@Cosbourne1: "Maybe another way to describe what I'm looking for, is a 
Consumer Report's type of grid that shows features of 
each of the GPS's and ranks them as "good, better, and best"
Anyone know of comparative review of several GPS's in one place? 
Thanks for answering here. "
    @jtricks: "<quote>
No. <url> has a grid-like comparison, but unlike Consumer's
Reports, they would have a vested interest in your choice.
My $.02 worth: Lowrance comes complete- mounts, automotive/nautical software,
even batteries. Their software is easy to update online using readily
available SD memory cards, not proprietary memory. At about 60% the cost of
comparable, though incomplete Garmin. Garmin's high end 296 has surface
elevation database, whereas Lowrance just uses Jeppesen Obstructions database,
so you have antennas, mtn. peaks and such, but not the surrounding terrain.
I enjoy my Lowrance 1000. With a little looking around you can get one of
these for $500 or so.
Best wishes. . . Jim"
    @WilliamPlummerNOSPAM: "<quote>
That's an excellent reference matrix, Jim.   Thank you.
The L 1000 does look good but no color.  I gotta have color in my next 
GPS.  Note that I limp along with a Garmin 12 these days."
    @jtricks: "<quote>
Bill, My Lorrance 1000 will do that- it just takes a few keystrokes, and to
get at the really small roads- like dirt tracks- you might have to remove your
'aviation' memory card and slip in the terrestrial one you will have made from
the included CD ROM. Maybe a 1 minute operation.
I use mine both for aviation and in the big truck I drive to find addresses in
unfamiliar places and it switches back and forth easily- as well as giving you
values in km,miles,or nautical miles- again easily switchable.
Jim"
    @borchert_thomas: "C.,
<quote>
Uhm, <url> does that. You will have to subscribe to read the articles online, but it's well worth the money, IMHO.
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)
M"
    @nospam: "<quote>
"AirMap 2000c complete GPS package our discount price...$795.00"
<url>
I have not bought from them but IIRC, I got that address from another
posting in r.a.* some time ago.  If you decide to go that route, I'd love
to hear about your purchasing experience.  Again, IIRC, someone here did
say they bought from them and were very happy with the experience.
Greg"
    @Tim: "<quote>
For VFR:
Garmin 296 (or 396 if you want the XM weather add-on)
For IFR:
Garmin 480 (not as intuitive as the Garmin 530, but the 480 will do LPV 
now, not later).
These are the clear winners."
    @ag7337: "<quote>
Why "not as intuitive"?  I've yet to fly behind a 480, but my club's
aircraft all have 430s.  I'm confortable with them, but I'd not call the
interface "intuitive".
Is it perhaps that you learned the Garmin units first?  I didn't (my first
IFRing behind a GPS was the BK units in new Cessnas), and that may make the
difference.
I *am* eager, though, to hear about flying behind a 480 wrt flight plan
entry.  The ability to enter flight plans as we've always described them
(waypoint, airway, waypoint, airway...) seems like a fantastic
"innovation".
Is it as good as it sounds?
        - Andrew"
    @Tim: "<quote>
No, I learned in a 767 first.  The 530 was a pretty easy transition for 
me.  I will admit that I haven't gotten nearly as deeply into the 480. 
But, everyone I chatted with who has mastered the 480 likes it, and the 
airway database/LPV makes it great.  I don't know the level of 
difficulty of entering airways.  I do know that all these G/A panel 
mounts, with all their knob twisting, is much more difficult than 
entering data on a FMS."
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