Escort C550 Nav and BT unit, opinions? TIA.

I am looking into the Escort C550 unit for rental car use during travel. Anyone used these and what do you think of them? Also, are there any other units out on the market now with the same two features (Nav and Bluetooth)?

http://www.escortradar.com/c550.htm

 

I haven't use this model but I did use the Magellan ( http://www.magellangps.com/ ) unit while on vacation in Ireland this past spring/summer. We had some problems in some city centers but for the most part it was a life saver.

I don't know if you'd really need one in the US though. Maybe for some large cities like LA, NY, Chicago and such but for the most part I've never had a problem with a map in this country.

Why would you need the Buetooth if you're on vacation?

 

I have found that Navigation system to be very useful on a daily bases, especially when one is looking for a specific address in an unfamiliar town. I know maps will work just fine but to have a voiced turn by turn instruction is better.

The Bluetooth system is for its hands free feature. Some citys or states here has adopted the hand-free law already and IMO, this law should be adopted by the world. I have seen more drivers that does not pay attention to the road because of their cell phones than I cared for, one hand on the steering wheel and one with the phone. If I am driving in an unfamilier territory looking for ways to go from point A to B, the last thing I want to be doing is answering a call with one hand and have even more distraction. Anyway, IMO, they are both great features to have if they are available.

FYI: I just found out that Garmin Nuvi series also have these two features.

 

You will notice a bit of similarity between the Escort C550 and the Garmin C550.

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&satitle=c550

 

Yes, I noticed that too as I made a trip to Best Buy yesterday.

Update: I have just made a purchase at Costco.com for <$600 ($150 off the lowest price I can find on the internet) for the Garmin Nuvi 360, it is much more compact and has BT as well. Anyway, thank you all for reading my thread and especially to those that have answered.

 

That would be really cool *IF* it had built-in radar. Why doesn't it? It appears to be a rebranded Garmin, what the point?

 

IMO and from what I have heard is that Escort/Cinncinati Microwave of the 80's has really gone downhill since their designer Mike Valentine left and started his own Valentine Radar dectector company. Not sure what the real story is behind this, perhaps someone else does here on the forum. Anyway, I think their last great detector was the original Passport Solo until today's 8500 series. Don't know much about their Solo2 either as I have gone over the V1 long before the release of the 8500 let along the Solo2.

Anyway, not sure about where you are at but here in the Pacific NW, they have made the move to Lasers for sometime. Now, if they can link the GPS to the state patrols radio signals and pinpoint where the speed traps are, that will really be something. However, not sure if FCC will allow that as it will make evading law enforcement way too easy by any criminals.

 

I had a V1 until May of this year, when it got stolen. I loved it and I only got 1 ticket during the time I had it (not the V1's fault), but I can't justify the replacement cost at this point in time. Frankly since being without a radar, I've been a little more patient on the road and prolly a safer driver as a result.

However I am planning on one of these aftermarket NAV units, and having everything in one device would be a nice feature, less items to remove from the car the next time I park in NYC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL, I'm such a jerk...

 

Mike Valentine left Cincinnati Microwave in 1983, before the original Passport, and way before the original Solo.

I would say these days both companies make good products. The V1, 8500, S2 Solo, and STi (the only truly undetectable detector, made by BEL, who is now owned by Escort) are all very good.