Garmin Quest II - Replacement

ThysdJ · Post by **ThysdJ** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:48 am

My trust Garmin Quest II started acting up on the weekend. Sad but true. I use it daily to record my trips, and then on our holidays to keep us on the right track. On Friday afternoon when I parked the car, it switched off (as it usually does when I turn off the ignition) and on Saturday it refused to switch on. Not in the cradle, where it usually powers up as soon as the ignition switchs on, and not even when I pressed the power button. Dead, vrek, kaput, like the parrot in the Monty Python story.

I left it in the cradle, and on Saturday afternoon all of a sudden it powered up again. That made me happy, I thought maybe he was just a bit cold. Then it worked fine for a while, powering up every time I turned on the ignition, but on Saturday evening.. mmmm you guessed it. Seems like there is a loose connection inside the unit somewhere. The other funny thing is that once it powered up, it doesnt suddenly die while driving.

My problem is that I am losing trip records (I use this for tax purposes). Now I want to know what Garmin am I going to buy to replace the Quest II that will give me the same Navigational and trip recording functionality. I am not fussed about bluetooth capability, mp3 playing, photo storage, making a cup of coffee and all the unnecessary stuff like that. I want to load T4A on it and use it in the bush, and I want to use Streetmaps in town. Not necessarily both at the same time. And I would not mind having a bigger screen.

Dont get me wrong. I love the Quest, and would love to keep it in a working condition, but maybe after 6 years it is time for a replacement. What do i replace it with that doesnt cost an arm and a leg, and does the job I want it to do?

Post by **george** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:59 am

Thys as jy net wil navigate in jou kar met T4A en Garmap dan behoort 'n Nuvi die ding te doen,maar as jy die unit will uithaal en gaan loop in die bos om roetes te merk ens dan raak die Nuvi se funksies beperk.

ThysdJ · Post by **ThysdJ** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 9:12 am

George, jy behoort mos al teen die tyd te weet... as ek nie soontoe kan ry nie, is dit nie die moeite werd om daar uit te kom nie... Thysie is nie groot op bergklim nie..

Which Nuvi though??

Niel · Post by **Niel** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 9:20 am

Thys, die Q2 was vervang met die Nuvi 500 - nice device Hulle het my so R 1900 laat inbetaal op die "upgrade" na my Q2 se battery ook gegroet het. As die battery die probleem is kan jy een van Nederland af bestel vir minder as R 200 - Polarbear2008 het n plek daar opgespoor. Hier is iewers n thread op die forum.

Post by **george** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 9:21 am

Thys as ek jy was en gelukkig is ek nie

sal ek sommer vir 'n cheapie gaan.(R1000)
Anders gaan vir die pappa http://www.techshop.co.za/ProductInfo.aspx?ItemId=1331
Ek sien Niel het ook respond.Die 500 is ook 'n goeie unit

oxydog · Post by **oxydog** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 9:35 am

Thys, ek het ook gehoor die Nuvi 500 is die beste plaasvervanger vir die Quest. Sy skermpie is net vir my 'n bietjie klein.

OOOOMS · Post by **OOOOMS** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 9:35 am

Nuvi 600:

http://www.garminnuvi600.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

oxydog · Post by **oxydog** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 9:40 am

Hmm, lyk my my informant was misinformed. 600 lyk soos die een om te kry, as jy die geld het!

ThysdJ · Post by **ThysdJ** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 9:48 am

Seems like I have a bit of research to do... Thanks Mark, ek sal bietjie opvolg op die inligting wat jy deurgegee het..

Hoppy · Post by **Hoppy** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 10:39 am

as jy regtig sukkel en elke dag laat is vir werk, kan jy maar my quest leen, ek weet na 5 jaar nog nie hoe die ding werk nie, ek glo aan verdwaal, dan sien jy soveel nuwe plekke en jy ontmoet die interresantste mense, ek gebruik hom om speedo's te kalibreer as ek conversions doen, hy werk lekker daarvoor.

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 10:58 am

Look at the MONTANA it looks as if it coold replace the QUEST. The NUI's do not offer same functionality.

ThysdJ · Post by **ThysdJ** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 11:35 am

Okay, I spoke to some people who I know use GPS's on tours into Africa etc, and it is a toss-up between the Nuvi 500 and the Nuvi 1410. Both do what I need then to do, except that the 500 can do "backtrack". But the plus for the 1410 is the bigger screen and the price...

Niel · Post by **Niel** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 12:14 pm

If you change it thru Avnic they will dictate the model -unfortunately

ThysdJ · Post by **ThysdJ** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 12:52 pm

I wont "upgrade" through Avnic, I also heard those stories. Ek laat my nie vertel nie...

Anyway, I am happy with the service I got from the Quest, after 5 hard working years, I'll keep it as a back-up, seeing as it still works (sometimes). Seems like the 1410 is discontinued, and the replacement (2460) costs almost the same as the 500...

Post by **Family_Dog** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 3:50 pm

ThysdJ wrote:Okay, I spoke to some people who I know use GPS's on tours into Africa etc, and it is a toss-up between the Nuvi 500 and the Nuvi 1410. Both do what I need then to do, except that the 500 can do "backtrack". But the plus for the 1410 is the bigger screen and the price...

I have both. The Nuvi 1410 also does backtrack. The Nuvi500 is a sturdier unit, waterproof and has a replaceable battery. The fact that the price has now fallen by around R2500 makes this a no-brainer... go for the Nuvi500!

-F_D

ThysdJ · Post by **ThysdJ** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 3:56 pm

I just did, Eric.....

Case Closed!!

Post by **george** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 4:09 pm

ThysdJ wrote:I just did, Eric.....

Case Closed!!

Post by **Mud Dog** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 5:23 pm

Perhaps an advantage of the smaller 500 is that it'll easily fit into your pocket ... so it can be used when hiking, or otherwise removed from the vehicle when you go into a shop or something. The waterproof feature is important to me for hand held use in wet weather.

The Legend · Post by **The Legend** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 5:39 pm

Thys,

Ek stel belang in die sigaret lighter plug van jou garmin Quest as jy dit nie meer gaan gebruilk nie.

ThysdJ · Post by **ThysdJ** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 7:06 pm

Dawie, ek gaan die Quest as 'n back-up hou. Hy werk darem nog so 90% van die tyd.

The Legend · Post by **The Legend** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 7:55 pm

Thys,

Is die fout nie dalk n los konneksie op die gedeelte van die plug wat inprop in die sigaret laaier nie.Die voorste gedeelte skroef in en uit om die fuse te verwyder.Is joune nie dalk net los dat dit nie kontak maak nie?

oxydog · Post by **oxydog** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 7:08 am

Kan maklik so iets wees, Dawie. En daardie plugs met die ingeboude speakertjie is nie cheap nie (R 500 +), so ek sou sê mens moet maar kyk of jy dit kan fix.

ThysdJ · Post by **ThysdJ** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 8:08 am

Is die fout nie dalk n los konneksie op die gedeelte van die plug wat inprop in die sigaret laaier nie

Nee dis nie die probleem nie, want selfs al haal ek hom uit die cradle uit, wil hy nog steeds nie aanskakel nie... MAAR!! Ek het opgemerk dat vandat ek die nuwe GPS bestel het, werk hy nou elke keer... So dalk was hy nooit regtig stukkend nie??

cabous · Post by **cabous** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 9:26 am

I went from Quest to Nuvi 500! And still very happy!

Gunta · Post by **Gunta** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 9:32 am

which is the best GPS to use for offroad through Africa and still use street maps in the towns?

ThysdJ · Post by **ThysdJ** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 9:51 am

Gunta wrote:which is the best GPS to use for offroad through Africa and still use street maps in the towns?

The one YOU have...

Mark do you really want to start this debate?

Gunta · Post by **Gunta** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 10:09 am

eish I dont have one other than my built in GPS which has served me well for the last 44 years

Just thought of getting one that works, any ideas?

ThysdJ · Post by **ThysdJ** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 10:33 am

Then the best is the one I have..

Nuvi 500. If you want to use Tracks4Africa, go Garmin.

ThysdJ · Post by **ThysdJ** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 11:31 am

Okay, I have been using the Nuvi 500 for more than a week now, and there are some things it cannot do that the Quest can, but I will get used to that I suppose. Now I need some help. I am looking for an additional suction cup mount as I need to move the GPS from one vehicle to another a LOT, and I dont want to overwork the "sucker"

Is there a generic one on the market? or do i have to pay Garmin's exorbitant prices? I tried the R60 jobbies from Midas, but they make me sea-sick..

Niel · Post by **Niel** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 1:04 pm

Praat met Avnic - jy het mos 2 suction cups gehad vir die Quest - as ek reg onthou.

ThysdJ · Post by **ThysdJ** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 1:22 pm

Nee jy onthou verkeerd... ek moes my 1 wat ek gehad het las en lap want ek wou nie R600 vir 'n nuwe een betaal nie...

Post by **Family_Dog** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 2:35 pm

A better replacement for it would be the one supplied by RAM, but the problem is the speaker & power cable.

The original Garmin unit is expensive at some R650.00, but at least it is still available and is complete as above.
Part No.: 010-10505-02.

-F_D

ThysdJ · Post by **ThysdJ** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 2:39 pm

Unca Eric, with the Nuvi 500 the cable is not integrated in the mount, and I am happy moving that from car to car...

I see the N500 suction cup jobbie costs R179 at Garmin, but Niel is busy working on a group buy for me..

Niel · Post by **Niel** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 2:55 pm

ThysdJ wrote:but Niel is busy working on a group buy for me..

Post by **Family_Dog** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 3:08 pm

Or buy a Beanbag for the Nuvi... 010-10908-00. No Installation nor suction cup required, just rests on the dash of any car. About R290.00 and can be used with any Nuvi.

-F_D

Gunta · Post by **Gunta** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 5:24 pm

Thys, i think you should take it back and get the new Montana. It replaces the Garmen 276 c and I heard this is the rolls royce for the offroader.

ThysdJ · Post by **ThysdJ** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 5:57 pm

Mark jou Montana man...

Happy with the 500 will learn to live with the shortcomings...

Post by **george** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 5:59 pm

Gunta wrote:Thys, i think you should take it back and get the new Montana. It replaces the Garmen 276 c and I heard this is the rolls royce for the offroader.

Thats what i tried to tell him in my first post :roll:

Post by **Family_Dog** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 9:56 pm

Thys, what shortcomings does the Nuvi 500 have compared to the Quest? In my mind, I cannot think of any, but I suppose there could be one or two. Still reckon I would grab a Nuvi500 before a Quest...

-F_D

ThysdJ · Post by **ThysdJ** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 10:10 pm

On the speedo screen of the quest I could customise the screen elements to display all sorts of nice data like time of day, elevation, etc etc, which I cant do with the Nuvi. I got used to having that functionality handy, as well as time to next waypoint and stuff. I could also do that on the "map" screen, but with the Nuvi all those data elements are fixed, you gotta take it the way they give it. Besides that I'm happy with my purchase. Bearing in mind that in 2007 the Quest II cost me in excess of R7500 (on special) and the Nuvi was less than R2800..

My Quest is like an SFA rugged go anywhere, spartan and Mabel with her annoying voice...

and the nuvi is like a Vigo, fancy maps, touchy feely screen, speaks 1000000 languages and all colourful....

Gunta · Post by **Gunta** » Thu Aug 11, 2011 9:36 am

george wrote:
Gunta wrote:Thys, i think you should take it back and get the new Montana. It replaces the Garmen 276 c and I heard this is the rolls royce for the offroader.
Thats what i tried to tell him in my first post :roll:

He's getting old and he has alzheimers so you need to be patient.