I have the new Garmin 296 and it is truly stunning. Use that along with my GNS430 panel mount. Also very handing for moving around the vast array of aircraft I fly.
The 196 was/is amazing but the 296 knocks the socks of it. I have been through a fair few units, started with the Garmin Pilot III then the 295 then the 196 and now the 296. They have all been superb value for money in there own right and each product just builds on the the strengths of the previous model with the weakness being hammered out with each new version.
A very satisfied Garmin customer!
B-X