For those of us who either can't afford a mobile GPS or one that fits in our vehicles and have to resort to using a mapping application such as MapQuest or Google Maps, I wanted to get everyone's feedback on the following questions?

Do you currently or have you ever used MapQuest?
If you do, do you prefer the classic version or the new version?
If you don't, do you recommend some other application.

My two cents: I use the classic version because it presents the step-by-step directions in a wider format depending on the width of your window. As far as I can tell, the new version has a set field width for the directions and it is only about 1/3 of the screen width. The new version may give you more bells and whistles for developing those step-by-step directions but I just don't see the advantage in my line of work.

I usually don't print my directions from MapQuest directly because it is a gross waste of paper. I usually take snapshots of each location's direction and cut/paste them into a Word document with the widest possible margins. I can insert text boxes in the margins between the directions and copy/paste map portions from MapQuest into these text boxes. I can usually get 5-8 location directions per one side of a sheet of paper. I insert my completed directions into the covers (front and back) of the binders which contain my shop forms, letters of introduction and shop documentation. Most of the time I don't use double-sided printing so I don't spend time flipping over the pages while I am driving. If I have a lot of shops on my trip, I just take more binders and put each page of directions into the plastic protectors of the binders.

@tan - My preference is google/maps.

I actually take a screenshot of my route. Open up in my psp. Then I add this in a red text by each point on the map:

Location - 3/16/12
street address only
9am-1pm or special order <--- two-three words scenario

I print out the map, just one sided paper. Don't need to have driving directions. The majority of the time I end up needing two maps because of how spread out my jobs are. Everything of mine, all my paperwork, just sits on the front seat beside me.

I use a very old fashioned but accurate way of finding things, I use paper road maps. I have no faith in mapquest after it persisted in putting my house 2 miles out from the shore of Lake Erie and I don't happen to live in a houseboat.

MapQuest has gotten better over the years. Sometimes I will check things by also using Google maps. I hate the new version of MapQuest. Classic has my car's mileage saved and will calculate gas costs for me. The also have a totally free app for my phone which provides voice navigation. In 18 months and innumerable road trips I've had it give me outdated information a whopping 3 times. In each case it didn't recognize that there were road closures for construction. I was able to follow the detour information and eventually MapQuest kind of caught up with everything and gave me new directions to my location.

I like my Google Maps. They are about the only one that knows where my home address is! When they came out this summer and did new maps they had a few street names wrong by where I live. I send them the info and they thanked me and changed the names.

I prefer Google Maps. It hasn't let me down yet. I simply map out my route then cut and paste the directions into my smartphone. I save ink and paper that way.

I used to use MapQuest. Back then it had the advantage of being the only player on the field. Now I use Google Maps. My gf prefers Bing Maps. Not long ago though we had a discussion about a shop location near my house. Both Google and Bing were dead wrong. But Google was only off by about four blocks, whereas Bing was wrong by about six miles.

(That btw turned out to be the result of a typo on MFI's part, mistaking "B--- Center" for "B--- Lane," a mistake since corrected.)

To save paper I usually only print the last portion of the map, showing the specific location. Why print the part that shows the area around my house? I already know it.

I like Google now. It shows the different routes of transportation. Especially if I have to deal with a subway system when the driving would really put me at a lost in the metro city.

If the city has a subway system. Actually its like covering 4 different shops via three different companies in the same time frame with 24 hours reporting time. When I have Googled the public transport it takes a little longer getting to point A. Then I only do two. Like doing a lunch and then doing a dinner. (which usually wind up being a dinner for for someone at home.) or a non food purchase.

I prefer Google Maps as well. I do have one of those fancy phones with GPS AND a regular GPS in my car, but rarely use them, relying on Google Maps. I look at them always, though, and make sure it makes sense.

In 8+ years of shopping and HUNDREDS of rural route shops usually going 200 - 400 miles in a day, I've had Google Maps be wrong ONCE. In the CITY of all places! It had a gas station at the edge of town in a very small residential section of town (2 streets by 4 streets, trailer park) surrounded by cemetery. That didn't look right, so I called, and found out the place was still on the edge of town, but a few miles over. It was a "St" not a "Dr" which confused Google Maps.