Has anyone added the Garmin GPS to their smart?

SharonRB · 03-28-2008, 01:07 PM

If you have, what model of the Garmin GPS does smart offer and how much does smart Center Bloomfield charge for it? I'm seriously considering it to my car when it comes in in the next couple of weeks. I have zero sense of direction and get lost easily in unfamiliar territory. It would probably be well worth the few hundred dollars extra to me.

**jwight** · 03-28-2008, 01:10 PM

Sharon, as far as I know smart USA doesn't offer a smart branded GPS. As you can see from other threads, you can have any sort of nav system you want, from built in to portable suction cup mount.

http://smartcarofamerica.com/forums/...highlight=Nuvi

SharonRB · 03-28-2008, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwight

Sharon, as far as I know smart USA doesn't offer a smart branded GPS. As you can see from other threads, you can have any sort of nav system you want, from built in to portable suction cup mount.

http://smartcarofamerica.com/forums/...highlight=Nuvi

In the e-mail I got from my brand associate, she listed various things I could do to personalize my car. A Garmin GPS was one of the items. I know it's not smart-branded, but from the e-mail, I assume that's the GPS they will add after-market if I want one. I was doing a little research on Garmin online, and just wondered which model they are making available.

I saw through my research that Garmin and smart teamed up a couple of years ago in Europe.

idrivesmart · 03-28-2008, 01:31 PM

I have a 2008 Silver/Silver fortwo Passion (loaded) and I use the Garmin nuvi 680 - I got it for around $400 and I am really happy with it. It fits nicely in the lower-left side of my windshield, works great with my bluetooth phone and even transmits MP3, directions and phone audio to my smart's radio. I think the nuvi 680 is very "smart-friendly" and I recommend it. In fact you can even customize what the little car looks like on the 3D map/screen. Check out this custom Smart icon for the Garmin, goto: techmods.net/nuvi/vehicles/ (scroll to the bottom).
Hope this helps!

SmartAzz · 03-28-2008, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by idrivesmart

I have a 2008 Silver/Silver fortwo Passion (loaded) and I use the Garmin nuvi 680 - I got it for around $400 and I am really happy with it. It fits nicely in the lower-left side of my windshield, works great with my bluetooth phone and even transmits MP3, directions and phone audio to my smart's radio. I think the nuvi 680 is very "smart-friendly" and I recommend it. In fact you can even customize what the little car looks like on the 3D map/screen. Check out this custom Smart icon for the Garmin, goto: techmods.net/nuvi/vehicles/ (scroll to the bottom).
Hope this helps!

We just got a 660 and it seems like it should work well, same way as you stated. Do you have it hooked up via the aux port to "transmits MP3, directions and phone audio"? Haven't tried that yet since I didn't want to cut out the radio altogether

ckigar · 03-28-2008, 01:41 PM

I like my Garmin 660. Amazon has a very useful grid for comparing models if you want to know the difference say, between a 660 and a 680. I added the smart Logo and replaced the Garmin screen at boot and also substituted a smart car icon for the Nav screen. I posted a link to a site where you can download a smart car icon, search my posts for it. I just snagged the 'chicken head' from a smart web page and used it as the boot screen.

SharonRB · 03-28-2008, 01:53 PM

Thanks for your help, everyone. I guess I'll wait to see what the dealer offers and then decide if I'll take that or go out and get something on my own.

I looked at the Garmin Streetpilot 550 and the Nuvi 660 online and it looks like the main difference is that the Nuvi line can also be used as a handheld. It's a little more expensive and I don't need the handheld functionality, so I may go with the Streetpilot, again depending on what the dealer offers.

The tigergps.com site has the Nuvi 660 on sale right now for $349.99, marked down from $700+.

idrivesmart · 03-28-2008, 02:22 PM

To SmartAzz: the answer is no, the 680 has an FM transmitter so I have my CH1 preset on the my Radio 10 set to 88.1 and I use that for phone calls and nav. This leaves my MP3 jack open for my iPod or whatever else. I suppose you can tether your nav to the aux jack (if the 660 has an output).

idrivesmart · 03-28-2008, 02:28 PM

To SharonRB: I got my nuvi 680 from my local Costco store for $399. For the extra $50 you get BLUETOOTH (if you don't have a BT phone yet you will eventually and this is great for handsfree calling. It even allows you to voice dial), FM transmitting (lets your nuvi transmit the audio to any FM channel you choose, leaving your aux port open) plus the nuvi line is more updateable and customizable. I think its worth the extra 50.

SmartAzz · 03-28-2008, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by idrivesmart

To SmartAzz: the answer is no, the 680 has an FM transmitter so I have my CH1 preset on the my Radio 10 set to 88.1 and I use that for phone calls and nav. This leaves my MP3 jack open for my iPod or whatever else. I suppose you can tether your nav to the aux jack (if the 660 has an output).

Hmm, will have to look into that (the fm transmitter, I'm pretty certain it does have aux out), not a major thing but could be nice. Btw, the 660 has bluetooth as well - paired just fine with my phone too