StreetPilot 2610

[Beemer Bob]

Hello all,

Do any of you GPSer's have the StreetPilot 2610?

I'm thinking of buying one from the states, as they are as cheap as chips over there.
What are the pitfalls of buying from the states?
I know about the base maps, but this can be put right, right?

All help is much appreciated.
Cheers
Bob

 

[oblertone]

Internal power ?

I have read somewhere that they have no internal power source (batteries), therefore have to be connected to play with. No more sitting in the pub fiddling hmmm .........

Paul

 

[Banjaxed]

Bob - why bother?

No European basemap, so NO autorouting if you go off the areas you have downloaded.
No battery power, so work off an AC adaptor (with PC), or attached to the bike.
Expensive
No warranty
No bike adaptors (as yet)

Costco/Makro doing great deals on the SP3.

Why bother?

 

[Howard Millichap]

V.A.T.

If you get it posted here, you'll get stung for V.A.T.
Only way round it is going to get it yourself or getting someone else to bring it back.

You going again soon Mr Tickle??

 

[ebbo]

Ok, the 2610 has a faster processor and quicker routing. It also has a cheaper plug in memory module with lots of capacity. But, it has a touch screen that doesn’t really suite motorcyclist gloves and a remote control that isn’t going to like the rain. So what’s the point when the SP3 is now so affordable and possibly more practical?

 

[Greg Masters]

Bob

According to reports elsewhere on this site, you can get an SPIII from Costco for about £540. If you haven't got a Costco card, I'd be happy to help.

I think that the SPIII might still be a better option for a bike at present - even though its a bit slower in processing routes and redrawing maps.

Greg

 

[BurnieM]

The 2610 is MUCH faster to re-calculate routes and re-draw screens than a SPIII

The memory cards are MUCH cheaper than Garmin cards and can be purchased in sizes up to 2GB

Comments here about the touch screen not being usable with gloves have been contradicted by 2 Americian riders on the newsgroups.

Neither Tourtech or RAM have produced mounts yet but these are expected Jan/Feb.

I agree that the remote is useless on a bike but note that the BMW Navigator II has additional add-on button module on the left side. Not sure if you will be able to purchase this separately.

If you purchase from the US do not forget to factor in the cost of European maps.

Personally, I do believe that the basemap is not an issue any longer as with this unit you should be able to load maps covering a very wide area.

 

[ebbo]

I nearly bought a Streetpilot from the US last year, it was a lot cheaper, but was finally put off by the though of “what to do if it goes wrong”. Did you know Garmin don’t have a policy to seal the packaging before the product leaves the plant? I found out about that the hard way when I bought a “returned” Streetpilot from Costco as new. Parts were missing and the CD’s had been used. After returning it, I emailed Garmin and found out about the weird “unsealed packaging policy” why they do that, I don’t know? But it cost me half a day and 50 miles travelling to sort out.

 

[bruder]

My first 4 weeks with the 2610

Hello,
I got a 2610 for testing for 10 days. I used the Emap before. After the testing ended, I bought it!!!!! The thing is great!!! The touchscreen even good for motorbike gloves. The routing function is fast and great and with the 1GB-CF-Card you even would not need your pc.
The price is high. But you can get it in USA for 750 USD. And when there is a friend available to bring it with him for you, you have no problem with tax etc..
If you send it to the south of england or to Ohio is not a problem with UPS.
On the 1GB-Card you have to drive several weeks before you will leave the "autorouting-sector".
The power connection you can buy from your dealer.
I did this with one 2610. No problem. I even had one problem, so I had to send it back. 10 days without it had been hard but no problem.
No I am waiting to get the mounting from Touratech/Germany. Until now I fixed it on a normal Ram-Mount.
The thing is real good stuff!!!!

Jürgen

 

[The Foolish Fellow]

sp3

i find the sp3 a total pain in the hole waiting for it to draw routes that i have not planned on my computer.It sometimes takes 15 - 20 minutes.This year i sat in genoa harbour waiting on it to make up its mind. It takes ages.i eventually went on .Also the garmin flash card has a max capacity of 128mb------- not enough for touring europe.
my only once used SP3 is now for sale at £500.
I am looking forward to purchasing the new model with its added flexibility of fast autorouting and big memory card capacity.
The no battery power will not be a major hinderance as one can surely take along a mains adaptor to enable off bike programming. These machines are about convenience and the new garmin looks like it will do this for me

Matt