Jeep's rugged RT-300 navigator gets rough review

Hmm, maybe Jeep should stick to scaling mountains and whatnot. To be totally frank, we had all but forgotten that a Jeep-branded navigator was even in the works, let alone closing in on release -- of course, maybe that's because we last heard of this thing in December of 2007. At any rate, the ruggedized RT-300 has finally found its way to the review bench, and unfortunately for those holding out for this critter, it didn't fare too well. At all. For starters, $249.99 is a lot of scratch for a lowly 320 x 240 resolution screen, and the fact that it's not even waterproof didn't help matters either. Worst of all, testers had issues with route calculation (read: its main function), with a certain Cincy-to-Jersey query causing a total freeze three times in a row (and even on a second unit). Bottom line? Steer clear of this one, hard though that may be for the Jeep faithful.

[Ethan @ Oct 15th 2008 5:21AM]

Wow, why didn't they just re-brand a Garmin or something?

[FreXxX @ Oct 15th 2008 5:30AM]

Yeah, seems to be some cheap gum-stuff... I laughed. :)

[strider_mt2k @ Oct 15th 2008 8:38AM]

So they put a rubber skin on a Navman F15?

Way to be cheap...Jeep.

[Jon Acheson @ Oct 15th 2008 10:23AM]

That thing makes the Knight Rider GPS seem classy.

[iEye @ Oct 15th 2008 11:59AM]

Why would you expect anything car+american to have any quality whatsoever?

Thie GPS unit is crappy and overpriced just like the Jeep...

FAIL

[Zeus.:God @ Oct 15th 2008 12:07PM]

Do you own a Jeep? I do. There is nothing overpriced about them, unless you count the cheap pieces of shit that they're building nowadays. Cherokee (XJ), Comanche (MJ), Grand Cherokee (ZJ), Wrangler (YJ, TJ, LJ, and even the JK), every CJ, and every full sized Jeep are definitely not crappy or overpriced. They are very capable and very durable vehicles with an off-road prowess matched by none (well, of course, except for purpose built off-road toys).

And what are you talking about American cars not having any "quality"? You obviously don't know much about the automotive world.

[Izzy @ Oct 15th 2008 3:09PM]

Amen Zeus. My TJ wasn't overpriced at all. Jeep makes very reliable vehicles. I reserve comment on the quality of a lot of the "best selling" American cars. Jeep, with few exceptions, has a very good history of making quality MPV's. And everyone copies them, look at the Toyota Land Cruiser, a direct copy of the Jeep after WWII.

[Baxter @ Oct 15th 2008 3:04PM]

I remember seeing this thing at CES earlier this year. These far-eastern hucksters had a table (not a booth) with a Jeep banner and a couple of empty boxes - which displayed TomTom software on the device. Needless to say, they weren't too pleased :P

[SAD @ Oct 15th 2008 7:03PM]

frankly, I don't see why it's "rugged"...I mean, it's not like it's gonna be bouncing around inside ur off-roader...:D

[John J Kalicki @ Oct 15th 2008 7:14PM]

I am driving a 1997 Jeep Wrangler that although 12 years old runs extremely well. I've taken it off-road including the beach, a lake, and multiple times in the ocean. I beat this thing up. Bottom line: I got my money's worth and will definitely purchase another.

[hugh @ Oct 15th 2008 11:58PM]

is this jeeps first product with out the word "Limited" chucked on it?

[Klyve @ Oct 16th 2008 4:24AM]

Is it made to look like a stamp so that when you get lost you can lick the back, stick it to the side and post yourself home?