Originally posted by Ford F-150
A Mini Cooper? Rock on Judie! Do you ever feel like your in the movie “The Italian Job”

That movie is what pushed me off the fence. Fun stuff!

Flame on…

I recently bought a Garmin Street Pilot III, Deluxe Package (Nov. 2003), and am very staisfied with the results I’ve had so far.

I wish I had seen your review of the Street Pilot III before I bought it. The reason for that is, Garmins Instruction manuals are too fragmented and difficult to follow for the uninitiated in high tech Gadgetry. It bounced you back and forth to the point of utter confusion. While I eventually got the hang of it, if I had read your review at the beginning I would have saved a lot of frustration and satisfaction would have come sooner. I strongly suggest that Garmin write their manuals in step by step format for each feature and give the new users the comfort level needed for the common dunce that probably will be their best prospective customers. You seem to have done it a lot better than Garmin did.Bravo!

I had experienced a few failures of the program to locate several addresses. I learned that my unit was packaged for distribution a few months before the new upgraded “City Navigator” Version 5.0 disk was ready for packaging with the GPS Units. Mine came with Version 4.01. I learned about the upgrade from the Garmin web site and called their Tech Support. They readily agreed to send me the new 5.0 Version at no charge. It made a difference, but there are still some addresses that I could not find a match for and had to resort to settling for a “City” location only. Most of the time you can get through with “City” information only.

The biggest negatives in my mind are the unit price, a little too expensive, and their Data Card prices are outrageous.

I learned that the new “2610″ uses non- propriety” data cards that are much lower in price and can go up to over 500 MB. The new 500MB card sells for less than half the cost of the
Street Pilot III 128 MB card. I feel Garmin should give their Street Pilot customers a break on this accessory.

In spite of the negatives, I’m impressed with the performance of my unit and amazed at it’s accuracy when you have a 100% match. Most of the time it brings me to my destination within 40-50 feet, and tells me which side of the street my destination is on!
I’ll be using my Street Pilot III for a long time.

A side note: I don’t think it’s any body’s business what kind of truck you or anyone buys. Your review was on the GPS not the truck. I wonder why the “critic” was so taken back by your including it in the review, maybe a bit of jealousy? No matter, I think the review was great.

Phil

I failed in getting the Garmin or the Emtac units, and I also failed in another area.

My Dad has been looking at new trucks longer then I have (I had pretty much decided many years ago, that if I could get a fullsize truck, it would be the Toyota Tundra) and he got a Ford this past Thursday! GAH! My Mom and I feel like we both failed. I even offered to pay my Dad $5000 cash if he would get a Toyota! My Dad chose the F-150 XLT with Triton V8 engine. A sad fact is my Dad, who is – shall we say – gadget illiterate, will never learn how to use all of the little features of his truck.

As for my Toyota Tundra, it is one of the new ones with the Lexus iForce V8 engines. It is a great performer, has a smooth ride for a truck, and it has the TRD package but no 4×4. I have yet to take it off-road to see how it will do. I’ve even considered adding a supercharger and see if Toyota would install it so it would be covered by warranty. I may even add a GPS system to it, which one (Emtac, Garmin Pilot series, or Gamin iQue) or how to install it, I haven’t decided. I think I’ll just add a generic PDA pedestal mount with charger for the PDA at an easy eye level, and get the Emtac or other Bluetooth GPS unit when it’s price drops.

As for Toyota (and back to being completely off-topic), they are releasing on an extremely limited basis full ton Toyota Tundras running 5.5L V8 engines. They look like any other Toyota Tundra. I don’t expect Toyota to sit on their laurels for long. I see them becoming highly competitive against Ford, mainly, and coming out with versions of their Tundras or new models to compete with all Ford truck variations. This includes their own sport truck variant, similar to or better equipped then the Ford F-150 Lightning. Later this year, they are coming out with the Tundra Double-Cab (about time), with a bigger, deeper bed.

You don’t get a choice of voices, a woman will tell you where to go. As it should be.

Judie :0)

Also, can you select the voice? I prefer a woman’s voice anyways, but was just curious.

That was a very good save! I think Steve is going to start a thread under general discussion (if he doesn’t, I will) so that those who want to continue debating whether this car will beat that truck can continue…fwiw, I just watched a video of a Ford Lightning doing an 11.4 second quarter mile…heady stuff!

Judie :0)

Originally posted by magmasilk
[B]

p.s. 1/4 mile in 12-13 for the 2 1/2 ton truck w/ 450tq seems to be overstating a bit. tho, i wouldnt put my pinkslip up against it. [/B]

Depends on the gearing, but it is pretty good. I used to run the brackets at Detroit and Milan and got into the upper 12′s in a 2800 lb daily driver. Of course it was bretty laid back (stock short block, cast crank, 5500 rpm redline and automatic), but the whole car cost less than $3000 including the original purchase price.

Just so this relates somehow to the article, it did not have a GPS.

Originally posted by Judie
[B]Let’s face it…GPS was created so men would never have to ask for directions! :rolleyes:

Judie :0) [/B]

LOL… I’ll have to send you a video clip about why men don’t ask directions.

Seriously, I know my way areound town pretty well. If someone is on the phone asking for directions, they usually hand the phone to me. Using GPS has only enhanced this, but there are times while on the job I’ll have to fix someone’s network at a location I’ve never heard of, and all I’ll get is the address.

Fortunately, I don’t have to go through the 25+ steps you mentioned on the product I’m testing. Just tap “navigation”, then “find”, then write the street address for the destination. It will map your route about 10 seconds after the GPS is locked.

i had the garmin spIII in my car before going to an aftermkt pioneer unit. spIII is half the price and portable.

my pioneer and i imagine most indash units are easier to input data and calculate/recalc sooo much faster. also cleaner install. look mom, no wires.

again thx for more car gadget reviews! soon ull be talkin underglow kits and turbos.

lata

p.s. 1/4 mile in 12-13 for the 2 1/2 ton truck w/ 450tq seems to be overstating a bit. tho, i wouldnt put my pinkslip up against it.

The word “lost” isn’t in my vocabulary;)

Sounds good. You got me on the power to weight ratio, haven’t seen those numbers yet.

Too bad you’re Down Under, I would love to take you for a joyride in the Harley and show you it’s capabilities, I bet you would change your thinking:D

Take care;)

Steve

Judie :0)

Originally posted by Masterchief
What is the world coming to? :rolleyes: Do people really need a GPS to drive. I don’t even need one to fly a plane hehehe. But it definatly helps

You sound like my wife, she claims she is the GPS system in our car
She actually does a great job navigating (dont tell her I said that, otherwise I never can justify an iQue )

Originally posted by huze24
[B]Uh-oh ToolkiT, looks like we may have to move this topic to the General Discussion area or to Private Message:cool:
[/B]

Nah, lets just agree to disagree on the defenintion of a sportscar..

The F150 is a very nice piece of machinery though…they are just not my ‘cup of tea’…

last question what is the power to weight ratio on one of those things?

Originally posted by Judie
[B]Boy…did we get off topic here…let’s rein it back in…

Judie :0) [/B]

Mea Culpa..

The Valentine One is ranked among the Top 5 radar detectors in the world and is a good unit. The Escort 8500 and the BEL 985 are the best though, and at a $100 cheaper than the V1 you simply can’t beat them.

I do like the direction finder on the V1, that is a helpful feature. Even better is the remote concealed display the V1 offers as an option. If it were included in the $400 price I would seriously consider purchasing it.

https://store.valentine1.com/store/

The Lightning motor was redesigned in 2001 so the 1999 figures are dated. Here is another website with more accurate info;

http://www.pickuptruck.com/html/2001/ford/lightning/first_drive.html

In this article a stock 2003 Lightning runs a 13.7 in the quarter mile and has a 146mph top speed which would move it up that list quite considerably. The Harley probably isn’t included on the list because it wasn’t equipped with a Supercharger until last year (2002).

http://www.trucktrend.com/roadtests/pickup/112_0306_spdlight/

I said in my previous post that a Lightning or Harley with $1-2K in performance modifications can acheive 11-12 second 1/4 mile times, that would put the Lightning and Harley towards the top of that 1/4 mile list, pretty impressive company. The majority of the upper portion of that list is comprised of motorcycles, they shouldn’t even be included on a list with cars. Here is the car only list;

http://www.syclone.freeserve.co.uk/rivals_cars.htm

I wouldn’t even try to compare a $33K truck to the McLaren F1 that costs $1 Million dollars and the Enzo Ferrari that costs $500K, and good luck finding one of those cars for sale if you can even afford them.

The Lightning and Harley both are indeed world class sports cars (trucks) and the many links I have provided prove that. Just don’t challenge one to a race, because you may be embarrassed. We have never drag raced our truck, but just knowing we have the ability to blow the doors off most cars whether it be on a drag strip/straight line or a curvy mountain road is quite nice.

I’ll be happy to continue this topic either via email, Private Message, or the General Discussion area:D

Judie :0)

Originally posted by huze24
[B]Tool,

Going waaayy off topic here, the Harley Ford F-150 is designed for racing in a straight line (1/4 mile), not on a road course. It is lowered 1″ and has 20″ rims with Goodyear low profile high speed tires and high performance shocks on it. It handles quite well for a 5,000 lb truck. It could still outhandle most cars on a road course though.
[/B]

Unfortunately most road I drive have bends and curves…
While drag race capabilities are cool in a fast and furious kind of way, they are also pretty pointless IMHO.

Originally posted by huze24
[B]
I’m sure you’re aware the Lightning 1/4 mile times would beat ANY production sports car on the road, including the Z06 Corvette ($53K), Viper ($75K), Porsche 911 Turbo ($120K), etc. Those cars cost 2-3 times the price of a Ford Lightning ($33K) or Harley ($39K).
[/B]

did some research and found this website:
http://www.syclone.freeserve.co.uk/rivals.htm
Didnt see your lightning in the list though But I think the Mc Laren F1 and the (also missing) Ferrari Enzo will still beat it..
At a much higher cost I agree…
<edit> the F150 is in the list (the 1999 model but it is not nearly as fast as you claim..

Originally posted by huze24
[B]This isn’t your father’s pick up truck. I’m a member of a Harley F-150 website and we have two members that live in Sydney that have the same truck we do. There are atleast ten 2003 Harley Davidson F-150′s in Sydney, Australia that I am aware of. If you happen to pull up next to one at a light, rev your motor and see what happens.
[/B]

Haven’t seen any of them (hardly any of the american F series trucks here, mostly ford and holden utes or toyota 4WDs.

I’m sure the F150 will be faster than my Forrester (which is probably half the price). But on a point A to B race I’m sure a Impreza STi or a Skyline will blow the F150 out of the water…

Don’t get me wrong, I agree the F150 are cool cars, I just cant see them as sports cars…