There are currently Garmin the following 4 models which are comparable from a functional point:
2597
2598
3597
3598
These are the basic differences:
2xxx These are somewhat simpler models. You only have a passive holder, a resistive touch screen of matt, but non-reflective plastic (when operating is exerting slight pressure).
3xxx: top models with active support (no cord to the machine), metal casing, high-resolution capacitive touch screen glass (as we know it from smart phones), 3D building view
xxx7: conventional traffic receiver (TMC pro)
xxx8: live traffic over DAB +
All four devices offer the possibility of Bluetooth pairing to a smartphone. Thus they serve as a speakerphone and receive live traffic. The Life-Traffic that is received on the smartphone, corresponds to the from the DAB + -models. So if before has to always pair the device with your phone, can make do with the xxx7 devices. The xxx8 devices do not provide benefits beyond.
Now, for 3598:
Externals (++)
The 3598 is the most beautiful Navi that I've ever seen! The slim metal housing, it acts like a high quality smartphone. Once I had decided on my last Navi aware for a device of the 2-series, because I held a matte screen with a navigation system for practical, I can now say that the glass screen of the 3 Series, although reflected, but very bright and contrasty represents. I have not had a situation where I could not see anything on the screen.
Traffic information (+)
It is still true that TomTom devices to deliver the best traffic information with live traffic. But the live traffic from Garmin comes quite close to the TomTom ran! I think I can call it peace of mind as the second best. Chill shows TomTom storage start and end on 10 meters exactly. Because Garmin does not quite ran, but the instructions are pretty up to date and reliable. Meanwhile, congestion on highways and in cities are considered sufficient. The presentation of disabilities like it even better than TomTom Garmin; there the rest of the route is displayed as a line with colored spots (the disabled), pops at Garmin in the right half of a window with a fairly detailed description, the distance to the obstruction is also illustrated graphically. On the left side, meanwhile, the traffic flow continues somewhat reduced.
Traffic routing, voice instructions (++)
Here the Garmin nose clearly in front. While the language of TomTom devices still a bit wooden appears ("turn right, then you have reached the goal"), Garmin offers clear voice instructions in grammatically correct language. The voice speaks of street names and places, but does not sound quite as natural as the language of current devices, for example, by Becker, or the Navigon app. The speaker is strong, therefore the announcements at higher driving noise of course.
The instructions are almost always clear and timely manner. Only rarely do you have to take an additional look at the screen. Also help instructions as "at the traffic lights" or "before the football stadium" quite good at the orientation. However, there are also times unintentionally funny situations when, for example, in the center of Frankfurt, the announcement "turn back the high-rise building right" comes. Just as well you could say a hiker in the woods: "Turn the tree right"
Lane assist with its turn provides good advice a real help. He even advises sometimes to take for example when several lanes turning right a certain, because right after the turn a second one comes and it will already be in the right track.
The route guidance was so far always in a comprehensible framework, with sometimes perhaps a little exaggerated preference for multi-lane roads and highways.
Operation (++)
Operation of the device is exemplary! Does TomTom in my opinion totally messed up the operation of its GO 500, as everything is, as I expect. I give be highlighted characters and design at an early stage made reasonable suggestions, so you never have to enter the street or the place completely addresses in by hand. But really awesome is the voice guidance. Almost the entire operation of the device is possible via voice command. This one has only a single command ("Voice Command"), but one can also define freely, remember. Otherwise all possible commands are always displayed on the screen. The device understands the commands amazingly good! If the destination specified times did not understand clearly that Garmin makes suggestions from which you can select the one that applies by specifying the line number.
But sometimes there are problems, namely when the car is heated and only once turns my climate control. I could get a grip perhaps, if I take out something from the area of the central air outlet attachment. ;-)
To use Live services is the free app "smart link" required. The coupling is easy and is always produced reliably again. In the TomTom did not work in some cases time. If you had not noticed, there was just no traffic reports as a live service. About the app are also the addresses of the contacts. In addition, the app assists if necessary in the final meters to the goal that you have to cover on foot, or in retrieving the car. I find the interaction of Navis with the app so awesome that I always take this and should given me instead of the unit with DAB +, the model 3597. The traffic information via DAB + and Smartphone are identical. In addition, there are Live services (such as speed camera warning), which only provides the app.
As others reviewers wrote, you can see the warnings about speeding not configure, already at 1 km / h is much the warning tone. I turn this feature off, therefore what goes fortunately.
Like the TomTom GO 500 also shows the Garmin buildings as 3D objects. Garmin makes it clever but much by the buildings are displayed only at low speeds and even in a flattened form. Thus, the navigation is not hindered. When TomTom roads and junctions are obscured by tall buildings often. this is not the case with the Garmin. Only a few, particularly striking buildings (churches, monuments, castles, etc.) appear lifelike and detailed. Need not be, but also does not interfere.
The bracket (++)
Many Navis attaching the device to the bracket is an abomination. In 3598 it's awesome! The bracket is active, that is, the cable with the power supply and the antenna is connected to the support and remains there, even if one decreases the device. To attach one must lead the unit in the vicinity of the holder, a very strong magnet then pulls the Navi to the right place. To remove the device, you need a little power, but this is a pure pulling motion, no fumbling.
Did I mention everything and anyone bored? If you have questions, you can ask my comment like this.
The device is for me currently the absolute optimum. Only with regard to the traffic information it is still easily topped by TomTom, but the difference is not earth-shattering. My initial doubts about the usefulness of a naturally reflective glass display at Garmin are now gone. The display quality is beyond doubt, as in fact the whole unit.
