Update the maps. Charge it and see if it works before you do that though.

Some of the newer ones have some nice features (life time maps, real time traffic) but the older models have some features that are no longer available.

If your need is short term, try out the old one and see if it works. Use it in familiar surroundings for a week or two before your bigger need arises. If in doubt, I'd get a new one and wouldn't look back. Batteries die, electronics get creaky.

For an entry level price of about one hundred bucks, you'll get a unit that works reliably and well. I have a higher range Garmin for my portable unit (which I use when traveling in both North America and Europe), I think their products are great.

Unless you're going to be using it somewhere that has had a lot of road changes, I wouldn't bother with the map update. I have an >10 year old car with built in GPS that has had no map updates - it never leads me astray.

I thought my GPS died. It would not come on, even plugged in, on my last trip out west.

Not wanting to spend the money on a new one, I hooked it to the other charger, and low and behold, it works after all.

Money saved.

Mine is old. Bought about 10 years ago. So far, no real problems, even so it has never been updated.

Moni

PS, mine is a magellan.

Back when we were still using GPS units, we found it almost as cost effective to buy a new unit than to upgrade an old unit.

These days we don't use them. I have Google maps on my phone. I just use that. I live in an area under construction. The maps seem to get upgraded on a regular basis.

We have a 'Maggie', aka 'the itch on the dash'.
She doesn't get updates, so sometimes she shows us there is no road under us while driving. Also, if it is a newer address she doesn't know it. My one sons house I can't put in, but use an address a few blocks away!
Our battery went dead and we changed it out, cost $17 for new one.

We have a garmin that we have had for years and updated the maps and we also have a new one for the bus...the one in the car is portable (the older one) and we move it into the rental when need be...don't know why you'd need a new one if the old one works...

Will someone explain how GPS works? Is that what Garmin is? Do you click/type in an address or speak it? Maps make no sense to me, I'm hoping for turn by turn directions. Also, when someone says they have GPS on their cellphone what do they mean?

My car has built in navigation. I'd never used a gps for anything other than geocaching before now. It's really handy!

I have used Garmin, then switched to a MapQuest app on my iPhone. For a long drive though, you need the car charger for your phone. But, the Garmin needed to be plugged in also.
From time to time, we would update our Garmin. What I did realize about the Garmin is that on very long trips it had a tendency to get confused. So, after a while, I would turn it off and then restart it. This seemed to help.

I just got a new car last week and I am amazed at everything it can do. We have always bought cars and kept them for years. Now we are leasing and I love having an up to the minute car!
I have started to learn how the navigation system works.

"Will someone explain how GPS works? Is that what Garmin is? Do you click/type in an address or speak it? Maps make no sense to me, I'm hoping for turn by turn directions. Also, when someone says they have GPS on their cellphone what do they mean?"

Garmin, TomTom, Magellan etc are manufacturers of GPS units.

GPS In their phones, mean they have downloaded a GPS program or App into their smart phone.

Usually you enter in your destination by typing it into your GPS, although the newer ones do recognize voice instructions. You can have your GPS speak to you, to receive the directions while you are driving.

THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS 100% CORRECT.

GPS works through satellite technology, you'll get the best explanation by goggleing "how do GPS work".

ML

I have a Garmin that sits unused since I have a smartphone.
Zero need to carry two devices....

We use the GPS on the phone as well.

Snidely I like your suggestion to use it for a few weeks and then decide. I went ahead and registered my GPS with Garmin and got updates via USB cord and a discount if I purchase the address upgrade.
For me an address upgrade would be something I'd want. I live in the Houston area and there are new streets, entire new subdivisions, new exits, and in general a lot of change.

"We have a garmin that we have had for years and updated the maps and we also have a new one for the bus...the one in the car is portable (the older one) and we move it into the rental when need be...don't know why you'd need a new one if the old one works..."

We upgraded at that time because the equipment usually starts to become obsolete too. Presumably the old equipment would break down before the new one. Unfortunately, that's the way electronics work.

I live in an area similar to what Lucille is describing. The street names here are really odd. I need the latest info I can find because I wouldn't guess where a street was any other way.

Maybe cheaper if you just update to a new phone(?)

I just use the map app in my iPhone. :)

"Maybe cheaper if you just update to a new phone(?)"

An address upgrade for my Garmin is either $50 for 1 time or $100 for the lifetime of the particular GPS.

I'm thinking a switch to a smartphone would be considerably more expensive, what with a data plan and the purchase of the phone.

As I mentioned above, for around $100 you can get a new unit and most now come with free lifetime map updates.

Personally, I don't like using my smartphone and much prefer a GPS device or built-in system. I tend to use the GPS visually and keep the audio directions turned off (except at night in an unfamiliar neighborhood). My phone's screen (with its intentionally smaller size to fit comfortably in my pocket) is too small to quickly glance at.

I heard from Garmin, having emailed and asked them to weigh in. With the new models coming with lifetime updates, and Garmin's invitation to trade in my model for a 20%discount, buying a new GPS sounds like an attractive choice.
I am going to get one of the better models, I'm mulling screen size. What size do y'all use?

Ah yes, the Garmin discount. We routinely get 110 when we trade up; make sure you push for a higher discount. We just got DH a new one (his 3rd in 10 years, which is not bad considering it's used every day in a truck). We got the nuvi 2599LMT-HD. It has a 5 inch screen and is very slim.