Where am I going & how do I get there?

Have you ever met a travel writer with a BAD sense of direction? That would be ME. Just ask anyone whom I’ve given directions to. I’ll get you lost…good and lost. The kind of lost that has you scratching your head saying, how did she end up 500 miles out of her way? That being said, I always LOVE a good adventure, but Mr. S just doesn’t hold the same sense of adventure as I do. He likes to get to where he’s going, and in RECORD time.

As a result, I have a GPS that’s installed in my car. The problem is that when Mr. S and I go anywhere, we always take HIS CAR. Since mine was factory installed in the dash, and my car is a little hybrid Civic, and Mr. S is 6’2″ and doesn’t fit into the Civic, this has been a problem. A big problem. The kind that precipitates arguments when we’re driving the 1700 miles from South Florida to New England.

Since he has an SUV, we got the Magellan 9055-LM GPS for his car. This is a BIG daddy of a GPS. It’s perfect for a truck, van and yes…an SUV. Did I mention that I AM THE ONE who has to set all of our gadgets up? Oh yes…are you ready?

Magellan in the box — I hope that I can do this...

I love when pieces go together easily — Easy peasy

and it's working

No more getting LOST!

Not only was the Magellan 9055-LM easy to install, but it’s a BREEZE to use. We used it minutes after installing it (B went on a job interview in a city that he’s never been to before with no problems). It’s SO MUCH BETTER than the GPS that was installed in my car, that now I want this one.

The features are incredible ~

Huge 7″ touch screen with premium maps of the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico – my car has US only

Free lifetime map updates for the life of the GPS navigator – I pay $130 per disc for my updates

Enjoy hands-free calling and superior sound quality with advanced Bluetooth technology – MINE doesn’t have that

Free Lifetime Traffic alerts provide real-time traffic information with no subscription fees – MINE doesn’t do that

PLUS this large screen is even BIGGER than the one installed in my dash. It is SO easy to read, the voice is clear and the options are so much easier to use. The best part is that all I had to do was plug it into the dash and it was ready to go. No disc to install, no programming, just plug in and go. The one touch menu let me put in “home” and LOTS of my favorite places. It even has AAA tour book guides installed, so I can learn ALL about the best places to stay, what to see on vacation and even places to eat…all AAA rated.

My son IMMEDIATELY noticed that it was bluetooth enabled. This is awesome, especially since I must lose bluetooth earpieces at least four times a year.

Here is why I’m SOLD on the Magellan 9055-LM

The 7″ touch screen has a huge display that is 50% larger than a standard 4.3″ screen. It’s EASY to see while keeping your eyes on the road. It offers more information – like points of interest and of course routing.

Free Lifetime Map Updates included. Receive updated maps for the life of the GPS receiver. You can update these up to four times a year, so you never have to worry about being out of date.

You can safely enjoy hands-free calling and a noise-cancellation microphone with the advanced Bluetooth technology. There are so many states that don’t allow cell phone usage in the car that in this day & age, this is a MUST.

The OneTouch favorites menu lets you bookmark your favorite destinations and searches. Find your favorites anywhere you travel. With a single touch, find your favorite café or restaurant when traveling within any city. Oh yes, I can find Starbucks WHEREVER I am!

Free Lifetime Traffic provides real-time traffic information. Avoid traffic jams, detours and construction zones. In season down here in South Florida, it’s great to know which of the roads are backed up. Plus, it comes FREE with the Magellan, no subscription fees.

Highway Lane Assist shows realistic highway signs to guide you and ensure that you’ll choose the correct lane when approaching an upcoming interchange or exit.

I you’re a AAA member you can access the AAA TourBook® guides for US and Canada. This Magellan-exclusive feature gives you ratings and descriptions on AAA-approved places to stay, play, dine, and more.

Easily keep your eyes on the road as you drive because spoken street name guidance announces the street name and direction of each turn, no having to LOOK at the screen.

QuickSpell quickly narrows your address and city searches, as you type, making destination entry easy.

Find cities and streets without worrying about misspelling them. Ahem, I don’t need this one (LOL – spellcheck overload here).

The preloaded maps and points of interest are not only for the United States, but alsoCanada and Puerto Rico.

There’s also A/V input so you can watch movies or listen to music during your downtime.

With over 6 million of points of interest you can find the nearest gas stations, restaurants, ATMs, coffee shops, and much more. Even search for gas stations, restaurants, or lodging, near upcoming highway exits.

If you’re a AAA member and you need HELP, you can get support fast with the AAA Member Roadside Assistance²phone number and your exact location displayed on the GPS navigator screen. That’s a LIFESAVER (because I’ve never gotten stuck someplace that I know well).

Multi-destination routing lets you plan your trip with multiple stops in the order you want or automatically optimize for the most efficient route, helping save time and money.

Funny, but when I was driving and listening to the direction, I thought it wasn’t working correctly. It turns out that it’s QUICKER than the GPS installed in my other car, so I was getting the instructions farther in advance. I guess that’s going to take some getting used to (HAL has me trained to swerve at the last minute).

Yeah, I like the new GPS…problem is I haven’t named it yet (my other one is named HAL – a little 2001 A Space Odyssey reference).

If you’re looking for a GPS, or like me just get LOST a lot, you should definitely check out the Magellan 9055-LM. I give this one a full FLUTE of Champagne (just not before driving).

I received product to facilitate this review. All opinions are strictly my own.

About Zipporah Sandler