Hi Ralph:
The whole issue of buying a used (older model) GPSR is a very difficult one for new GPSR users to address. It's possible, under certain circumstances, to make a wise and well educated decision to purchase an older, less expensive GPSR - but to make that decision, you need to have a heck of a lot of background knowledge about the different components that make up the package. Obviously, most new users - the folks who are most likely to consider a used GPSR - don't have that knowledge.
What I am going to do here is try to identify some of the key factors that you have to consider. It is important to understand that when you purchase a GPSR, it's not like buying a television, it's more like you are buying a system - a collection of different bits, some tangible, some intangible - that all work together. So, here's a brief description of the 'bits'.
1) Cartography First and foremost, you have to be aware that the most critical component in a GPSR purchase is the age and quality of the cartography that comes with it. If you buy a new, contemporary GPSR, you can take for granted that you will get current, up to date cartography, and that the capabilities of the cartography will match the design intent of the GPSR. By capabilities, I mean that if you buy an automotive GPSR, the cartography will support automatic generation of routes for your vehicle.
Some cartographic products support automatic route generation -for example, CityNavigator and CitySelect - and others don't, for example, MetroGuide Europe.
Concerning age of the cartography, the stuff gets updated about every 18 months or so. If you are buying a used unit, check the Garmin website to see if the cartography you are getting with it is the most current version of the product, or if it is out of date. If it is out of date, then set aside USD $150 to purchase an update. In practice, this means that you either ask the vendor to knock $150 off the price, or, you add $150 to your total cost of acquisition - then compare that total cost to the cost of buying a new unit that comes with current cartography. In many cases, what appears at first glance to be a bargain is no bargain at all once you factor in the cost of upgrading the cartography to the current version.
2) Memory size and type Some units come with fixed, non-expandable internal memory, and some accept data cards. Some data cards (from earlier units, such as the SP III) are proprietary format and thus quite expensive per megabyte of storage. Other data cards are commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) CF cards - they are quite cheap, and you might be able to use the same card in a digital camera. Heck, you might already own some of them. The more memory you have, the better. You can never be too rich, too thin, or have too much memory in your GPSR.
3) Design Intent of the GPSR Some units are designed primarily for automotive use, some primarily for marine use, and others primarily for hiking and walking. Many units have secondary capabilities, but some units are strictly single purpose. Both the Quest and the SP III are designed primarily for automotive use, so at least you are on the right track there. In principle, you are better off getting a unit that was designed solely for automotive use - not a dual purpose unit. I have a $2,000 Garmin 296 - this is the absolute top of the line aviation - marine - automotive portable - but for moto riding, I would always choose to use my single purpose 26xx or 27xx, not the 296. Dual purpose units are only a wise choice if you intend to use them for dual purposes.
4) Suitability for Moto Use This encompasses not only the waterproof characteristics of the unit, but also the contrast ratio of the screen and the power of the backlight in the unit. GPSR's that are designed primarily for automotive use will have a honking great backlight in them, which you need to be able to read the screen in sunny weather when you have it mounted on a moto. Don't forget that the car drivers generally don't have direct sunlight shining on their GPSR screens, as we often do.
You also have to consider mounting the unit. As was mentioned earlier by Mouse, the SP III generally comes with a mounting bracket that is suitable for moto use - whereas the Quest does not.
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I can't make a recommendation to get a Quest or get a SP III. You'll have to make this decision yourself. But, go slow, gather as much information as you can, and try to talk to other riders who have used the same unit that you are considering purchasing. Then, when you have done all that due diligence, go ahead and buy the GPSR.
Michael
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