Cobra 8500 Pro HD GPS

The 8500 is the one I use and it works pretty good when it works..... I run local and only use it when I need to find somewhere I haven't already been to. It usually finds it's way correctly, but as with all other units it does screw up sometimes. Like being directly in front of a plant I needed to turn left into and it telling me to turn right down a clearly marked no truck street or running me around in circles in downtown Bellefonte, PA trying to get me off restricted length streets and letting me drive right past the street I actually needed to turn onto to where the plant was located, it was dark and the street sign was too hard to see clearly.

It sometimes has trouble keeping a satellite signal, usually at the worst time, in an unfamiliar city, approaching your next turn. I've called the Cobra help line and they claim it happens because of interference of my CB, etc.. Yet I've used my wife's Rand McNally, located in the same spot on the windshield with no issues at all other than the screen being much harder for my aging bifocal aided eyes to see, she has the small screened version that also cost less than the Cobra.

If I had to do it again, I would get a large screen Rand.

 

This is why I had asked in the Rand thread, with the proliferation of 10.1" tablet screens, why are they still only offering a 7" screen.

 

Because something as large as a 10" tablet on your windshield would be considered a vision impairment and not dot allowed. My guess anyway.

 

The 7" screen is really all the bigger I would want to go because if mounted correctly it doesn't impair vision at all and it can be seen quite well, even for my old eyes. Any bigger I believe would be more in the way.

 

I've used the Cobra 8500 recently and it is absolutely horrible for truck directions. Gave me a 740 plus mile route for an east coast trip that I legally did at right around three hundred miles. Was leaving a terminal in Chesapeake, VA and both the legal approved routes into and out of where I was were marked restricted, one to vehicles under 16,000 lbs. it works fine in car mode, but that defeats the purpose of a truck GPS. The other problem I see with all GPS programs is that they will take you off an interstate and route you through a small town just to get back on the same interstate if it is a mile shorter. I'd stay away from the Cobra, and no matter what you buy look at the route it tells you to take then look at your atlas and see if the route makes sense. I find it really disappointing that in this modern era of incredible technology nobody can make a GPS for truckers you can really trust. If someone makes that perfect gps let me know I will pay top dollar for it. For now, I think I will get a truckers atlas for $29.99 at pilot or loves ( $59.99 at TA ) and a Rand 720, available at all the truck stops for $319.99 after manufacturers mail in rebate. At least the 720 is supposed to reference page numbers from the atlas.

Adam

 

Is there any way you could tell us your wife's exact model? and is it a truckers GPS? thankyou

 

I'd recommend the 720 unit. It's awesome and has lifetime maps and the latest features.

 

Darn, I was getting ready to buy the Cobra 8500 since there ain't a whole lot of reviews on it yet. I figured it'd be a state of the art brand new GPS that Cobra went out of their way and built something good for us. Unfortunately, sounds like it's still jammin up. So right now am trending towards the TND, I hope it is easy to punch and find a casino or walmart with it.

 

I just bought the 8500...my advice is: DONT! This is the SECOND unit I have had this weekend. Neither one will update the maps from the onset. Havent even been able to use it on the road! F...U...C...K Cobra!