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I purchased the Garmin GPS V in anticipation of two 3-day trips into areas I had never traveled. The detailed maps that were supplied on the CD were excellent and accurate. Before I left on the trips, I checked out the detail on the streets of Seattle, WA, because the many steep hills provide unusual angled streets with many turns. The map followed them all and accurately named them. I was impressed. I was even more impressed when I traveled into the back country of the Olympic peninsula and, arriving at an intersection of two country roads, found that the GPS V maps named both of them correctly. I'll never travel without it again.

The 19mb of memory is a bit too small to hold the number of maps that I regularly need and there is no additional memory card available to augment the capacity. Erasing and downloading a new set of maps to the GPS from the computer is very easy and intuitive, but somewhat time consuming. Adding even one detailed map to the GPS V required more than 30 minutes of download time, this in addition to any computer time selecting the maps to use. Fortunately, the base map built into the GPS V good enough for the major interstate highways, exits, and services, so if you do not regularly travel to a number of large cities, the 19mb of memory may be ample for the detailed maps desired.

The dash mount supplied with the GPS V is excellent with locking angle adjustments and a quick-release. It lacks only one very important feature: it must be mounted on a flat surface. Try to find one of those on today's curved dashboards, and in a place where the antenna can acquire the satellites and you can see the display. Fortunately, I was able to make an adapter plate that fit the dashboard and allowed the dash mount to be installed. I am very pleased with the clarity of the display.

The instruction book that comes with the GPS V is very complete and leads step-by-step through the more complicated processes. At the same time, the usual functions desired from a GPS are easy to set up and fairly intuitive by using the menu functions. The quick start guide is all most people will need to use the unit effectively.

Battery life from 4 AA cells is sufficient if the backlight feature is not used too much. Typically I found the batteries needed to be replaced after 18 to 20 hours. The GPS V also comes with a cigarette lighter cable for powering the unit in the car. A cable for hard wiring the GPS into the car's electrical system is available but not supplied.

I especially like the option of "on-road," which moves the cursor to the nearest road, or "off-road," which will point your way to your destination or back home if you are hiking cross country. Several pages of display will give you more information than ever thought possible: accurate local time, speed, distance traveled, average speed, latitude and longitude, elevation, time and distance to destination, and the best time for fishing (no kidding) just to name a few.

The auto-routing feature is a real help when traveling in unfamiliar areas, but I have found that sometimes it has made less than optimum routing suggestions when I tested it to destinations I knew. Not a really big problem as it always directed me to the destination eventually. One really great feature of auto-routing is that if you miss a turn or get off the suggested track, the GPS V immediately recalculates the route and displays turn-by-turn directions to the destination from where you presently heading.

In conclusion, I can say I am completely pleased with the Garmin GPS V and that it has many of the features of more expensive units. I highly recommend it.

For anyone who wrote a not so great review of the previous GPS V product, Garmin has just released the deluxe version of the GPS V. You get an unlock code for the entire country now (previously you only got to unlock certain areas and had to pay get additonal unlock codes).

I have found the 19mb memory to be more than sufficient for holding maps. I live near Washington DC and can fit the whole area into the unit. For long trips, you don't need to download detailed maps of your entire route. The base map built into the GPS V deluxe is plenty good for navigating major interstates, exits, and services. You only need a detailed map(s) of your destination areas or specific areas where you will be travelling local secondary roads (like neighborhood streets or rural roads).

I recently took a 600 mile trip down to Georgia and all I needed were a few maps of my destination. All major roads and highways are included in the built in base map (a lot of people seem to not know this). I was able to navigate all of my gas, food, and logding stops along the way without detailed maps. The base map worked fine. No need for a detailed map just to make quick stop for gas and bite to eat.

There is a slight learning curve when using the GPS V Deluxe. But once you figure out all of the "bells and whistles" it's easy to use. I am new to using a GPS and after purchasing this unit I am very satisfied. If you are the type of person who can't find their way out of a paper bag - this unit is for you.

The included pc cable and software are pretty much idiot proof. I'm no pc whiz and didn't need to be. Downloading maps is as simple as clicking the area you want to download and clicking the "download" icon. The GPS does the rest.

The unit works great in the car and while hiking. It also has a backlit screen for night use which is nice. Battery life is about 20 hrs (pretty good). Also comes with cigarette lighter car adapter.

I did have to purchase the "beanbag holder" for my dash since the included dash mount wouldn't sit right on my SUV dash. So far, it hasn't moved even on sharp turns.

All in all, this is an excellent GPS and has many added features that most cheaper units do not have. The autorouting feature is great and has saved me more than once late at night when I have been lost. Just tell the GPS where you want to go and it will start navigating you there with turn by turn directions, distance to the next turn, time to the next turn, etc.

Also, I never really knew how fast I was travelling in my SUV since I added larger off-road tires. The GPS now accurately calculates my true speed and I was able to get the dealer to adjust my spedometer (I was going way faster than what the spedometer in my dash said I was).

For many years I have run around with a GPS 12 strapped to my dash. It has never failed me and I have come to rely on it. I had seen many people use the Garmin V and knew that someday I would have to take a closer look.

Finally I purchased the Garmin V and was not disappointed. In addition to all of the capabilities of the GPS 12 that I have become so fond, the G-V added several new capabilities to the formula.

The "FIND" or Auto-Routing has been a terrific bonus. I recently located a piece of property that was listed for sale. It was tucked away in a very obscure part of the area, and would have been nearly impossible to locate with "turn by the blue house; go straight until you reach the tree" kind of "human" directions that it would have required. Instead, we drove confidently to the location, knowing where we were every step of the way.

We also love looking up Points of Interest (Restaurants, Shopping, etc.) - it has enhanced our travels by encouraging us to take the road less traveled knowing that at least we can find our way in and back out!

Adding the external antenna greatly increased the reception quality of the unit. We routinely get accuracy reported to within 15 feet!

The unit is compatible with other Garmin accessories I already own, is feature-rich yet intuitive for users like me. I have already been able to convert and use several of the hundreds of tracks I recorded with my GPS 12.

Combine this unit with City Select and Topo and you have a combination that will take you to some of the most interesting (and sometimes well hidden) places on the planet. You will know what time you can expect to arrive, find a place to get a meal, and even get some fishing tips if that's your fancy. Tonight we wanted to check a restaurant for specials and waiting times. I looked it up on the GPS on the way to the location and called ahead for the answer to all my questions!

For the price of this unit and the map software, you can hardly go wrong. If you want to reach a new level of freedom, take a good look at the Garmin V!