'GoPackGo' is exactly right, on all accounts. The lane guidance many GPS units gives you, is very useful. Its really nice when traveling in unknown areas, to know exactly what lane you need to be in to take any exits, turns, etc. that you need to. So is the fact that if you miss a turn, it will automatically re-calculate, and guide you on a different route.
You want it close to you and directly in front, for the reasons I and others already alluded to - You want to be able to look at it, get information from it, without taking your eye off the road. That is also why IMO the larger a screen you have, the better (I prefer at least 7"). You also need it in easy reaching distance, 'cause occasionally you may want to touch a button or two on it, to zoom in the screen, bring up traffic updates, etc.
One other thing thats absolutely priceless, that our Garmin 760LMT (and I'm sure many others) have: Traffic alert/updates. It shows you traffic conditions, color-coded on the roads, to warn you of heavy traffic ahead. If traffic is bad enough, it will recommend an alternate route to avoid it, and will tell you how much time it thinks the re-rout will save. I use this everyday driving to work and back, and this alone makes the GPS worth every penny, IMO. More than once, it has alerted me to traffic conditions that made me take an alternate route and avoid a ton of traffic.
I also, used to strictly use maps.google, mapquest, etc. and print out, maps from such and use that. I still do that, actually, and as a general rule decide the route, roads I'm going to take on a trip beforehand based on research with maps.google and maps I print out from such. However, the GPS still is a great tool for what it provides when on the road, that you can't get very easily from maps.google or mapquest.
Will and Cheryl
2021 Newmar Baystar 3014 on F53 (7.3 V8) Chassis ("Brook")
2018 Jeep Wrangler JK ("Wilbur")
