security Code (widow stickers included)

Cons:
Maps are slightly out of date
Sometimes slow web update

I highly recommend this unit to anyone thinking of investing in a GPS unit. I have only given it four stars because I haven't used it long enough to rate a five.


When researching the available portable GPS receivers on the market my head began to spin as I am sure you the reader are going through now. I purchased this unit for the car and not as a handheld portable device. In my opinion if you are looking for a handheld version I would look at the Nuvi line from Garmin or the TomTomOne.

As far as in the car, look no further!! Originally this unit was retailing for $799 but currently you can get it for far less. For that it is worth it!!! Comes pre-loaded with US maps, POIs AND includes the Garmin FM receiver (a $125 value) The FM receiver is integrated into the cigarette lighter charger which is convenient if you don't mind the cable. It comes with a 3 month traffic subscription and if you want to continue I believe its around $60 for 15 additional months. If you travel for work, trust me, you will love this feature. You can ask the device to avoid jams if need be or at the very least know where the traffic is and what is going on (i.e. construction, accident, congestion etc). Plus it will calculate your estimated arrival time to your destination which has been spot on perfect since i got it! Every arrival has been within a MINUTE of the ETA! That's pretty good. Check the Garmin site for technical info for your area on traffic technology. but I believe this is a pretty wide spread technology that almost every city offers. If this doesnt appeal to you you can get the c530 which is the basically the same unit minus the FM receiver adapter.

I have also put the mapping to the test. I live in south Florida where roadways change OFTEN and the c550 has been accurate in every way. Recalculates when you miss a turn immediately with an impressive degree of accuracy It has saved me several times already and I have had the unit for 3 weeks! It even knows where U-Turns are illegal!! I have read industry reviews saying it is sometime slow to get a signal but in my opinion, slow meaning about 15-20 seconds once in awhile upon start up is no big deal. Once you get a signal it doesn't loose it, I have even had signal inside my house! That is very rare for GPS units!

My father in-law has a $90k Lexus with the GPS built in and it doesn't do half of what the Garmin can do. For example, POIs (points of interest) are very decent and come pre-loaded as well. You can find local banks, food, shops etc. I use that feature everyday!! You can purchase even more detailed POIs in the form of a SD card but I haven't found a need at the moment. You can also add your own POIs pretty easily. Once you put in a new address you can save it and add a phone number as well. I have all my friends and family plugged in so at anytime i can call and tell them when I will be arriving. Also if you are driving to a new location and like it you can add it quickly by just touching the little car icon and it will store it immediately. (Note, pull off the road before adding the title information :)

Bluetooth connectivity! Awesome! I urge you to get a cell phone with bluetooth technology if you don't already have one. Find a POI, such as a restaurant. The phone number appears on the page to say go. Touch the phone icon to call ahead for reservations or store hours etc. The ETA feature will let you know exactly when your going to arrive... done. The unit has a built in Speaker phone and microphone which in every call I have had, the participant on the other end was surprised to know I was talking to them on a speaker phone. The built in speakers are adequate, and if you have a AUX IN to your car stereo you can hardline it into it using a stereo mini plug cable. It also instantly syncs your entire phone book and recent call list, plus, if you have voice dialing it supports that as well. I own the Motorola Razor V3 FYI. I had a bluetooth earpiece and haven't used it once since i got the Garmin c550.
The only thing I can say is a con in my review is the windshield mount. It attaches to a ball mount which tends to not hold the unit in place in some cases. So far it has been fine for me but once in a while when I touch the far left or right side it will move a bit. You will read other users saying the same thing, even to go as far as in bumpy roads it may move out of position, so possibly Garmin might fix this but don't quote me on that. But with all the features and ease of use I still think you can not go wrong with the c550. I absolutely love this product, recommend it highly, and would purchase one for each family member if I could. I already bought one for my girlfriend! :D

The C550 GPS is small but easy to read and easy to mount. You can move it from one vehicle to another with ease. It talks to you and is easier to use and understand than most built-in units I have used. This is the unit that Avis rent-a-car introduced me to.

Ok,

I ordered through Amazon and it took few days for me to get it. I got it and used it exactly for three days and lines started showing up through the screen. I had to ask Amazon to send me shipping label so I can ship it back to them, wait for the refund to post to my account and then order a new one. I ordered a new one and it arrived home while I was at work. I got back from work, went down to the car and pluged it in, drove about six miles and then it completely died!
Nothing, no screen, no power nothing.

DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT OR YOU WILL REGRET IT!!!

I gave this to my husband for a Christmas present - and it was an absolute winner! He loves it - and so do I, as I am now off the hook for navigating. The StreetPilot has a very clear display (automatically changes from day to night view as it gets dark) and clear verbal directions. You can choose from a variety of voices and accents in English and there are many more languages. You can also download (later, at cost) maps from around the world - a feature we plan to try when we go to Australia later this year.

I've never owned a navigator other than this one. But, it was much better than expected. I just moved out-of-state, and I rely 100% on the navigator to get me where I need to go. It's not perfect of course.

The mp3 feature is a great addition too. The only thing that did not work was the phone pairing. You have to scream just for the other person to hear you.

Announces street names, has real-time traffic monitor and antenna built in, simple intuitive interface, and we always get a chuckle when we turn off for gas or a snack and she says in a perturbed voice: "reCALCulating"! It even knows when we'll be home, within a minute or two, from hours away and across time zones!

It doesn't always give you the most sensible directions ... you may (often) end up taking a route that's slightly longer (both in distance and time) than the best route possible ... but for my significant other who's not always the best with directions, it'll get him where he needs to go. And it is rather easy to use and figure out.

I purchased my Garmin to replace a Magellan Road Mate 800 ($1,000.00) The Garmin is incredible. The Bluetooth is great and the unit is so easy to use. At just over half the price of the Magellan, it is a super value.

Easy to use, accurate navigational device ... when it works. I bought the first unit and powered it up but got nothing. Tech support suggested I exchange it for a new one. The second one worked quite well and was a pleasure to use ... for three weeks. Then it went dead and no amount of charging or resets made a difference. Returned it and got a replacement that also went dead after three weeks. I'm waiting for the fourth unit to arrive but don't have high hopes of having it work.

I paid almost $800 for this unit but think it was a waste of money. It's a great product but it is too unreliable.

Execellent unit. The bluetooth is very tinny sounding but works great. People complain on the other end and you can hear in vehicle

The Garmin c550 is a very good GPS. It is very easy to use and its point of interest database is amazing. It seems to contain almost all of the business in our city (Sacramento, CA). We were able to find restaurants very easily. In addition when we enter "Macy" it located all of the nearby Macy's stores. We entered "Cingular" and it found all of the nearby Cingular outlets. Setting up the Bluetooth was very easy also. Once linked the "Caller ID" from the cell phone appeared when someone calls and it is easy as pressing the screen to answer and talk. Once the call is over another press on the screen hang-ups the call. Making a call is just as easy. You can use the voice call function of the phone, press the phone icon on a POI, or use the numberpad to make a call.
As far as the GPS function, it works great. You can go to an address, a POI, a favorite, or to cross streets with equal ease. The screen is very easy to read, the Garmin gives you a warning well before an upcoming turn, and keeps track of distance and time to arrival. If you make a "wrong" turn or take a different route the Garmin will continually recalculate the route and continue to suggest turns and route directions. Even if you are not using the Garmin for directions it is very useful to be able to see the map of nearby streets to help finding your way out of confusing neighborhoods. We are very happy with the ease of use and functionality Garmin c550.


First GPS device I've used and it is excellent. The display is easily readable and the device is relatiavely simple to use. Very usable navigational map and voice instructions. Very good features.

Everything about this GPS works as advertised. Giving street names along with directions, the bluetooth connection for the cell phone, the computer interface for updates, the ease of operation, everything works flawlesly. Haven't had the fm traffic aleart work yet because there has been no need so far.

it does what expected. the only issue if it is one is the quality of the sound - a little low and for mp3 not really useable.

I recently started an apartment renovation job in Jersey City and dreaded the drive from my house about 65 miles Northwest of there. There's a variety of ways to get there, and I was afraid of the traffic congestion. I got the Garmin for my second drive down, and it was a relief not having to try to read Mapquest directions and keep my eyes on the road at the same time. The Bluetooth function allowed me to make and take cellphone calls safely which was also a blessing. But so far, the Garmin has sent me down and back in several different routes. I don't know if it's because of the Traffic warning system that comes free for 90 days or what, it doesn't explain (it does tell you when there is congestion ahead, and includes a little yellow icon to indicate that--when my 90 day free trial of the Traffic receiver service is up, I may lose that little perk). Also, when I became familiar with Jersey City I would start to take the side streets, but the Garmin would recalculate my route by telling me to make an illegal U-turn and getting back on the main roads to follow it's original path. I'm still trying to figure out how to request a path that lets me bypass tollroads. I don't know if it will do this for me, like RandMacNally.com does (fastest vs. most direct route). One time I had a problem with inputting an address called "Route 97 South" -- the "south" part refused to be recognized by the unit. It only recognized "Route 97", and I had to figure out where I was headed by just following mailbox numbers. This is probably a Navtech problem though, not a fault of the unit. If you buy a GPS, I would get used to it's functions by taking it out on roads you know first, so you can learn how to use the unit without worrying about getting somewhere unfamiliar.

I like the points of interest function. When looking for a parking lot in Manhattan it directed me quickly and easily via the POI function (admittedly there's a garage around every corner in Midtown Manhattan). You can select a destination, and call them via the Bluetooth link just by pushing a couple of buttons! I haven't tried the POI for other destinations (gas stations, restaurants) yet.

The mp3 player function is of limited use to me. I did upload some "This American Life" podcasts and the Garmin refuses to play them. File size limits maybe, I don't know, because it played shorter mp3s. But I think the mp3 player is kind of pointless anyway, since you can't use the GPS and play mp3s at the same time.

I told myself until the prices of these things came down to something reasonable, I wouldn't get one. But it has saved me a lot of frustration already and is worth the money, especially if you live in a metropolitan area (I wouldn't bother if I lived out in the boonies and a paper map would suffice). Bugs and all, I'd spring for this unit again. Amazon's price was the best (some others were a couple of dollars cheaper, but shipping is extra and those vendors had less-than-stellar feedback). If you buy one of these units, I'd spring for this one, which is supposed to have an updated chipset that recalculates your route every one second (see CNET.com) over the cheaper models. The Bluetooth function is a necessity, and they should all have the ability to link to a phone like the C550.

Happy trails!

Bought this unit a couple of days ago. I've had a chance to explore all the features, and overall, this is an EXCELLENT unit.

Here is what I like:
* From the time I opened the box to the time I started using it was less than 5 minutes. Very simple and intuitive interface.
* Incredibly sensitive satellite receiver. The unit even worked indoors in my kitchen when I first turned it on. How can that be, since I thought you had to have a clear view of the sky? I don't know, but it did. No issues in the car either. No dropped signals, and virtually instantaneous satellite acquisition.
* Directions for the most part were very accurate (see below for minor exception),
* You get plenty of advance warning for turns.
* When you deviate from the directions that the GPS gives you, it recalculates a new route almost instantaneously.
* Spoken street names.
* Anti glare screen (you can still see it in bright sunlight).
* Bluetooth phone link works perfectly with my Razor phone (see below for minor issue). Sound on both ends is crystal clear. I could even access my address book on the unit itself.
* Windshield mount is very easy to get on and off, and it held the unit very securely.

Here are the minor issues:
* Maps seem pretty up to date, but you still have to use common sense. There is a road that opened up near my house about 5 months ago, and the GPS didn't recognize it. It kept wanting to take me a different route, but since I knew the road was there, I took it. The good news is that it recalculated a new route almost immediately once I left that road. Along those same lines, I was visiting someone in a gated community, and I knew that you had to go in the front gate and not the back. The GPS kept trying to direct me to the back gate because it was closer. This is a common sense issue, not a technical issue.
* On very rare occasion it gives you an odd or unusual turn. Near my house, it wants to route me through a small subdivision to get me home (very small-only about 20 homes), when I can get there by staying on the main street and making one turn. Not sure why it does that (perhaps it may be a few feet shorter and the GPS thinks it's a shortcut).
* Remember to check or uncheck the box to avoid highways and toll roads depending on what you want to do. The very first time I used it, it sent me on a toll road for 1 exit, then had get me off and resume on surface streets. I could have gotten where I was going without going on the toll road. I don't fault the system because technically it took me the shortest route, but it's just something to keep in mind.
* When you are talking on the speaker phone, it mutes the voice giving you the directions. If you're talking and driving, that is a bit of an issue. You can still see the directions on the screen, but you lose the voice prompts. I read some review where the person said that you have the ability to change this feature, but I haven't figured out how to do it yet.
* Pricey, but you get what you pay for. The cost differential with the C340 (about $150) is well worth it in my opinion.


I am satisified with the Garmin 550. Voice instructions might need to be voiced a bit earlier than .4 to .7 of a mile especially when you are in heavy traffic around a city like Atlanta, Ga. where traffic is six lanes and speed is 75mph. The instructions are extremely accurate. If you listen to the instructions you will definitely arrive at your destination.

My wife DocLuster already wrote a review indicating the beauty of the Bluetooth allowing you hands free telephone calls. Since we just traded in my Pontiac Grand Prix with OnStar I had to have this for my new Audi A3. Of course the main reason to have this device is the great job it does giving you directions to unknown destinations. The easily understood voice directions and clear map, nice portable size, and better features than many of the $1100-3500 models in cars make it a bargain. The fact you can take this out of the car put in an address and walk through your drive while in the comfort of your home is a much nicer feature than a in car model. Heck you can play with it while hiking, camping, visiting amusement parks, or any number of other outdoor activities. I have only seen one con and that was on one occasion it seemed to go bonkers and lose track of where to go. It may have been interferance from large cranes on the bridge, some secret communications jamming installation (it was near Washington DC), or all the construction in the area. Pros: Great directions, remembers places you have been recently, locates restaurants and other businesses easily, Bluetooth hands free set up with mobile phone, easily transfers to another car or to take with you anywhere (runs on battery or car adapter). Tells you your speed and distance like a heads up display in cars. Has MP3 feature. Cons: It may occasionally disconnect from GPS satellite link. Overall I am very happy with it and look forward to getting the one my wife just ordered for me.

I have had the StreetPilot c550 (SP) for four weeks now and I am very happy with it. Overall, the SP will get you there and the hands-free function with my phone is a good feature.

Navigation - Both my wife and I have taken turns using the SP to take us to places we are already familiar with [such as work and home]. This is a good way to get to know how the SP performs. What we have learned is that the route the SP first calculates is not always the most efficient route. I don't believe it takes traffic patterns [street lights and volume of traffic at different times of the day] into consideration. My daughters enjoy listening to the SP say "recalculating" as my wife or I decide not to follow the recommended route. What we have learned is don't be afraid to take a different route. The SP will eventually figure out which way you are going. One time my wife did take a rout I think is less efficient and she reported that after hearing "recalculating" several times, the SP finally stated "There's a better route".

We have both had a chance to use the SP to take us somewhere for the first time. NOTE: When going to someone's house, don't expect it to take you right to their driveway. The checkered flag will be a few houses before or after your destination. If you've added the destination as a favorite, it will announce the name you set and not the address, so make sure you have address written down. Also be sure that you choose the correct type of street. If you are going to Lichtenauer Ct and you select Lichtenauer Dr, the checkered flag may be off by a block.

The Estimated Time of Arrival indication at the lower left hand corner of the screen is pretty accurate and is helpful when you think you may be running late.

The point of interest (POI) database is fairly extensive. NOTE: If you know the name of where you are going, you can save time by simply selecting the option to spell the destination. In addition, partial name is the best way to go. I entered "PRICE" and the SP found the "Price Chopper" [grocery store] near my house in its database.

Bluetooth - When my wife has the SP I use a Bluetooth headset with my phone. When I have the SP, I use it in place of my headset. I have a Nokia 6133 and my wife has the Motorola RAZR V3. The SP is paired with both phones and will connect to whichever one it finds first. I am able to use the voice dial feature of my phone. NOTE: The success rate recognizing a voice command is an issue more with the phone than with the SP. I have a 4 out of 5 success rate with both the SP and my Bluetooth headset. The SP will pull up the phonebook of both phones [whichever one it is connected with]; I can view my call log; and I can even read the text messages I have received [don't try this while driving].

I am not terribly impressed with the MP3 feature. I tried connecting the SP to my car stereo using a cassette adapter, but it picked up a lot interference from my phone.

My wife and I are looking forward to bringing the SP with us when we go on vacation.


This is my third Garmin. They only get better. You won't get lost with this one.

This product was a return from another customer. The packaging was torn and in disarray. I think Amazon should have a better quality control system and should inspect all returns. They did however allow me to return the item at their expense and sent me a new one which was in mint condition.

I received my Garmin on a Monday and was thrilled with it. Unfortunately, on Tuesday afternoon, it lost satellite signal and was never able to re-acquire. This was particularly frustrating as I was traveling in an unfamiliar area. I called Garmin directly and expected to wait for half an hour to talk to someone and then receive the run-around. I was pleasantly surprised to receive prompt and helpful service, including a return authorization when the customer service representative and I couldn't make the unit perform a hard reset. 10 days later, as promised, I received a new unit and it has worked very well ever since (knocking on wood now). I am hopeful that it will continue to do so.

After careful research, I decided on a RoadMate 2200T for my first GPS unit. I tested the unit for 1 week, and was impressed with all of its features, except for the most important one: the routing algorithm. The RoadMate simply overlooked obvious and viable routes too much of the time. It was hit or miss, often directing me to make a legal U-turn when an alternate, viable route (major thoroughfare) was within eye shot in the direction I was traveling in! If I was in an area where I was not familiar, I would have reservations trusting the device.

I returned the unit and purchased the StreetPilot c550 instead. Not only is the menu system easier to use, but the speaker volume is much louder, the touchscreen is brilliant, the mounting hardware is less obtrusive, and the unit is accurate. It consistently re-routed me to the nearest viable route (not a single u-turn request!). Though I did not purchase it for its bluetooth hands free capability, that feature works great with my Samsung a930 Verizon phone - and that phone isn't even listed as a compatible phone on Garmin's site. Highly impressed - just love it.

I bought the C550 since the price has somewhat dropped to where I can afford it and bought it here at Amazon since the price is unbeatable and free shipping compare to going to my local store or other less reliable internet store. I bought it on Saturday and got it by Wednesday. I had a C330 prior to this unit and sold that for half its original price before buying this one. The C330 alone served me well as far as navigation goes, but the new design and features of the C550 is well worth the upgrade. Besides the bluetooth (works very well) and traffic capability that this unit adds compared the the C330, there are a lot of subtle changes that makes it even better. I'll start off with the suction cup design, before it was bulkier and the round base has a bigger radius, now it is smaller but can still support the unit well, great for places in tight spaces in your car. Also I did not like how the cigarette adapter was permanently attached to the suction cup holder in the C330, now the cable can be dettached from the unit making it more flexible. The unit itself sports a dark gray body color and a shinnier aluminum face, it looks much better at least in the interior of my car. It also is thinner that the C330 occupying lesser space specially if you place it close to your windshield like me. I have not really had a chance to use the traffic capability since my drive from home to work are on the streets and only takes 10 minutes, but I'm glad it is there. As far as the MP3 goes, I guess it's nice to have whenever your battery in the car dies out of nowhere and you are stranded in a deserted place, you can at least have some music until your navi dies or some psycho gets to you, whatever comes first (heheh joke). The Navigation software seems to move faster and now that it reads street name which makes you feel more assured you are going the right way. Other improvements? I would rather have an add on software in it that can read movie files than the MP3. Also I like how they included a nice case for the unit but I wish they added a hole or slit where the cigarette lighter cable can go through. Lastly, for mac users, your Mac will read the garmin when you plug it throught the USB it will come out as a hard drive then you can drop in your MP3 files and images for the splash screen. I will try to do another update in a month or so for more of my experience with this unit. There is always room for improvement... so I gave it four stars, hopefully it will be as reliable as my last one. Oh yah, Do not leave this unit on top of your dash, parked in the hot sun, it will mess up your unit, put it away. This happened to me once and Garmin was still kind enough to exchange my unit covered by warranty, (I am not saying they will do this for you also).

Great GPS unit. It will get you to your destination without problems.
Only problems: the traffic avoidance sometimes tell you to exit the freeway and get right back on, over and over until you finally pass the traffic area. The other issue is that the speakerphone volume is low.



The Garmin c550 is very easy to use right out of the box. Just turn it on and go. It quickly finds satellites and is extremely fast in calculations and accurate. The only complaint I have is with the age of the built in mapping. Several roads which have been around for over 7-8 years are still not in the database and restaurants which closed down over 5 years ago still are. The Bluetooth functionality works great although I would recommend buying the external microphone unless you're driving a car which is very quite inside. Overall I definitely recommend this product!

After reading many reviews I purchased the Garmin c550. We have been using it for a few weeks now with very good results. It really is simple to setup and begin to use. The screen navigation is intuitive. The voice is relatively easy to understand. The screen size, which i was initially concerned with was plenty big enough. Some reviews had mentioned concerns with the windshield mount. We have found the mount to be excellent and sturdy. We have only had one issue with the GPS not giving corrent directions to a location. This location was not newly developed, which was surprising. While we do drive in some heavy traffic areas, we have not found the traffic feature all that useful. Overall, this is a great product and we would buy it again.

I wanted to share our experience with the Garmin Street Pilot c550 GPS.

5 Stars - Love it & Highly Recommend

I bought this GPS last week and tried it around town. Great directions, for the most part (missed one street one time, but not a big deal). The unit actually tells you the street names, which really helps!

When you turn on the GPS it must find the satellite to find your current position. This takes about 20 seconds at my house, but less than 5 seconds at other locations. You can preprogram set destinations (home, work, etc). and also just type in the location you are going to next. It shows you a map, and then tells you step by step which way to turn, on what streets, and how far it is to that turn. For instance: In 1.8 miles turn right on Main Street. And when you are arriving at your location it says "arriving at 123 Main Street, on the left. It is useful to know what side of the street you are looking for.

If you miss a turn, or decide to ignore a route, it will recalculate based on where you are & get you back on track, or find a different route. I forced it to find me a different route a couple times, and it chose correctly.

By far my favorite part of this GPS is the traffic feature. Its an add-on, but comes with 3 free months when you purchase the unit. It monitors the traffic conditions/accidents/road closures, etc and routes you around them. Today we were driving home on the 101 freeway. Our home is right off the 101 freeway, so we were a little surprised when the GPS told us to get on the 170 north. Traffic was going well, and I thought it was very strange to have us go off in another direction. I decided to see where it was taking us, and did take th 170. Meanwhile, we tuned to the news channel on the radio and sure enough there was a traffic accident a couple miles further down the freeway with 2 lanes closed. The GPS unit routed us around the accident and then back on the 101. I was really impressed :) I dont know how much the traffic subscription is, but I think its a must-get.

This specific GPS unit also plays mp3s, pictures, has the Points of Interest built in (MANY of the restaurants on the list are out of business, however - I went through the list in our hometown and quite a few were no longer valid). But thats ok, I didnt get the GPS to help me find restaurants!

It also supports bluetooth phones. My phone is not a bluetooth model, so I cant tell you much about that.

So if you are in the market for a GPS, look closely at the Garmin Street Pilot c550.


This unit is great! Screen is much easier to see in the bright sunlight than the 350C. Be sure to check for updates when you get yours. They are constantly updating the maps and features. We took it on a trip this last weekend and never missed a lane change, freeway exit etc. Plenty of warning as to what street we were looking for and what lane we needed to be in.

The unit was shipped from Antonline, an awesome company to deal wiith. The unit arrived within a few days of ordering it. Would definitely order from them again!

Pros:
The unit works falwlessly in locking in to the satellites and providing directions.
The directions are accurate, hasn't lead me into any dead ends.
The anti-glare screen is awesome, I can read the receiver even in sunlight.

Cons:
My home is in a street about 3 yrs old, the unit still doesn't seem to get the new street name.
The POI database seems to be a bit outdated.
The unit still shows the old time, the daylight savings time hasn't been reflected.

Overall:
A great GPS receiver with good features for the money. I'll recommend this to anyone.

Sometime during grade school I failed to acquire the ability to read maps and to understand cardinal directions, so I am perpetually lost while driving. I used to use Google Maps to get anywhere I went besides to work and back home. This device has saved me! I now have the freedom to drive anywhere I want whenever I want without having to get to a computer to figure out how to get there! The points of interest are very comprehensive...everywhere I've wanted to go is in there. I've noticed sometimes it doesn't take the most effective route, but it won't get you lost. It doesn't substitute for the human brain (at least one that can spacially locate themselves and their destination and connect the dots), but it always finds the destination. The Bluetooth feature is great, although the volume could be louder. Sometimes I can't hear the person on the phone over the road noise when driving at high speeds on the freeway. Setup and interface are very simple and easy to use right out of the box. Still experimenting with the traffic feature...don't know if I'll buy the subscription when the trial period runs out. It seems to miss a good amount of the slow traffic I run into, and the alternate routes sometimes detour you right back to the traffic, so I don't know if it's worth it yet.

Here's a small note about the 12V adapter. I drive a Subaru WRX and the fuse blows every time I plug the adapter into it. The cigarette lighter in my vehicle only excepts 12V adapters with three metal prongs on the end. This adapter has four, so it shorts out and blows the fuse every time. I got around this by getting a splitter for my cigarette lighter that gives me two electrical plugs, plus a cigarette lighter outlet. The splitter can accept 4 metal prongs so that's perfect and plus I get an extra plug to charge my phone or iPod if I need to. If anyone else is having that problem, there's the workaround without having to take apart your dash to install an aftermarket 12V plug.

THIS PRODUCT WORKS GREAT, I'VE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH IT SO FAR
FIVE STARS

Very easy to set up and use for the beginner. This is our first GPS unit and have found it to be 90% reliable. It has made some errors, but allows you to disregard its directions, make the turn that you want and then recalculates automatically based on your new turn and gives proper directions. One example was a trip to NYC from new jersey. The unit wanted me to use the GW Bridge, but I wanted to use the Lincoln Tunnel. I started out " my way" and within a few minutes, the unit recalculated and guided me to the Lincoln tunnel and final destination in NYC. No lost signal in NYC ( I later checked and found that the GWBridge way was a few miles less than the Tunnel and I assume that is why it picked the bridge.
Pros: Easy setup, automatic free downloads via the web( updates and software correction)
Easy to switch between autos ( we have three)
Major plus: Gives verbal street names, not just "turn right" Turn Left" instructions.
Cons: Dont like the windshield connection, it holds but is annoying and may be illegal. PurchasedGarmin 010-10747-02 Dash Mount for the StreetPilot C510/C550 for all three cars and was able to install on front of dash. Coffee cup holder mounts and air conditioner mounts are available for this unit but not tried by me.


The unit started working as soon as I took it out of the box, the bluetooth feature works great, and the guidance is excellent. I am very happy to have bought this product. Great Amazon.com service and delivery on time, as always .

I finally found the units that we dont fight about while driving as improvements have been met. Very easy to program and so far have met all requirements we desire. StreetPilotIII,2610,2720,and Garmin7200, I dont need to be upset when on vacation nor driving in unknown areas. The friction mount was what I needed as I dont want to stick stickers on the dashboard. The CHP states they didnt know about any law about sticking suction cups on windshields. If you have a long windshield and your belted in with seat belts its a long reach to program and the friction bag is the answer for me. The 7200 unit is excellent but too big as it was hitting my windshield with the friction mount.

Took the garmin to seattle as soon as we got it. Used it to find restaurants, malls, and went home shopping and it found every address. Got us effortlessly around traffic jam for a demonstration and quickly and effectively re-routed us when I missed a turn. Never lost gps connectivity anywhere in the car, tall buildings, trees, even inside the hotel room near the windows. Simple to use. Speaking commands is a huge benefit so I could keep eyes on the road. At 60 I am becoming hearing "challenged" but the speakers provided loud audible commands. A few humorous errors such as calling north Dr north "doctor" instead of north drive. I can live with that. Fun to use. Worth every dollar. Would like more option for mounting. On our Maximim it was in the way on the winshield or too far away to reach. Adhesive mount looks a little tacky on the dash of a Maximum. Bean bag slides arounds. Portability is nice since we use it in both of our vehicles. The Maximum has blue tooth but I use the bluetooth on the garmin in my vehicle and it works great. Could go on but you get the point. Best and most useful piece of electronics I have purchased since my first computer.

I wish I bought this years ago. Although it appeared a bit pricey when I bought it, it has already changed my mind. It is user friendly, accurate and now a "must have". I have been flipping through map books for 30+ years of driving and this little item has completely changed my mood in the car. The days of frustrated driving are past. I now plot a course, kick back and let my c550 guide me home.

I've used Garmin GPS for a while now, starting with their StreetPilot III (which still works, after 4 years, now in my wife's car), GPS 10 (which I sometimes carry as a backup) and now the C550. The C550 is by far, the best GPS device I've used. It has many strengths:
1. Fast GPS lock on. Especially so if you're touring and stopped only for a while. If you've only powered down the device for a short while, the GPS will find the GPS satellites almost instantly, which is really amazing.

2. Bluetooth capability. Very useful, and the Bluetooth function works even while running on battery. Now I don't have to carry a separate device for making conference call while on business trip. I use the C550 when I'm in the hotel room.

3. Sun light readable screen. The screen alone makes this a better device compared to older Garmins.

4. Very fast routing capability. Being used to the slow routing capabilty in other Garmins, I was amazed how fast this thing can calculate routes.

There are some quirks you should be aware of though:
1. As my title suggests, this device does not work well in areas around Austin, Texas. The maps are pretty poor for the outlying areas around Austin and you'll have difficulty following its direction. There seems to be plenty of highway/freeway changes and additions to this area and they're not reflected in the MapSource 8.0 NT. In downtown Austin, it works alright though.

2. 3-D maps can be a little difficult to get used to. Especially when you're in parking lot or off normal road and the GPS will tell you to "Please drive to the highlighted route". With the 3-D map, you can't normally see the highlighted route unless you zoom out a lot or switch to 2-D view.

3. In a strange lack of foresight, Garmin chooses to display the main menu with its 2 basic option "Where To?" and "View Map" every time you power on the system. While understandable for its target market, it doesn't make sense when it does the same thing when you have an active route and you re-started the device (eg for fuel stops). You'll have to manually press the "View Map" button for the screen to show the route information. An option for users to select if they wish to start with the "View map" option would be nice.

4. Remaining miles info. On the older StreetPilot III, I have the option to display how many miles I've got till I reach destination. The C550 only shows you miles to next turn. Not a big deal but I miss knowing how many miles to go when on long distance driving. Useful for deciding if I want to stop for gas for simply finish the drive and return the car (I typically pay for the fuel option when renting).

5. Time zone update. For some reasons, the unit I have will not update its time zone and device time. I purchased and initialized the device in California, Pacific Time zone. When I travel in another time zone (eg. Texas), the device still shows California time. A bug perhaps or something I missed.

Overall, no major problems with the device and I'm satisfied with the purchase. If you're a new owner, here are some tips:
1. Buy the bean bag friction mount, it works much better than the wind screen mount. This is especially so if you have a sporty car (eg. BMW 3 Series, Lexus IS etc) with firmer suspension and the shock of going over a bump is better handled when the C550 is in in bean bag.

2. Buy one of those cigratte lighter socket extender so you can plug the C550's power adaptor into the socket extender and plug the extender into the car instead. This way, you save on the wear and tear on always plugging the device in and out of different cars. I wore out 2 adaptors in my StreetPilot III before I adopted this habit. Those extenders from Radio Shacks are dirt cheap compared to a new power adaptor for the C550.

3. Beware of road naming conventions. Some states, like Texas, name their roads differently. For example, if you look at Yahoo maps or the map in your C550, some highways in Texas are labeled US 2341. But if you look at tourist guides local to Texas, they labeled that road "FM 2341", which you won't be able to locate using the C550. Interestingly though, the device says "FM 2341" even though its search and display shows "US 2341". Other examples are "Mo-Pac Expressway" near Austin. Many locals spell it "MoPac Expressway" without the hyphen, you'll have a heck of a time if you spell it the way they do.

4. The Bluetooth capability works with most phones, even those not listed by Garmin. The only differences are that for some phones, you cannot use the phone directory and call history. You will still be able to make/receive calls using the C550. I get around this issue by creating a Favourite location and entering the phone number of people I call most. Its a bit of a pain but it can done. Afterall, its best not to talk too much while driving eh?


Good luck with you purchase!

WORKS GREAT. FINDS SATELLITES FAST. EVEN TELLS ME KEEP RIGHT OR LEFT ON HIGHWAY EXIT RAMPS
SOMETIMES IT PRONOUNCES STREET NAMES FUNNY BUT YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS.
SO USER FRIENDLY MY WIFE CAN USE IT.

This is my first experience using a navigation system, but it is great. I am totally sold. I bought one for my son who is directionally challenged and it has gotten him everywhere he's tried to go. While you may not arrive with pinpoint accuracy, it certainly will get you within a block of your destination. My husband and I have both tried it and are thinking of getting one for ourselves.

The best feature is the text-to-speech which announces all of the road names that you need to turn on to. Others have said that it waits too long before announcing the turns, but I have not found that to be true. Plus, you can touch the screen anytime and get a list of your next several directions. It comes with a windshield/dashboard suction mount so that you can easily attach and remove the StreePilot, as well as a carrying case and in-car power adapter. You can search for thousands of points of interest from several different categories: restaurants, hotels, airports, car rental agencies, grocery stores...you name it! No, it doesn't list every single place of business in the country, especially those that are somewhat new, but the list is quite extensive and is listed from closest to farthest away from your current location.

I find the satellite connection to be quite strong and it will often work indoors. However, on cloudy days it will take longer to triangulate your position.

Overall, it is a great, handy little tool which I highly recommend buying.

I purchased the c550 to replace my aging Garmin GPS V. Everything has been working as advertised. The primary function, GPS navigation, has been virtually flawless.

The traffic alerts feature could be a great timesaver for some people. My primary driving areas are not normally congested, but one day I got an alert of an accident on my route. The advance warning allowed me to avoid a 10 minute delay.

The TTS (Text to Speech) works well, although I've occasional heard "Dr." (Drive) mistakenly pronounced as "Doctor". But still, the feature reduces the amount of time you need to take your eyes off the road.

The Bluetooth feature eliminates the need to have a separate handsfree unit for my cell phone, and has worked flawlessly.

The mp3 feature is fine, but don't expect high quality sound from the tiny built-in speakers. They just won't deliver it. For casual listening, with reduced quality expectations, they're okay.

All facets of setup were pure simplicity. You can use the unit right out of the box, but if you want to use some additional features or customize it, it only takes a few minutes.

That simplicity leads to my only real criticism of the c550. My old GPS V had many more options that are no longer available on the c550. On the GPS V, virtually every display field, both on the nav screen and on the "dashboard" screen, was customizable. Not so on the c550. What you see is what you get. I would like to have seen an option for "advanced setup" where I could change more of the fields to display the data that I'm interested in seeing.

All in all, the c550 has been a solid performer, but there is room for improvement. I would have no problem recommending it to others.

As for my purchase experience, Amazon's price was among the lowest I found, and my previous purchase experience with Amazon made me confident to purchase from them. The unit was delivered ahead of schedule, in undamaged condition. I would not hesitate to buy from Amazon again.

It is a very good product. We liked it so much that we bought one for our son & daugher as gifts. It is not perfect, but on the whole it is great. It does a great job of getting you to your destination and lets you know where the nearest, gas station, food, bank, shopping,etc.

This unit is very easy to use. It's very convenient to talk on the phone hands-free using the StreetPilot's bluetooth feature. The turn-by-turn directions make it so easy to find places I've never been before. I would recommend this product.

I did a lot research and finally decided on Garmin. I am glad I did. I could'nt be more happy with this product. Very easy to use. I would recommend it highly

This is a great little GPS. It's very easy to figure out and works great. We have had no issues with it so far. The mount is nice and easy to put up and take down from window. It's easy to read with it's bright screen and large letters.

This Garmin is great out of the box, it does everything that they say it can. Went on a trip a day after recieving it, I had some minor problems but it was not the Garmins fault. I down loaded some POI off of the internet ( which I do not recomend paying for) and the address was wrong. You can look up anything you want from the Garmin and you dont have topay for it. The only thing I wished it would do is be able to update on new roads and business.

I love the product, but I had a major problem. 7 days after purchase, my streetpilot went dead.. and I mean DEAD. There is a bug on some of the systems that causes the power to turn off. You need to go to the garmin site and install the webupdater as soon as you get it. The update became available as of 4/03/07. If you are unsure how to do this, go to the Garmin site for the phone number and call them during work hours M-F and the very helpful staff will guide you through the process. I had to take mine back to the store and get a completely new c550 and have just installed the update a few minutes ago.

Otherwise, it's a great product and you'll enjoy it.

Also, be sure to create an account and register your product. They can help if whoever steals your gps calls in for service, they tell them to send it in for a replacement and then make sure YOU get your gps back... but you have to register it.


This is a great product! The first one I got just went dead, I thought it was because I put a password in. I took it back to Best Buy. Got another. know I know you should update the software as soon as you get it so it won't lock up.

Excellent product. Highly recommend.

I was a faithful Tom Tom customer until I realized that Iwas replacing my Tom Tom every 4 to 6 months (under warranty) for a variety of reasons. I have had my Garmin for 8 months and will never go back to Tom Tom. All the same features, but without the reliability concerns

Two minor complaints: My unit doesnt seem to detect real traffic delays-it seems to rehash traffic delays from previous trips. Second, I have to manually turn the unit off when the unit turns itself on automatically when I turn on the engine

I wish the unit could display text messages as the Tom Tom did, but frankly I dont get many text messages. Otherwise, this is a top drawer unit!


I had a Magellen for about 2.5 years, but when it stopped navigating properly, the folks at Magellan said I'd have to drop $275 to fix the processor. Considering I paid $1100 for it, I thought that was a lousy option. So I bought the c550 and am very happy with it. It is very accurate-even more so than my father's in-car unit he has in his Nissan Morano. My father and I recently went on a 180 mile trip (twice in a week) into rural Maryland, once while using my c550 and once in his vehicle. The c550 was able to get us to our destination as well as to some destinatins during side-trips without a hitch. The Nissan's unit, however, had difficulty not only getting us to our destination, but also in re-calculating routes when we changed course.

Another nice feature is the points-of-interests that are preloaded. My Magellan had this, but the interface on the Garmin is much nicer and informative. And, with the built-in Bluetooth, you can make a call right from the Garmin. For instance, on a recent trip to Pittsburgh, my wife and I were looking for an Indian restaurant. I checked in the Garmin under cuisines and located several, all with distance displayed. I chose one then had the Garmin call to see if they were open as we were arriving into town late. They were and it worked out perfectly. We were also able to locate hotel accomodations as we were there unprepared. It saved for a lot of 411 info calls and anxiety for trying to find a place to stay in while in an unfamiliar area.

The traffic feature is nice, but limited to big highways. While driving to Pittsburgh, it was fairly accurate in locating slow traffic. It was correct in one accident that we came upon as well as slow traffic due to construction. The unit comes with a free 6 month trial for the traffic feature, but will cost $60 a year thereafter. I'm not convinced this is a need as of yet.

The bluetooth feature is very nice. It displays the caller's info. It will also link to your phone's address book allowing you to search from the Garmin for a contact. The calls come through clear on both ends. This feature is worth the difference in price IMHO.

As you can see, I am very pleased with my Garmin to say the least. At the time, I thought the Magellan was the bomb, but I now know that I was definitely missing out.



There are so many GPS units out there that choosing the right one was difficult. I was looking for specific features: Portability, FM Traffic/Road Conditions, Bluetooth cell phone link and easy programming. I had the opportunity to try a similar unit that was provided by a rental car company. As I was driving down the highway, it alerted me that a better route was available. I chose to take the alternate recommended route. I later learned that there was huge accident on the freeway that would have delayed me at least one hour if I stayed on my original course. I was also amazed as a approached a construction area, and the device warned me in advance. Remarkable!! This is right out of Buck Rogers.

We own a car with an expensive, built-in $1,800 GPS. It is impossible to program and about 70% of the time, it does not find the right street. It is practically a waste.

The Garmin c550 is perfect for those to need a dependable device that can be easily taken from one car to another.

I bought this after trying a comparable Magellan which basically sucked. I really like this GPS and it works well. I am not in love with the attachment system, it probably could be re-engineered as I used the included dash disk and it basically fell off after a few weeks. I had to epoxy it to the dash to get it to stay on, but it now attaches fine to the disk.

If you are in California, it is illegal to attach this to the window, so you have to have it in/on the dash.

Do not buy a Magellan. Their tech support is in India and terrible. The units have many quality problems. I bought the one at Costco and returned it after a week. Buy a garmin, you will be glad you did.


I bought this GPS for a company work truck and have so far been pretty impressed by it. It boots up very quickly, is extremely accurate, fast, and quite intuitive.

I generally judge a product's ease of use by being able to use it out of the box without the book. This passes the test! After 5 minutes of playing with it you understand how to get what you need, and it's even easy enough to do as you're driving.

It is loaded with all kinds of great info and has nearly every hotel and place to eat I've asked for. It even finds places that I were almost sure wouldn't be in the unit!

Occasionally, during navigation, it will try to take you on the round-about way or on a path that is obviously not right, but most of the time it's spot-on. I do wish it had the smarts to know when you have given up on its suggested routes; sometimes it will keep telling you to turn around even though you've clearly found a better route on your own.

The unit does have just about every road imaginable in it's database. In fact, I was on an unpaved around in the middle on nowhere and it displayed the name and even the turns in the road were correct.

In the past two months the unit has worked flawlessly. The traffic alert feature is awesome, but I don't know if I will renew the subscription when it expires.

The only features I wish it had were: an odometer (it has a trip meter but on long trips it's nice to reset that often) and lat/long display.

I don't think you can go wrong with this GPS. It's really a fantastic tool for travel!

Very well designed instrument. Bought one for my 80 year old mom, and one for my 75 year old father in law, both near Luddites. They gratefully use it with ease in metropolitan areas and it has given them more confidence to tackle trips. I'm a high-tech pilot and have reviewed many units, and this touch-screen GPS with no buttons is so elegantly simple it belies its sophisticated capabilities. The MP3 is yuppie poser nonsense that only distracts from navigation, but the bluetooth phone is a nice techie touch.

Hands down, right out of the box this is the best navigation system out there! Not having one in my personal car like my wife's Honda Civic, I was jealous and wanted something to help with vacations. This is the ticket. All you have to do is plug it in and go. It holds music files, and the Bluetooth is awesome! To be able to talk handsfree on your cellphone is nice! The unit takes in your address book, recent calls made and recieved and the sound quality is great! I would tell anyone who is looking for the total and complete GPS, this is the one. Garmin has been in the business for almost 20 years and you can't beat their reputation, quality of product and pricing. All I can say is, if your car doesn't come with a factory GPS system, this is as close as you can get to it with more features. Very easy to use and you don't have to look at the instructions that come with it, that's how simple it is to use. Comes with everything you need to get started and the locking system is a nice feature. Should you become separated from your unit by some thug, it is totally useless to them because of this feature. The unit will not function unless you enter a code that you select.

Before i made a decision in purchasing this product I reviewed other GPS out there. Professionals recommend to purchase a system that will tell you the street names to turn to as oppose to only telling you to "turn on the next street." This product is very easy to use. The suction cup is very strong, it will never get loose on you. This product used to be @ least $700, but the price on this dropped considerably.

We went to Orlando in April without any map. This unit brought us to our destination directly (no problem). On the way back home (Ohio), we diverted from our route and decided to go up to Washington DC. Again, no problem. While in Washington DC (heavy traffic and not knowing where to go), one of my kids had to use the bathroom (really bad), i typed in hotel accomodation. Our GPS brought us to the nearest hotel.

I strongly recommed this product because it is every easy to use, it gives you hotels, restaurants, gas stations, etc, while your driving to your destination.

This July we are going to Hilton head and Myrtle beach SC with no MAPs... just our StreetPilot c550.

I bought this GPS unit after several weeks of research, and now after having it for about two months, I've got to say I love it. It was everything it claimed to be, in a well designed package. For the price, you can't do better.


This is the best product I think I have.

I am truly enjoying the c550. I am a previous owner of a c320 and the expanded features of the c550 are great. The traffic avoidance works very well and the bluetooth network easily connected to my phone making driving considerably safer!

I have been using this unit for about a month now. It does everything that I had hoped for, plus a few other things. I think it is great.

Very easy user interface, voice command prompts are easily understandable and the screen is easily scene in very sunny conditions. The only problem so far has been the autofill for addresses. The unit tries to guess your location when entering addresses and would not let us enter the proper address, it would override the input with what it imagined our input to be. Somewhat frustrating.

I bought the C550 for my 72 year old father. Even without a lot of technological experience he can operate it just fine. Very easy. All the options neeeded to get him where he needs to go, without having paid for a lot of extra stuff. With the voice and crisp, clear screen it is very easy to see and follow. My husband and I used the unit on a out of state trip and we loved it!! Highly recommend.

This is the first GPS I have owned. However, I have used many. This thing is so easy to use I didn't even have to read the directions before I strted to use it. I do wish some things were changed though. I found to get the full benifit of the bluetooth I had to purchase the external mic so people could hear me without yelling. I would also like it if I could block it from it trying to have me go through Manhattan. Every time I get near that region it tells me to go through Manhattan instead of going around it (suicide). And finally I find the reception to be very spotty for the traffic.

I know it sounds like i may be bashing this this but I find these issues to be minor, and I really love this thing. It has saved me from getting lost, being late, and helps me avoid traffic.

I highly recommend this unit.

The only con I find with this unit is that sometimes it tells you the address is on the left when it's actually on the right. Garmin also needs to update. The c550 still shows roads that have been completely closed & gone for at least 12 or 15 years & doesn't show newer roads that have been here for at least 6 or 7 years. Other than that, very nice unit.

I love this GPS from Garmin. It is super easy to use, take it out of the box and use it. I like being able to program where I want to go in the comfort of my own home - then saving the locations to "favorites". When on the road - simply recall the favorite you want - and follow the directions. The voice read out of street names is VERY HELPFUL. There are many Points of Interest - primarily gas stations, standard stores, entertainment, and restaurants. Don't think you'll find unique stores - many are not listed. Only 2 disappointments -- I thought all GPS units actually gave you the GPS coordinates. This was one MAJOR disappointment for me. I had hoped to use this as more than a "car navigation device" - no such luck. The second disappointment was learning there are so few regions in the midwest that have the traffic capability. I live in Michigan - the only area available to me is Detroit. Michigan is a big state - and I never get to Detroit. It will be helpful on long-distance summer trips - otherwise pretty useless. Overall -- it is a super device. Excellent screen quality, very easy to use, good size, fits securely on the windshield. I highly recommend it.

I was always paranoid about getting lost--so I didn't go anywhere alone--until now! I used my Garmin about 10 minutes after I took it out of the box, that's how easy it was to figure out. I love the fact that it uses street names instead of just telling you to make a turn. You even know ahead of time which lane to be in (left or right) instead of being surprised and having to make a quick maneuver. If you make a mistake, or go a different route, it will automatically recalculate, and get you back on track. It can also give you a route tha avoids highways or u-turns. It can also tell you the nearest fuel and food to your location. You can also go to other cities to look for hotels and attractions.

It is very easy to program favorite addresses, and you can view the route ahead of time without the gps being on. It also mounts easily on the windshield.

I absolutely love the Garmin--it was worth every penny. Bye-bye Mapquest!

This is our first GPS purchase and I am impressed. It has all the bells and whistles and handles everything. The only reason it did not get 5 stars is that the MP3 implementation is a little rough. It works well, but did not shuffle the music as well as I would have liked (some repetition before playing all the songs).

I love this little thing it does more things than navigate. Great features and points of intrest. I think it is the best.

Like the guy in the Avis Ad, I love my c550--although I haven't told it so. Amazon's price was very good. My c550 came with a suction-cup windshield mount. I then ordered a beanbag dash mount. Recieved a mount for a 300 Series. Seems Amazon did not have what I wanted in stock. Next I tried ordering from Garmin. What I received appeared to be a Nuvi stick-on dashmount. I have been advised to not use a dash stick-on because bad guys will assume there's a GPS in the glove-box (as they might from the suction cup rings on the windshield). Have finally found the Garmin "Contact Us" and am trying to get the correct dashmount. If anyone orders a c550 be sure to get product-support if you want a different mount.

I love my StreetPilot! It is very helpful and very easy to use. I like the Bluetooth feature, however when using the handsfree device to have a phone conversation, reception isn't very clear. Callers complain that they can't hear me and I also find myself leaning toward the device to hear as well. There is a wired mic that you can purchase separately. Also, do not purchase a car charger. This product comes with one already.

Wonderful device - the GPS is extremely accurate and I've used it in multiple cities (Atlanta, Seattle, Victoria BC, etc.) with equal success. The built-in database of restaraunts, etc. is truly amazing - very up-to-date! The other thing I love about the unit is the Blue-Tooth phone integration - it has made my blue-tooth ear piece completely obsolete while driving! Lastly, this unit comes with a 3-month trial for the real-time traffic information. I find that this works very well in US metro areas and it has saved me a few headaches (you can have the unit detour around problems) - I'll most likely sign up for this optional service when the three months are up.

very clear concise instructions. got us to and from LAX very easily and was great traveling around california.

the directions are sometimes too late, making it dangerous, and the traffic reports are always wrong.
I would like to return the product, if it is possible.

I've been watching this unit for a while, but was shocked at the high price Amazon is currently charging for it. For example, Circuit City stores is currently selling this unit for $449.00. I'm sure other retail outlets will follow their lead. My point is, this is a great unit, but shop around for lower prices.

I was able to get a good price for my Garmin c550 GPS Navigator. The service and delivery were great. I even talked my sister to ordering one.
She too had a great experience dealing with this Vendor.

I've owned other Garmin vehicle GPS units and hands down they are the best brand you can buy. I personally wouldn't buy an in-dash GPS unit if it wasn't powered by Garmin.

I did however find some disappointment in the c550. The feature I was most excited about was the bluetooth phone feature. To my disappointment, this feature doesn't really work all that great in all vehicles. My 2005 4runner has too much background noise when on a highway or interstate... virtually eliminating the use of the bluetooth. Those I call cannot understand what I'm saying. Maybe this feature works great in a high class luxury vehicle but not for me. It works better when I'm in slow traffice but I still feel I have to talk above my normal voice level for the other person to hear clearly.

The mp3 player feature is also virtually useless. The music only plays out of the unit and the sound quality is poor. With the popularity of other mp3 players (ipod)... this feature is never used.

The traffic fm receiver is cool but will only help you if you live in a big city. I live in a mid-size city and the traffic alerts are minimal. It might be very helpful in a larger city with more congestion. This feature is free for 90-days.

The other features can be found in lower models like the c340. I'd almost prefer that I would have purchased that model over the more expensive c550.

It all comes down to the features you want. If you need the traffic receiver and so-so bluetooth features... then this unit is for you. The navigation and quality of the product are what make this 4-stars. If you don't really need the added features... go with the c340. Same thing... minus the add-ons.

Garmin 550 is excellent. No more confusing road trips, Garmin does it all.
Love it, could not live without it.

I purchased the Garmin StreetPilot c550 after doing extensive research on portable GPS products. I am so pleased with this purchase & I can't recommend it highly enough. The screen is easy to see even in bright sunlight and it is unbelievably user-friendly. The directions are accurate and the unit recalculates in an instant if you miss a turn (no more hearing 'please make a legal U-Turn', which is a relief). The Blue Tooth feature is fantastic and it was a snap to sync my cell phone (Motorola Rzr) to the unit. I also like the clear channel traffic feature, but perhaps that's because we have great clear channel coverage in my area. I would say that this is the perfect unit for someone looking for a portable GPS that is easy to use with lots and bells and whistles at a fair price. In fact, I just bought a second unit for my dad. This is a great, great, great product!!

This unit worked great right out of the box! Just loved the bluetooth with my cell phone, Hands free!

What I was looking for was a GPS unit that is compact, well performing, a reputed brand name, and most importantly with Text-2-Speech (TTS) functionality.
And the award goes to .... Garmin StreetPilot c550 Vehicle GPS Navigator
Hence I bought it and been using it happily.

It is also most everything I wanted, the only draw back is the screen is a little on the small side.

Well....I have bought six of these todate. Three for my adult children and one for myself and two more for friends. Our experiences with the garmin is a source of conversation with us all. We can't seem to drive without it on no matter what, and can't imagine driving without it.
It is a rare product that exeeds our expectations adding much to our driving experince.
Joe Niswanger



I bought this to help reaquaint myself with the Denver area after being gone for 20 some years as I was now moving back to town. While it has been helpful say 80% of the time. The directions are off two frequently. Like the final mile to my house. I've been here two months now and don't use it all that often but I find it especially useful when I'm away from home and want to find the best way from that spot to one on my favorite list. I'm hoping the next upgrade to the software will start ironing out some ot the kinks in direction giving.

That said I'd still buy it again.

Garmin StreetPilot c550 Vehicle GPS Navigator

This product is literally useless or the piece I received is defective. It takes long time - 10 to 15 minutes to find a satellite in open air and facing sky. It gives directions taking small roads instead of highways and state routes even when HIGHWAY box is selected. Ultimately it misleads. A PIECE OF GARBAGE CONSIDERING PRICE I PAID.

I WANT TO RETURN IT AND GET FULL REFUND FOR IT.


My husband bought Garmin as a Christmas present for me after we moved to the East Coast. The product worked 6 times total. When I contacted Garmin for technical support, the technician admitted that specific product we had was defective. They acknowledged that the part number was part of a "bad run" and then gave me the run around about warranty services. They really do not want to replace it or give us our money back. After this deplorable customer service, I would recommend that Amazon customers consider alternative GPS systems. TomTom or Magellan specifically. I am not sure how this battle with Garmin will end... either we will have to sue them or raise a stink to get them to abide by their warranty obligation. My advice is GO ELSEWHERE for GPS systems.

I picked up the c550 from another online retailer. It came in an OEM (plain white) box, but contained all pieces the standard-boxed unit comes with. Quick notes:

- Acquires satellites much faster than my old Magellan RoadMate 700. Ready to go in less than a minute!
- If used in 'map' mode, it shows the next road coming up. Would like to know if that road is on the left or right side, but that's just being picky I suppose.
- 3D view is nice. Took some getting used to but I keep it in that mode now.
- Battery life is outstanding.
- The traffic feature is NOT INTEGRATED. It's part of the charger assembly. Had I known that, I may not have purchased this unit. When I read 'integrated' I expect it to be self-contained within the nav system.
- Because the traffic feature isn't integrated, if you choose to go on battery power alone you lose the traffic feature. So part of the portability goes out the window, as far as I'm concerned.
- Traffic monitoring is okay, but you have to have a route programmed in to get the feature, i.e., it won't give you traffic info on the road you're traveling on if you're in map mode.
- I haven't tried the Bluetooth speakerphone yet, but will test it soon.
- The POI feature is much nicer than some other systems I've tried. For example, if you query for restaurants, it will keep refreshing and updating your list, including distance and direction, while you move.
- Estimated time of arrival nice to have.

Overall, I'd buy this unit again. I picked over the c530 mainly for the Bluetooth functionality, but the traffic feature is nice as well. Too bad Garmin doesn't understand what 'integrated' means. I knocked off a star because of that.

My husband bought Garmin as a Christmas present for me after we moved to the East Coast. The product worked 6 times total. When I contacted Garmin for technical support, the technician admitted that specific product we had was defective. They acknowledged that the part number was part of a "bad run" and then gave me the run around about warranty services. They really do not want to replace it or give us our money back. After this deplorable customer service, I would recommend that Amazon customers consider alternative GPS systems. TomTom or Magellan specifically. I am not sure how this battle with Garmin will end... either we will have to sue them or raise a stink to get them to abide by their warranty obligation. My advice is GO ELSEWHERE for GPS systems.

I picked up the c550 from another online retailer. It came in an OEM (plain white) box, but contained all pieces the standard-boxed unit comes with. Quick notes:

- Acquires satellites much faster than my old Magellan RoadMate 700. Ready to go in less than a minute!
- If used in 'map' mode, it shows the next road coming up. Would like to know if that road is on the left or right side, but that's just being picky I suppose.
- 3D view is nice. Took some getting used to but I keep it in that mode now.
- Battery life is outstanding.
- The traffic feature is NOT INTEGRATED. It's part of the charger assembly. Had I known that, I may not have purchased this unit. When I read 'integrated' I expect it to be self-contained within the nav system.
- Because the traffic feature isn't integrated, if you choose to go on battery power alone you lose the traffic feature. So part of the portability goes out the window, as far as I'm concerned.
- Traffic monitoring is okay, but you have to have a route programmed in to get the feature, i.e., it won't give you traffic info on the road you're traveling on if you're in map mode.
- I haven't tried the Bluetooth speakerphone yet, but will test it soon.
- The POI feature is much nicer than some other systems I've tried. For example, if you query for restaurants, it will keep refreshing and updating your list, including distance and direction, while you move.
- Estimated time of arrival nice to have.

Overall, I'd buy this unit again. I picked over the c530 mainly for the Bluetooth functionality, but the traffic feature is nice as well. Too bad Garmin doesn't understand what 'integrated' means. I knocked off a star because of that.

I bought this to help reaquaint myself with the Denver area after being gone for 20 some years as I was now moving back to town. While it has been helpful say 80% of the time. The directions are off two frequently. Like the final mile to my house. I've been here two months now and don't use it all that often but I find it especially useful when I'm away from home and want to find the best way from that spot to one on my favorite list. I'm hoping the next upgrade to the software will start ironing out some ot the kinks in direction giving.

That said I'd still buy it again.

Garmin StreetPilot c550 Vehicle GPS Navigator

This product is literally useless or the piece I received is defective. It takes long time - 10 to 15 minutes to find a satellite in open air and facing sky. It gives directions taking small roads instead of highways and state routes even when HIGHWAY box is selected. Ultimately it misleads. A PIECE OF GARBAGE CONSIDERING PRICE I PAID.

I WANT TO RETURN IT AND GET FULL REFUND FOR IT.


Well....I have bought six of these todate. Three for my adult children and one for myself and two more for friends. Our experiences with the garmin is a source of conversation with us all. We can't seem to drive without it on no matter what, and can't imagine driving without it.
It is a rare product that exeeds our expectations adding much to our driving experince.
Joe Niswanger



Garmin 550 is excellent. No more confusing road trips, Garmin does it all.
Love it, could not live without it.

I purchased the Garmin StreetPilot c550 after doing extensive research on portable GPS products. I am so pleased with this purchase & I can't recommend it highly enough. The screen is easy to see even in bright sunlight and it is unbelievably user-friendly. The directions are accurate and the unit recalculates in an instant if you miss a turn (no more hearing 'please make a legal U-Turn', which is a relief). The Blue Tooth feature is fantastic and it was a snap to sync my cell phone (Motorola Rzr) to the unit. I also like the clear channel traffic feature, but perhaps that's because we have great clear channel coverage in my area. I would say that this is the perfect unit for someone looking for a portable GPS that is easy to use with lots and bells and whistles at a fair price. In fact, I just bought a second unit for my dad. This is a great, great, great product!!

This unit worked great right out of the box! Just loved the bluetooth with my cell phone, Hands free!

What I was looking for was a GPS unit that is compact, well performing, a reputed brand name, and most importantly with Text-2-Speech (TTS) functionality.
And the award goes to .... Garmin StreetPilot c550 Vehicle GPS Navigator
Hence I bought it and been using it happily.

It is also most everything I wanted, the only draw back is the screen is a little on the small side.

I was able to get a good price for my Garmin c550 GPS Navigator. The service and delivery were great. I even talked my sister to ordering one.
She too had a great experience dealing with this Vendor.

I've owned other Garmin vehicl