1. 

   Kim Wescott
   December 9th, 2009 - 07:44

   I LOVE this GPS! Have had a number of Garmin’s over the years, and am very happy with this one.
   Rating: 5 / 5
2. 

   Joost A. De Jong
   December 9th, 2009 - 07:46

   Although a reasonably well performing GPS with decent telephony features, I strongly, stronly recommend AGAINST buying this product.

   The key reasons are:

   1) The management software / Mapsource is totally unintelligble, and is impossible to load.
   
   2) USB drivers simply do not work, and there is no way to connect the gps to a computer. (Yes, I am running an up to date computer, with Visa, release 2, etc. etc.)
   
   3) Map updates crash the computer. (Three different ones so far, so I am inclined to blame their software)
   
   4) Endless requests for codes that they supposedly e-mailed (never arrived)
   
   5) Endless requests for new payments, that don’t achieve anything
   
   6) Support which never answers
   
   7) Lifetime map downloads ($139.95) which do not download, try to download, just crash the system.
   
   No guidance at all on the Garmin webpage which explains how their software is supposed to function. (You know, map management tool, purchases, or anything like that. The only thing that works is the payment page)

   So far I have spend close to $900 on this gps. I am still riding with the original map that it came it came with, as none of the software it came with, or the first “free” update, nor the downloads, nor the “paid” updates ever did anything but cost me five days of computer frustrations. (As well as several hours being lost in the Spanish countryside as the system did not know roads opened three years previously – although the unit dates back to June 2009)

   And yes, I do know how to work a computer. 25 years in high tech, and currently manage a corporate network.

   Hence, I am resorting to this comment page to finally get some help, as Garmin has so far completely ignored all requests for support, just taking the money and providing a useless product.

   AGAIN: DO NOT BUY THIS GPS. The physical unit is decent, but the software and support is a total RIP-OFF. I can not believe that these people are actually a main line supplier.

   I invite GARMIN to contact me at [...] to make me change my mind about them, as their own avenues of communications do not provide any response.
   Rating: 1 / 5
3. 

   Mister Black
   December 9th, 2009 - 09:23

   Just tested the new 660 on a 250 ride. In some ways it’s unchanged but in others it adds some really cool features. Just a few are: display of the speed limit next to the speed display. I love this. Others are a display of the driving distance remaining to your actual destination, much easier entry of information, the shape of the unit is now much improved. It looks very cool now. I also like that the main map display can be customized not only in direction, 3d 2d etc. but with the other data that displays on it (ie speed, distance remaining, arrival time, etc.). I have a hard time understanding the negative reviews. I believe if you give this unit a chance you’ll love it.
   Rating: 5 / 5
4. 

   L. Scott
   December 9th, 2009 - 10:16

   I have had the 660 for a little over a week now and found that setup and hookup of the unit is very easy and straightforward. Making routes on the unit and following them is ok except the pronunciation of some of the street names has a lot to be desired. So far, I have found 2 major (for me) problems… the unit does not label the towns and cities on the unit, and when a route is made in Mapsource and transferred to the unit, it shows as “Off Road” (straight line). You have to go into the menu and switch the route to either “faster time” or “shorter distance” to make it re-calculate. Then when it does the re-calculation it doesn’t always follow the route you had designed in Mapsource. To me, since I design most of my routes on the PC, this is a huge problem. As for the first problem I mentioned (not labeling cities/towns), it’s hard to believe other Garmin units have this capability and the 660 doesn’t. I’ve called Garmin about the routing problem and they didn’t know about it until they checked one of the units while I was on the line. They said they would be working on a fix for it, but it might be 2 or 3 months. As for the labeling problem… they were unconcerned.

   Bottom line = I shouldn’t have given away my old 2610 and waited another year or so. Probably should only get 1 star, but I’m betting on a fix for the problems.
   Rating: 2 / 5
5. 

   Kinabalu
   December 9th, 2009 - 13:05

   Just received a nice shiny new 660 to replace my old 550. I like the new wide screen, the lane change feature seems to work pretty good. I live in Atlanta, GA and it has kicked in several times. Most times are very appropriate although once or twice I had already made the lane change and passed the signs when it came up. Also really handy on the 6 and 8 lane interstates as it shows which lanes you should be traveling in which is a great heads up. I like the posted speed limit sign on the screen. Very handy reminder to avoid those costly speeding tickets. I like the configurable left and right positions and it is also handy to have the time on the main screen when on the bike. Not really useful in the car so it would be nice to configure it just for use with the bike and disable when in the car. I usually use my Zumo 90% in the car and 10% on the bike. I agree that the speaker is a bit soft and a little too much bass for some reason making it hard to hear in the car. This is more noticeable with the Bluetooth feature for my cell phone. On the 550 people complained that there was a lot of echo and they seem to not notice it as much with the 660. Like some other reviewers I also am not thrilled with the little door on the back to access the USB connector and the miniSD card. Although I found on the 550 that once I had things going I really did not plug it into the Mac at home very much if at all. Also I had a 2GB card in the 550 and don’t think I really ever used it. The door could use a redesign in my opinion, this is where the 550 was definitely better. I really don’t like the cheesy plastic cover for the bike mount when the Zumo is not in place. Not being tethered like the one on the 550 I can see it getting lost. Not that it will be on the bike as whenever I am driving I have the Zumo and the rest of the time it is in the garage. But those times when I am on a walkabout it would be nice to have the cover on to protect the mount. I had a hard time getting my favorites over from the 550 as I use a Mac but once I got Roadtrip loaded everything came over fine. I really like the thinner design and I like the fact that the speaker is built in and not in the mount like the 550. I also like the “Where am I?” feature as I travel all over the US and this is super handy. The maps seem a heck of a lot clearer than the 550 and I like the way it kind of zooms in and pans around on its own. I got to see the 3D building view when I was downtown the other day. Also a cool thing when I am traveling in unknown cities (pretty much every week). Overall I think this was a good upgrade from the 550.
   Rating: 4 / 5

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