radar detector
 

I've decided to purchase a radar detector and I said to myself who can I ask but the guys/gals on this forum.
Which detector (name brand) should I buy? Where can I buy it? I'm looking to spend $350. max. Will $350 buy me a good one?
Just recently got spooked!
TIA,

mythbusters did a segment on radar detectors- none of them work... google it.

Go figure unless you like to feel cool when you get pulled over and have the cop tell you how "illegal" it is and make you pull it down...lol

I have to agree with the last post to some degree, but if you are going to buy one-the only one to consider is a Valentine One-I have always had one but rarely use as the older I get the less I speeed.

This has been discussed here before at length. Do a search.
Haven't seen that mythbusters episode but the working of my Valentine One over the last 13 years is no myth. Get yourself a V1 -- the benchmark. I have yet to see someone regreting it.
Z.

After months of research I've concluded the Valentine 1, the Escort 8500 x50, and the BEL RX65 are are the best units in that price range. The V1 does have the arrows which are neat but all of them offer 360 degree protection. Check out www.guysoflidar.com for some nice performance graphs. Can't go wrong with any of them. Most can be had brand new on ebay for $300 or slightly more for the V1. Don't recall if you have a 987 model and if so I've recently found and key switched 12VDC spare fuse to connect to. PM me if you want more info.

Call valentine, ask for an R unit, nuff said!

Tom, we all want more info. Please explain.
Z.

I call BS, the v1 has saved my ass many, many times over the years and PROVING that it works.

Also, Radar detectors are not illegal except for ..Virginia??
and I guess Canada..

I've had two: Some cheap Cobra one (in the $80 range) and the V1. The Cobra one, which, if I recall correctly, was purchased at Circuit City or Best Buy or some place like that. Yes, it worked, but it didn't tell me far enough in advance. It told me, like, just as I would be rounding a corner that there was a cop looking right at me.

The Valentine, on the other hand, is absolutely stellar. I haven't hard-wired it into my RS because I knew I wouldn't be keeping that car for very long. The V1 works like a charm. I would say to save up the $500 and bite the bullet. It's definitely worth it.

First, the Mythbusters episode was NOT about radar DETECTORS. It was about laser/radar jammers. Radar detectors work, while laser jammers are still being debated.

Secondly, the best detector you are going to purchase under $350 is the Escort Passport 8500, which retails for 299.95 for the red display and 339.95 for the blue. They are identical models. The blue simply costs more because of the necessary components for making it glow blue. Or, if you can get one, a refurbished V1 (typically called an R model). Give them a call and ask if they have any in stock.

Thirdly...hrm. Before I post a third, I need to check with the mods if it's okay for me to post. Don't want to be breaking rules!

I've had a V-1 for several years and it has saved me numerous times. The arrows really are useful. It may be worth spending a few more dollars to get it ($399), but I'm sure the Escort is also a good detector...but no arrows.

Ken

V1 directional arrows are no gimmick. It lets you know where to focus your attention. Without it, you're looking every which way. If warnings were 100% that's no problem, you simply slow down. However all detectors give falses, so the arrows help you weed out possible falses that much more, e.g. strip malls, road construction lighting, etc...


I swore I'd buy a V1 years ago after a few tickets, but I never did. When I knew I would get the box, I went ahead and got one. My only regret is I didn't buy one sooner (I know that sounds like a commercial, but I am in no way affiliated or profiting from V1). It's saved me a couple of times so far. Oddly I find myself speeding LESS since I know were to look now.


Where I live there are a ton of cops out, and usually they do sweeps, so always watch your rearview....

986_Girl will probably weigh in again. She has a business renting radar detectors and is in discussions about becoming a site sponsor.

She'll probably have a special offer for you.

i'm lookling at the V1. For those that own a V1 I can just plug it in my cigarette light and I'm good to go or do I have do something with the direct wire power adapter?
Who has direct wired into their car's electrical system? Was there any problems?

Alright, back to my third point!

I run a business renting radar detectors (as was stated previously), called Radars for Rent. We have five different models available that range anywhere between $40.00 and $50.00 for a 7-day rental (including all tax and shipping costs).

www.radarsforrent.com

This is a great way to try out a detector or two without making an outright commitment by purchasing one.

Yes, you can just plug into the cig lighter, I wired mine right into the fuse box, no issues.

I direct wired my V1 based on a walkthrough I found online with no problems. I also did it so that it turns off when I turn the car off, that way I don't have to do it manually everytime.

V1 All the way! Those arrows are really helpful to know where its coming from. I've had a mess of them and will upgrade my V1 before I buy another.

That's one more reason to buy a V1... it's upgradeable and unless the company goes out of business (doubtful) it may well be the last radar detector you buy for a long, long time.

LOL! I thought you were joking! :rolleyes:


I hope you all know that V1 has a 30day money back guarantee.


@Marc Gelefsky, which fuse slot did you use. I'm doing mine tomorrow along with install of RadarRack.

Me too..

986 girl, do you happen to have instructions or anyone else on the forum on how to hard wire so that it turns off when I turn the car off. I not that handy with electrical...but I can follow instructions. TIA

Why would that be a joke?

Switched 12V spare fuse slot for Radar Detector
 

Just reposting this as it was buried in another tread I started about radar detectors that some folks could care less about but this could be useful. After some voltmeter work I finally found a switched 12 V connection suitable for my radar detector. It's not a V1 or Escort that has the RJ-11 4 wire plug where they are probably using 1 wire for 12V, 1 for ground, and another 1 or 2 for that smart mute feature where you can mute the sound via a button on the cigarette plug.

I just needed a 2 wire connection (+12V and ground connection) for my older but highly rated BEL 985 Vector. I connected the hot 12V white striped wire to the fuse slot and ground (the other wire) to a nearby chassis ground lug (I used a chassis bolt up under the clutch area, make sure it's metal to metal not a scre into plastic).

Fuse box ROW D, FUSE SLOT #4 is empty on my 2006 987 car and will provide 12V only when switched on by the key. There is about a 5-8 min delay after the key is shut off before the 12V goes away - typical of a lot of the cars electronics. This fuse slot is shown as a blank in the little book so I imagine that regardless of the options on your car, this looks to always be a spare empty port that is only hot when the key is on.

Granted, my info here is out the window if you get a V1 or detector with the 4 wire plug / connection. You would need to figure out which of the 4 conductors need 12V and ground, maybe a V1 manal shows that.

FAB if you are not real good with electrical stuff and don't have a voltmeter you could always wheel it into one of those car stereo / car electronics places and they could probally do it in 30 min for $25 or so. I just ran the wire up to dash level (to the left of the steering wheel) and terminated it there. I got one of the black gel tacky pads (office supply store) put it on the dash, and plop the detector on the pad - it does not move. No windshield mount needed!

I bought my Passport x50 through a vendor on Amazon.com (Ace electronics) for $256 plus $8 shipping... it's not there anymore, but if you're patient, I'm sure it will come around again...

That's a good idea, tomk17.

I may be mistaken here since I do not recall how long ago it was (measured in months) that I read an article in regards to this. But it looks like Escort will be releasing a new version that is supposed to be a significant amount better than the V1. I am not sure what the release date is or what the price is or anything else.

Also, take into consideration that most Leos are moving over into the lidar area and radar detectors are starting to become more and more useless. But for the time being I would go with the V1 if I absolutely had to.

-aren

i have the escort 8500 and love it, doesnt look like a big atari box, and its jsut as good as the V1 from what i have experience with both.
a buddy of mine just picked up a gently used one for 145 on fleebay, so its a good bang for the buck.
and that thing saved me toooo many times, i absolutely love it.

i have no experience with bell, just the V1 and escort.

and for them telling me to take it off and that its illegal, never happened to me, im sure you can have it and its legal.

the one street i drive on every night it goes off every simgle time by all the cops hiding in cemeteries, behind buildings and such, every night, and i already know that they are there, so i jsut wait to hear the beep and to see how far i really am from them, works good.

so yea, either V1 of the escort 8500 will do you good, but if you want the BEST i guess go with v1, i dont really like the v1, but a lot of people do and i havent heard any regrets from either actually, espacially v1

good luck, and dont speed too much anyways

They have a new 9500i detector. It has several new features, such as being able to memorize and filter known falses based on GPS location and signal type, while still detecting other signals in the same area. Also varying sensitivity based on vehicle speed, which basically shuts it down at parking lot speeds. I beleive it's $399.00.

I'm sold on their products, I really like my 8500 x50. Based on the fact that in a side-by side unplanned test between my 8500 and my friend's V1, I got a KA alert about 5-6 seconds before he did, I'll pass on the dubious advantage of the arrows and take the better sensitivity of the 8500. :dance:

just picked up the new excellence, and they have a whole page on the new escort, pretty neat, but i dont feel the need to upgrade and waste more money, but it sure does look promising

Thanks a lot for that. I knew I read something about a new one. Also if I remember correctly there was something about an expandable memory slot for something or another. I think it was wither CF or SD.

-aren

B-day coming up soon...this is on my list along with LV Bag.
Guys just in case if you don't know and probably should know if you have a gfriend/wife LV is for Louis Vuttion.

I'm fairly new, and haven't read that many of your posts. No offense, but anytime someone advocates a product too much, makes me wonder what they are selling... ;)

1) That's the first post I've ever even made about my business.

2) I don't sell a product, I sell a service. I'd love to know what product I'm advocating?

3) I gave suggestions OTHER than using my service as well, first and foremost, and I think I've added a wealth of information to this thread and others about radar detectors in general, on a variety of models, because I happen to know a lot about them because of the services that I provide.

New or not, I feel you are way off base.

He said "no offense", apologized, and even put a smiley at the end; take it easy.

Just saying "no offense" does not mean one can say things that are unfounded without expecting someone to defend themselves. I feel his statement was unfounded and have a right to refute his points.

Fair enough 986girl. If you want to go down this road... since you are sort of an "authority" of sorts on radar detectors, why did you fail to mention V1 has a 30day money back gaurantee? :rolleyes:

Because he said he was looking to spend a maximum of $350, and a V1 is not less than that, other than possibly a refurbished one, if his maximum is including shipping and such. I don't believe (though I don't know this for 100%) that they honor their 30-day return policy on refurbished V1s.

Edit: Also, if you purchase one of the Escorts, or other radar detectors, through a retail store such as Best Buy, though you will pay about a $10 premium, you will also have a 30-day return policy, so it's not a V1-only option.

may i make 1 clarification he is a she ;)

fyi- Brand new V1 for 399. plus shipping cost total 413. I was told has been purchased. Yippee........

My apologies! I know what it's like to get mistaken, heheh!

Congrats on the purchase, make sure to let us know how you like it!

Woohoo! Took the box out for a test spin after I fixed the p-brake, and I get 2 signals on my V1. One behind, and one in front. Traffic is light on the freeway and it's lightly sprinkling. Only 4 cars including me. The one in front has me puzzled because it's an Infinity, so I concentrate on the two cars behind me. No biggie, I'm going the speed limit. I've traveled this road many times, and sometimes there is a faint false, but it never follows me. Sure enough I spot the car with cop like running lights. As he closes on me, signal gets stronger. I make damn sure I'm going the speed limit. As he passes I spot him. Yup! State Trooper. The other car was probably going 65 but he doesn't pull him over :confused: . About 3 miles later, I see flashing lights. He pulls over a white minivan! I'm so glad I got the V1. Any other detector and I wouldn't have known where to focus my attention.


The signal ahead of me has me puzzled, maybe it was radar scatter (it was raining) or sometimes other detectors will set off the V1, but if that was the case, the other driver sure didn't slow down :eek:


I sure wish I bought this sooner... would've been much better for my driving record :D