OK, I'm going to take the plunge... I just saw there was a price drop on the Garmin 296 and the 396...
I just called JA Air Center (I like these guys) and I'm going to buy either a 296 or a 396 soon. They will give me $500 for my old Garmin 196, making my cost on the 396 $1,700 (rounded off)...
The thing about the 396 I like, is I can pay for the XM Radio service and take the XM service with me in my ugly VW, my ugly van, my wife's really nice 2006 Jetta, my good looking Harley, and/or cancel XM radio in my Sliverado pickup and enjoy it in all vehicles with my Lightspeed 30G headsets.
Since I'm a tightwad, I DON'T think I'll ever buy the weather subscription, but who knows? It might be nice to have this feature on a month-to-month need. It is my understanding you can buy a month's worth of weather or several months, depending on what your needs are.
So, my question is, what difference in performance is there between the Garmin 296 and the 396? I'm not a geek, I haven't played with either unit, I just am very impressed with the 196 I own and Garmin in particular.
If I decide I'm too cheap to pay for the XM radio subscription, why bother buying a 396 and why NOT simply go with a 296? Without XM radio or weather, are there any features on the 396 that make it standout?
I have never seen one of those Roy...please post a picture (here's my "good looking bike"). Remember...it's loud colors that save lives, not loud pipes. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
I have to admit, that's one very good looking Honda... I'm still not finished fixing up the Harley... Will post a picture (maybe)...
I guess this is another post leading off onto a rabbit trail? Som guy will post a picture of his Cushman Eagle next... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />
Opps...sorry. It's what happens when I have nothing intelligent to ad. Not a good trait hijacking posts.
By the way....I went back and forth on the 396 vs 296 and finally decided that I would not use either XM or Weather, plus got a good deal on a refurb 296 ($1000 I think). I went that way and have not regretted it. It has been great on my bike, in my car, in my Toyota and yes...even in my Piper.
If I can find pictures of the three VW vans I've owned... I'll post em. Talk about a good way to get killed! Nothin' in front (even less than a bug) to absorb energy in a head-on... A large moth could wipe a guy out in a VW bus. (Of course look at me now, I have a Harley but at least I wear a Darth Vader helmet on the bike unlike the other HOG guys who wear a bandana!!!...)
Roy, I've been ready to spring for a 396 too. It occurs to me though that the 396 price has just been reduced by $300 across the board (everyone selling them dropped the price on the same day.)
You know what that means? It means Garmin is going to introduce a new GPS (496?) at Oshkosh in July.
In spite of my burning desire to have a 396 for the Clinton trip, I might just have to wait another 6 weeks to see what Garmin has in store.
