i might be done buying vintage garmin screens

I got my first Garmin screen in 2005, a StreetPilot i3. After that, a c340, then later on a c580. After that, a nuvi 270, then 255W. Then from 2012 all the way to 2018 I used a nuvi 40 and then a 50, which are both the same model (the only difference is the 50 is a 5" screen while the 40 is a 4.3"). 2018 is when I began using a DriveSmart full time.

It wasn't until about 2020 when I started buying all the Garmin screens I ever wanted. During this time, a ton of those screens were available in near-mint condition for very cheap. As in the $15 to $35 range cheap. Nobody wanted them, so I jumped on that and bought a bunch over the years.

What's funny is that screens that were worthless now aren't, and it's for one reason. Both smartphone and infotainment navigation has gotten so bad that it actually increased the value of old Garmin screens. Another additional cost is the increase for flash memory. It used to be that 5-packs of 32GB microSD cards (the most a Garmin screen will support) were cheap, but now the 8GB and 16GB microSD is what to get. Thankfully, that's enough space for map data with room to spare since the entire US+Canada+Mexico maps from Garmin clocks in at just under 5.2GB.

I did not buy every Garmin car model ever made because that wasn't necessary, and because some will have future problems that cannot be fixed. The Garmin nuvi 3597 for example uses a stupid proprietary powered mount. When that goes, and it will, the screen is totally unusable, so I never bought that screen in the first place.

This isn't to say I haven't made a few goofs with some screens I've bought. The nuvi 2455, while nice and works just fine, does have a bespoke-to-screen mounting clip. That clip thankfully isn't a stupid powered thing like the 3597 has, but if that clip ever breaks, there are no new reproductions available. I'd have to use a car phone mount. Yeah, that's at least something, but still, I always prefer to use the original mount whenever possible.

At this point I have bought all the old screens that were worth buying. I learned which are the good ones and the not-so good. I also learned which have the best legibility, the brightest daylight readable screens, the ones that can handle scorching summer heat and freezing winter cold best, the proper alternative power cable to get that works with a standard USB-A port and so on. All of that is info I know now.

What will I do with all the old screens I have?

I have a selection of them that will serve as backup screens.

I'm currently using a Drive 52 (which does need an 8, 16 or 32GB microSD card) because it can handle the blazing summer heat, and it's still summer right now. When the heat is over, I'll switch back to the DS66 or DS76 (neither of which need the additional memory card). I have both, but I'll probably go back to the 76.

With the older screens I have, I go by portability, legibility and ruggedness.

The nuvi 1350, 2455, and 40 are good. All of those are 4.3" matte screens, but are legible and daylight readable.

For 5" matte screens, the nuvi 50, 55, 56 and 58 are good, along with the Drive 52 I'm using now.

For 5" capacitive, this is where things go into not-as-rugged territory. These screens still work fine but can't take as much of a knock. The nuvi 2539, 2599 and Drive 53 are decent.

The only 6" capacitive I trust is the DriveSmart 66. I have other 6" models both for matte and capacitive, but the DS66 is the only one that cuts the mustard.

For 7" capacitive, DriveSmart 65 with Alexa and DriveSmart 76. The non-Alexa DriveSmart 65 is a no-go. I have both the DS65+Alexa and DS65 without Alexa, and the no-Alexa variant is the only Garmin capacitive screen model I've ever owned that exhibited screen burn-in. The burn-in is very small and almost unnoticeable, but it's there. The no-Alexa version is also slightly less bright compared to the one with Alexa. I don't use the Alexa feature at all but that's the defining feature between the DS65 models.

Also in the 7" realm, I do have a DriveSmart 70, but that's a no-go for a different reason. Bright screen? Absolutely. Legible? Absolutely. The problem with that one is the bezel, making it too big for use in my car. That bezel makes the entire thing 7.44" wide by 4.38" tall. The DS65 and DS76 with the edge-to-edge screen is also a 7", but with total dimensions of 6.8" x 3.9". I can just fit that in my car. The extra physical bigness of the DS70 makes it a no-go for me.

What about traffic reporting?

Traffic reports are submitted by humans and/or automated systems. If a human submitted the report, I have to trust that the report was accurate, which I don't. If an automated system submitted the report, I have to trust it's not a "ghost report", which I don't.

No matter the traffic reporting source, that's how traffic reporting works. At best, it's only reliable somewhat of the time, regardless of what system it is. Could be Garmin over FM, Garmin using Drive app, Google Maps, Apple Maps, Waze, whatever.

I have a bunch of Garmin screens with the traffic reporting feature, and run with reporting on but auto-rerouting off. When I receive a traffic alert, I decide for myself whether to take an alternate route instead of letting the computer do it for me.

What about routing?

The two best practices for routing is to either a) know when to ignore certain instructions, or b) make a custom route from saved favorites. All DriveSmart models have a little Route Planner (formerly Trip Planner) built-in app.

When I want the best custom routing, the DriveSmart 76 is best at that, no question. The 7" screen in combination with custom route shaping makes it real easy to shape a route without doing the saved favorites thing first. The 66 and Drive 53 has this same custom routing, but the 7" screen makes a difference in getting it done quicker.

However, knowing when to ignore certain instructions is just as effective, and in fact easier since no custom routing needs to be done.

Oldest model I could use comfortably?

Comfortably is the keyword here.

I can't use 3.5" screens comfortably, but I can with 4.3". I mentioned the 1350, 2455 and 40 above, but of those 3, the 1350 and 40 have the legibility advantage even though not as feature-rich. And of those 2, the 40 is slightly faster, so at the end of it all, the nuvi 40 is the oldest model I could run with comfortably.

The 40 is very basic and has almost no features, but it would get the job done.

I bought 'em all!

All the screens I cared to buy, anyway.

Took some years, but I finally reached the point where yep, there is nothing left to buy. Not unless Garmin releases a new fancy dan model that sparks my interest.

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