Get a 5-inch Magellan GPS for $129.99 shipped

The Maestro 5310's roomy 5-inch screen makes for much easier viewing.

(Credit: Amazon)

Shopping for a GPS? You can get one with a 3.5-inch screen for as little as $50, a 4.3-inch screen for under $100, or a 5-inch screen for--well, these models are relatively rare, so prices start at around $300 and rise sharply from there.

Not today. TigerDirect has a refurbished Magellan Maestro 5310 5-inch GPS for $129.99 shipped.

What's the big deal about a 5-inch display? That seemingly small amount of extra screen estate makes maps easier to view and onscreen menus easier to operate. Consequently, I'd say it's a safer GPS than one with a 3.5-inch screen.

The Maestro offers everything else you'd want in a GPS, too, including text-to-speech (i.e. it pronounces street names), 6 million points of interest, a windshield mount, and optional real-time traffic.

Even if you don't spring for a traffic subscription (which costs $60 annually after a free three-month trial), you can use the Maestro's SmartDetour feature to plot a route around suddenly slow or stopped traffic.

You don't get a lot of fancy frills like Bluetooth or a media player, but I consider that stuff fairly superfluous anyway. The big screen is the big attraction here, and the traffic option is icing on the cake.

CNET hasn't reviewed the 5310, but the handful of user reviews over at Amazon are overwhelmingly positive.

Because this is a refurb, the warranty expires after 90 days. As always, I think that's a potential positive: whatever problem might have existed has already been corrected.

In any case, this deal has been running all weekend, so there's a chance it'll be ending soon. If you're in the market for a nav system and you'd budgeted $100 or so anyway, I'd definitely consider paying a little extra for this big, beautiful screen.

[ChiliPepr]

Here's a refurbished 4.3" Navigon GPS with free lifetime traffic for $96.46"

http://www.amazon.com/Navigon-4-3-Inch-Portable-Navigator-Refurbished/dp/B001P2VE16/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1257177635&sr=8-4

[slumberdoll]

Not a good deal considering the fact that Navigon is pulling out of the North American market, making it difficult to update the maps.

[Mr_fleabite]

I hate to be a downer here but... real men don't need GPS.

...I'm just say'n, someone had to say it.

[rickbroida]

No, we're not supposed to ask for directions, remember? But we're allowed to *receive* them. :)

[MyTThor]

Ah yes. But real men do have wives who DESPERATELY need GPS.

[WasabiKing]

Real salesMEN do when they plan to visit up to 10 clients/prospects a day and need the best route calculated for them, or if they want to find competitors of their clients within a 1 mile radius.

[Mr_fleabite]

I'm glad some see the humor in this well worn joke, others should light'n up.

[ejhayes76]

To Mr_fleabite;

GPS's are actually great when trying to find an unknown address, in an unknown area. I use mine only about 3-4 times a year. It is way better than looking at a map while driving, especially at night, and safer.

[dakillaj]

I use Sprint Navigation on my Palm Pre, and I have to say it is better than any GPS unit I have seen.

[cardfan1212]

You've not seen much then..lol

[nauj_solrac]

What about the gps software available for the iPhone?

Someone had to say it, lol.

[Plano1]

How current are the maps that ship with this? How often to they provide map updates, and how much do they cost?

[rickbroida]

Excellent question. This is a fairly new model (released in mid-2008, I believe), so the maps should be pretty current. As for getting updates, that I don't know. Any Magellan owners care to weigh in?

[nsa144]

We bought a refurb magellan unit and because we are AAA members we got a free upgrade to an extended warranty.

[azrmm]

Hi nsa144. I'm also a AAA member, how did you go about getting a free upgrade for extended warranty?

[Jimmy371]

The Magellan website says the maps are current as of 3rd quarter 2007. The Spring 2009 update is $79.99.

[wyomingsundancer]

When will GPS manufacturers produce a 7 inch screen? I started with a standard Laptop and Delorme software. Unfortunately Delorme loaded it down with "Features" to the point it became worthless as a GPS device. I went to ALK Technologies CoPilot on a 7" tablet PC. It was great in that it could be placed almost anywhere and was large enough to view without being too bulky.

[srf512]

Fellow cheapskates beware. I ordered this unit from Tigerdirect.com and now it's on its way back because it was defective. I'm out the shipping cost for the return. Sometimes a deal is too good to be true.