Who cannot help themselves?
 

So I have had my Boxster for 4 weeks now and I am doing exactly what I told myself I would not do. I am noticing that Iam speeding pretty bad in the car,while I dont floor it I give it enough gas so I can hear the lovely exhaust note. The couple of weeks I had it I struggled to get used to the clutch. Now that Iam used to the clutch I notice that I tend to drive harder when I know all of the bad that can happen,
1)I am only 18 and cops will watch me as I am so young
2)I know my Boxster is expensive to repair if anything happens
3)Im sure someone I know has seen me speed in it and will let my parents know shortly
Is this just a phase or should I get a radar detector?

Just don't get crazy.
And do try to keep speed down some, after all speed kills.
That said I'm 41 and have never had a radar detector(just never bought one).
I get caught speeding oh about once every 3 years, but I don't think their is a day that gose buy that I'm not. I do most of mine on the HWY and keep preaty close to the speeds around town. Never speed in a school zone even when it's not flashing.
Just cuse your speeding dose not mean your hard on the car. I allways let mine warm up before passing 4K rpms.
If your keeping the rpms up just to hear the engine sing, get a louder muffler. That is something that I have planed to do.

Richard

Blinkwatt, a radar detector won't slow you down. Only your right foot will. And that's attached to the left side of your brain. FYI.

Get the detector, even if you keep it at 5-10 above the limit. You have become a target. My wife and I have detectors and we notice that even though we are in a group of people in traffic, the laser radar is always aimed at us. On an open stretch, laser has been trained on us for over 1/4 mile just waiting for the speedo to go up so he could nab us. Since laser can be aimed at a single car, we know he was just watching us.

Around here, traffic is often moving 80-85 on the freeway so you don't want to be in the pack when radar hits it. With X, K & Ka bands, you can't tell who they're trying to get because they are wide broadcast, but you know if it's between you and mini van mom then "tag"...you're it. It makes no sense because if something happens she's in heap big trouble and you're probably out of the way easily, but due to the "penis envy" factor, you're still it.

I got a good one (Whistler 1783 or 1793) for around $140 including a hardwire kit so there's not a coil hanging in your way. It detects X, K & KA bands, laser and the newer POP radar along with radar detector detection devices. It also picks up the emergency signal put out by police, fire and ambulance vehicles so I know they're coming from about 1/2 mile away so I can get out of the way. Very handy. I like the built-in compass too and the dim and dark features for dusk and night.

I'd love to have a V1, but just can't justify the $600+ for each vehicle for the detector and remote display.

every sports car driver should have a detector, actually every motorist should have one period. Why? Because everyone drives above the speed limit. The police need only see you going 10 miles over and bang your insurance just went up. I got pulled over this weekend even with the detector, too busy talking to my passenger and didn't hit the brakes. The cop told me he would drop the ticket if he I appeared in court. Can't blame the Valentine One it did its job.

As far as driving too fast. Get involved in autocross/track days with SCCA or Porsche Club of America. Once I began to learn to drive fast properly on the course I realized how clueless most motorist are and I drive far less aggresively than I ever did before.

Sorry, but I'm going to have to disagree. I like the signature I saw on the 928 forum. "It's not the speed that kills you, it's the sudden stop." :eek:

Sorry, couldn't resist. :D

deliriousga is this model good? I do not know much of radar detectors.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Whistler-DE1748C-Radar-Laser-Detector-1748-C-1748C-NEW_W0QQitemZ8013427812QQcategoryZ38654QQssPageNam eZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

WElcome
 

[QUOTE=deliriousga]Sorry, but I'm going to have to disagree. I like the signature I saw on the 928 forum. "It's not the speed that kills you, it's the sudden stop." :eek:

Hate those negative g's. In essence we all do the same because the car accelerates quite freely and the engine produces that intoxicating whine. Sorry to say that your affliction will not go away and it is indeed permanent. Speeditis Boxertitis will manifest itself in two forms:
1- One foot(usually the accelarator) will get heavier than the other
2- A pronounced **************** grin in your face as you drive

Welcome to our group, enjoy it drive safely.

Blink, living in California as we do, you need to be concerned primarily with detection on the Ka band as that is what is used by CHP and every municipality that I've encountered driving through much of this big-ass state.

You'll be ok with any decent detector made by a reputable company as most have decent Ka detection. That being said, my experiences are as follows.

CHP drives around with their radar on about half the time. Those with it on are on definitive hunt and kill. A good detector will allow you to avoid these. CHP with the radar off will turn it on if you happen to fly by them without seeing them. They prefer to get a radar reading to cite on your ticket and without following you for a period of time, they obviously can't get an exact fix on your speed. This has happened to me three times in the last six months, and each time the cop got on his microphone and told me to slow-down (which I of course did when they turned their radar on), I was lucky...but it's pretty embarassing :) . The municipal cops seem less concerned with speed enforcement, although most large forces operate a traffic division (they drive the annoying cruisers without the light bars on top).

I'd rank the threats as:

1. CHP motorcycle cops - They have Ka radar on their bikes (no clue how they manage this). It seems less strong, but you have alot less time to react if it's radar from a bike-cop. Of course, many bike cops don't need to use their radar because they're so hard to see in traffic. On this note, if I see an unidentified bike headlight coming up fast I always slow down until I can make it out. Usually it's not a cop, but it has been enough for me to take note.

2. Traffic division cruisers - for the reasons stated above. Although they usually have their radar on.

3. Laser usage - which was reported on PPBB in the LA area and will probably be coming to a municipality near you. Radar defenses sold in this country aren't real effective against Laser - if you're getting a reading, it's too late. I saw an interesting episode of 5th gear recently about anti-laser devices, as laser is more prevalent in the UK.

I have a V1 and would suggest the same, because the arrows are so great and the detection quite good.

Blinkwatt, what is it that you want to accomplish? Drive fast and possibly not get caught? If so, then a radar detector may assist your effort. But, I thought your question also had another underlying concern. That being what is best for your saftey and longevity of your car, and maybe your parents lack of approval.

You're a smart young man! You know that a radar detector is not the answer.

Doing the right thing is not always easy.

$600+??? Are you nuts? Mine, with a remote display was $425.

And the reason to buy it is you can disable X band and avoid a million false alarms from Walmarts, gas stations, Home Depot, crappy radar detectors in vehicles next to you, etc.

I drove to Austin from Houston and back in the last few days in my Lexus and while I didn't break any speed records in either direction, it sure was nice to know where the cops were and were not to be found.

I'd recommend either an Escort, V1, BEL, or possibly K40.

When it comes to radars, you generally get what you pay for.

I have never had a detector. My last speeding ticket was in 1970.

Hmm, I must drive slowly.

Actually I don't but I usually (not always) stay about 10 over.

In my experience, the cruise control is invaluable in keeping one's license. I make liberal use of this device to curb my impulses and to not have to pay attention to keeping the speed down.

Good luck!

PS--

My son has always had a dectector, always the BEST model.

Gets a speeding ticket about every 18 months.

Go figure.

Hi,

I've never owned a Detector and have Never been Ticketed, well, not exactly true, I have sucessfully argued with the Cop and defended several in Court, incl. a 125 in a 25 zone!

IMHO, I think a Detector makes one feel more secure and therefore more likely to exceed the Limit. Eventually, this is gonna catch up with you.

I also believe that you seriously hamper any ability to reason with the Cop, or a Judge, if they see a Detector hanging off your windshield - give the impression that you intend to exceed the Speed Limit. I've spoken with several Cops and State Troopers who've said that they would never give a break to a guy with a Detector...

Happy Motoring!...Jim'99

Hey Jim, good one! How'd you accomplish this amazing feat? Tell the Judge the 1 looked like a 0?

yes I'd like to hear about that too. I was with a friend as a passenger when we were pulled over doing 95(slowing down for the exit at that point) and the cop nearly killed my friend he was so mad. He had his license suspended for 6 months.

I'm actually not overly thrilled at speeding on freeways - I mean its fun but jeesh there are so many other cars. Every few days I see some nut zigzagging through traffic in a sportscar and I have to think, dude, where do you think you are? Its like he is living out some NASCAR fantasy, but its not against Jeff Gordon, its against some minivan mom. Really, is that racing? Where is the thrill in that?

The places you will catch me driving like a maniac are empty roads, particularly the industrial office park near where I work, where there are blocks and blocks of buildings under construction. After 5pm, you've got clear wide roads, empty of other cars or trucks, and usually good visibility around corners. Just watch out for the loose dirt spilled around the entrances!!


Also we should get to an autocross track or a PCA event if we want to get a thrill...

I actually did get out of a ticket (40 in a 25) with my Passport 8500 X50 still up on the windshield. I got tagged with a handheld laser by a cop hiding behind a bush in someone’s driveway – no time to react. I made things easy on the Police officer and he let me off with a $40 ticket for the detector obstructing my view!

Also, I have used detectors for years and feel that they can be very helpful if you know how to use them. They don’t give you a license to drive like a complete tool, but they do allow you to push the envelope a little further.

These have worked pretty well for me over the years:

- never drive more than 15 MPH over – so there is still plenty of time to slow down and you don’t stick out like a sore thumb.
- never be the fastest car on the road
- if your detector gives you an alert and then quickly goes silent, slow down anyway. There is likely a Cop ahead using instant on who just clocked someone else. Your turn will be in about 20 seconds.

Above all, be safe!

I firmly believe that traffic enforcement in this country is much more about revenue generation that safety. In almost all cases, a sober driver who is paying attention and operating equipment as fine as ours can drive in excess of the posted speed limit in good weather conditions without endangering anyone.

If the Police were truly concerned about enhancing safety, they should focus on targeting following distance, lane discipline, and driver inattention such as cell-phone use.

I agree with the others Jim, this story needs to be told.