Another option that is available, is a chinese clone GPS from ebay.
The price range for these vary. For a standard 3.5" GPS it will cost you from $100 - $170. Then there is a 4.3" GPS with a price range of between $150 (RARE) to around $300. Then you can have a 7" around $300 or a Double Din Radio, Tv, Cd DVD and GPS combined. They range from $500 - $1000, and fit in the radio bay of your car.

These devices are what I think are far better than your common brand name GPS.
With most of these you can have the brand name software if you wish, or add the many other different types of software that is available on the net. Some of these you may know: IGO, Route66, Navman, Tomtom, Navigon, Polnav, Sygic and a few others.

I personally have 6 different navigation programs running on the one GPS through a menu system.

There are also two basic mapping companies that are used in Australia. First one is the highly advertised Sensis (WhereIs) type of mapping system. I find this to be reasonable only in city and major regional centres with the rural area badly lacking detail. The other is Navteq. If you use Google maps or Google Earth these are basically the same.
I'm from rural Australia and I think Sensis is not WhereIs but more like We'reLost, but thats me and if you are a city dweller, Sensis may suit you.

There are some good sites around to help you decide which better suits you. They are:
My site, GpsModding, ppcwarez, Austech, gpsunderground, navman unlocked and of course the name brand sites.
I hope this helps you decide were you want to go, and how you would like to do it.


Geoff