2nd hand Garmin GPS Pilot III - worth buying?

[aged]

I've searched on the site for relevant information but couldn't find what I'm after.
I've seen a Pilot III for sale second hand, it has "2002 software" which I take it to mean as chart data from 2002 (?).
Questions:
Is it worth buying what is now a reasonably old piece of kit? It is on offer for J175 which is a lot less than a current model
Can it be easily updated to current chart data and if so, at what cost?

I have a limited budget but don't want to throw money away if I am much better off spending a bit more and gettting more up to date technology. My main use of the thing would be as backup for VFR flying rather than primary navigation facility so I doubt I need the latest and greatest.

Thanks for any comments
aged

[A and C]

It would have to be cheap !!

[Barshifter]

Aged

I sold my trusty Pilot 111 in favour of the Garmin 96.Much the same software as the pilot 111 but with added autoroute/marine/Mapsource database options.If you get a new one there will be a free database update in the box and of course you can pay for them after that.I paid $20 from Garmin for my last update.

Regards

Barshifter

[breakscrew]

If you have limited funds and do not have another GPS, then it will be much better than nothing. You can get a software update by visiting the Garmin website. The Pilot III is a handly, light and practicable unit. Get it for a reasonable price and enjoy.

[justinmg]

It would be a good buy. I am selling mine soon as I have a 196 now for IMC.
The latest software release was in fact in 2002 and handles the unit functions.
Databases can be updated for £25 if I remember correctly. Not much point in doing it more than once a year.
Try the manual to see the functions: http://www.garmin.com/manuals/GPSIIIPilot_PilotsGuide.pdf

[jabberwok]

Agree with the above. I still have mine but only use it for position information and do not rely on its airspace boundary data. A good, little, pocket sized unit.

[aged]

Thanks for the comments. After looking around more following some of the comments I am now thinking of increasing the budget a little to go for a new Garmin Map96, the grey one is not a huge amount more (though colour is getting a fair bit more but looks good!)

[Monocock]

Aged

If you do opt for the GPS Pilot III you won't be disappointed. Although superceded now by several different models it really is a great GPS. I have used mine for 6 years and I love it.

Before it I had a Skyforce Skymap. It too was good but in very different ways. Sadly when it broke the manufacturers were about as helpful as a chocolate fireguard so I went to Garmin and haven't looked back.

[Mariner9]

I agree with Mono, the GPS III is a great little unit.

In order to update the database, you will need a pc link for the unit. Would be worth checking that these are still available if you want to keep the database current.

[MarcJF]

I agree with Mono and Mariner, a great little unit, reliable and good value. You could do a lot worse.

[Sultan Ismail]

A clever little unit, most of it is battery space, but there's some real technology in the rest. I decided to buy a GPS last month after nearly 4 decades of private flying, what made me choose the GPSIIIPilot is the simplicity and low profile.

The latest machines are large and cumbersome and will surely detract from your safety scan or as in the case of the 76 and 96 models they are vertical format, not simple to mount in the aircraft.

The GPSIIIPilot is designed to sit over the instrument panel and does not detract from the safety scan.

Technically I am still in the gee whiz, aw gosh, wow state.

The track recording mode is a hoot, it recorded my exact moves when I went into a hold as a result of adverse weather ahead. I have studied it several times since and seen that I was less than 3 miles from home, but a wall of water that was impenetrable made me turn back to my alternate. It was a tropical monsoon thunderstorm, you don't mess with those monsters.

Back to the GPS, go for it, it's a wise investment and will provide years of fun.

[huv]

Not quite as fast (redraw) as newer models, not quite as crisp a display, but otherwise excellent functionality for the size and the cost. Mine is 5 years old and is still active on every IFR flight. Main problem is that it is so small that I frequently believe that I have have forgotten it when in fact it is somewhere in the bottom of my flight bag.

[got caught]

I use mine regularly as a back up. The cable's available on e-bay for about a tenner, but I've hardly ever used mine, as I never got the knack of downloading a track onto a map!

I probably use 50% of the functions when flying, and practice using the functions when the mrs is driving. (How sad is that !)