Home > Consumer Reviews > Garmin nüvi 265W/265WT 4.3-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Integrated Traffic Receiver (Factory Refurbished)

I was a bit confused at first by the 265w label on the device and on the screen during boot up; however, this unit does have the FM receiver built into the power adapter cable and works exactly as advertised. The routing software is much more intelligent than a previous model I've owned, the interface is notably improved and the text to speech for street names is a very nice addition. Hands-free phone features also work flawlessly.

My refurbished 265wt looks and works like new and the features were as I expected. The only thing that I wish it had is the ability to save routes. But you can plan and follow a route by designating a final destination and then again using the "Where To" Feature to add additional locations and then for each selecting the option "Add as Via Point," but you cannot save the route for future use.

I ran into two glitches when attempting to update the map (free within 60 days of first use). Since it was a refurbished unit, the first use date was more than 60 days before I received the GPS and thus I was unable to download the free update. A call to Garmin easily resolved that - the customer service contact person added it to my account for free download. The second problem was that when I tried to install the updated map I got a message indicating there was not enough space and it refused to install. Another call to Garmin and a software expert used "remote assist" (after my giving him permission to take control of my computer from his location) and made live changes to my GPS. After that the map update was successful. In both cases the Garmin personnel were most courteous, very competent, and easy to understand.

I also found the Garmin MapSource program very helpful. It can be downloaded at no charge if you already have another Garmin program, and if you don't, you can first download and install the free Garmin Training Center program and then download and install MapSource at no cost. Working in MapSource to create, to view and to edit waypoints and tracks and other features and then using MapSource to transfer the data to the GPS is far easier than trying to do this directly on the GPS.

Apart from mapping, the "Points of Interest" feature can lead you to unexpected places. After using the GPS "Where To", then "Points of Interest" in the Germantown, Maryland area I selected "Food" to look for lunch. The first two addresses ended up being residential addresses in townhouse developments. Out of curiosity I learned that one house was unoccupied according to a neighbor and at the other house no one answered the door. On my 3rd try I selected the chain "Subway" and that address was right on. Clearly the Points of Interest contains some unreliable information. However, this would likely be true for all Garmin GPS models.

OK. If I could give it 3.5 stars I would but I can't so 4 it is!

My first refurb unit arrived without a mount so I had to sent it back. However the replacement was sent immediately when I made my issue known and I received it only a day later. Given that my original package arrived a day early, I actually got a complete unit on time. Too bad I had to waste my personal time sending the incomplete one back.

Anyway, that aside, here's my feelings on this unit.

Pros:

1) Satellite lock has been almost INSTANTANEOUS every time I use it. More often than not, it's ready to navigate before I have fully backed out of my driveway.
2) Bluetooth works surprisingly well with my iPhone. Callers can tell I'm not on the phone but say it's still clear. I like that it loads my address book and also my recent missed, received and made calls. Note, it takes about 2 minutes before the phone book is synced. (It happens on ever startup. However, pairing is a one time operation.
3) Accuracy. 99% of the time it is very accurate. It seems to have me approaching and crossing intersections perfectly. Occasionally, it seems lost. I had one occasion when it was plain wrong about my location (several blocks off) but eventually (after 5 minutes or so, self corrected. I ignored this because it seemed an anomoly.
4) Volume. If you don't blare your music, it's adequate. At highway speeds I tend to have my windows up anyway. It's not as loud as the TomTom a friend of mine has but it was adequate for most conditions. Also, I found that volume up to 90% was usable. The top volume is completely distorted and I suggest you avoid this as it may take its toll on the speakers.
5) Build and finish. Depsite being a refurb mine was indistinguishable from a new item.
6) Unnoticeable advertising. I barely even am aware of when the ad comes up. I think it's when I turn the unit on and the car adaptor/traffic receiver is plugged in.
7) Screen is visible in near direct sunlight. Enough to see at least. While I think there could be more useful info there I suspect they are philisophically trying to keep it simple.
8) I never thought I'd love having the speed limit as much as I do but it's great and very accurate to within a couple of hundred yards of changes.

Cons:

I don't think these are harsh cons. Still, maybe they will be important to you. Maybe not!

1) Traffic. It's hit and miss. I compare it to my iphone's reports and both are inconsistent with their accuracy. It is right about 60% of the time. I bought the T model specifically beacuse I was looking for traffic assistance and I'm not quite sold that it's that accurate. However, this is a TMC issue rather than garmin issue so I suspect all units, regardless of manufacturer are getting the same info if they use TMC for traffic. The fact that it's free is good. I would sure hate to pay to get semi-accurate info!
2) Where am I? Sometimes I want to know what street I am on. More importantly, I may want to know what highway I am on if I have just gone through a complex interchange (I live in LA). You can use where am I to see what the nearest street address is to where you are but if you are on a highway it still shows the nearest surface address. It doesn't state where you are. A really bad oversight. Note, if you are NOT on your way to an address it DOES show your current street at the top. However, once on route, it shows the next turn street. I would live to see both! There is room so use it!
3) Moving between screens. I would like to be able to get back to my main map with a single press. If you are deep in POI or something, you have to back out one screen at a time. It can be a tad tedious although overall the screen is reasonably responsive.
4) POI Search. I am not happy with this. By name it is, as has been pointed out, absurdly slow. It can take in the minutes to locate something. Also, you can't specify a range to look in if you view by category so often what you want won't be finable until you are within a mile of two of it.
5) Displaying Time of Arrival on the main screen is pretty stupid because we all know it is likely very inaccurate and when traffic isn't variable it won't change much anyway. So why not display DISTANCE REMAINING by default which is always changing.
6) I would like to see the compass always visible on the main screen when on route. Currently it is only displayed on the main screen when there is no destination. (You can access it on a seperate screen but again, there is room so why not show it!?)

In general, I think it's good value. While lane assist etc would be nice, I don't fret over not having it, to me it's worth $200! The interface changes I have suggested aren't really features which is why I feel they are open for some criticism. They are are already built in to your system but are not presented readily at the times I feel they would still be useful and that's why they make it to my cons list.

Would I recommend it? I think so.

Given that Amazon will give your money back for 30 days and given that Garmin has map updates for a 60 days as well as full warranty I say yes. I can't compare it readily to ther units except based on their feature sets. What really matters is how did you like it on the road. Bottom line, I like mine and would recommend it.

No unit is perfect but this is a choice that I am not unhappy with!

My Garmin 265WT looks and works great. I cannot tell it was refurb. All functions work as promised and registering with Garmin was a breeze. Dont be confused by the 265W marking on the unit, this is a 265 WT.

The only thing that I could not do is update my maps. It did not come with the most current maps but when I tried to update them the only option was to buy them. Garmin made it quite clear that you have up to 60 days to register and get a map update for free, even if you purchase a refurb. I had to email Garmin to request a free update. Their records indicated I was past the 60 day mark even though I had purchased the Nuvi less than a week before. I sent them my Amazon reciept and they gladly provided me with my free map update.

I couldn't be happier with the unit!

This GPS is rated very highly, and that is why I bought it. I have gotten refurbished phones before, so I didn't think it was a big deal to buy a refurbished gps. Also, I now remember reading that someone had trouble getting the free map update. BEWARE!!
I have spent at least 4-5 hours total trying to get this update. Long story short, after being on hold several times, faxing an invoice showing proof of purchase, waiting for them to update my account, and then downloading the update, clearing tons of space on my computer to transfer the update, I now have the update. I figure it would have been worth the extra $40 to get the new one (I got it for $179). The unit may be fine if you don't care about the free update. That much time and hassle is not "free".