Radar Detector Poll!

[RandallNeighbour]

I'm torn between an X50 and a V1, so I thought I'd post a poll. Everyone seems to love the one they have, but I'd like to see how many of you chose one over the the other

[Jeph]

They say in the world of radar detectors, you get what you pay for. And if their performance is relatively equal (like their respective prices), I'd take the Passport any day of the week based on looks alone! That V1 is UGLY and has looked that way for some time now. It's got a KNOB on it! It almost looks like a small CB radio.

Knowing what direction the radar comes from kinda cool. But how necessary is that? If there's a radar around, you'll slow down regardless of its direction. That's my philosophy anyway.

Great, now you've inspired me to go look at Passports on eBay!

[Brucelee]

Its kind of funny. My son always has the latest technology for avoiding tickets and gets them by the basket.

I haven't had a dector or a ticket in over 35 yrs. During that time, I have owned some of the fastest cars in the world.

Go figure!

[RandallNeighbour]

I'm guessing your son isn't nearly as cautious of where and how often he drives fast. Hopefully, the flow of fines, insurance hikes and possibly the loss of his license will teach him this lesson the hard way!

And I'm also guessing that you didn't drive the fastest cars in the world at 20+ mph over the speed limit on cross-country trips like the trip I'll be making this summer.

The reason I posted this poll and thread was because I'm driving my boxster from Houston, TX to Gilroy, CA for the garlic festival in late July... I'm going to use the 30 day MBG to discover which radar detector is worth purchasing... the V1 or the X50.

I'm leaning toward the X50 because it's reported to be sensitive, but not false as much as the V1 ... I'm not so worried about false signal noise, but the wife in the car on the trip gets perturbed with it and wonders why it's making noise when it shouldn't. Can't say I blame her.

So, I'm looking for some real-life experience and the poll will help me choose, although it will be hard because few, if any boxster owners own both or have owned both recently to make a good side-by-side comparison.

[YellowJacket]

Is the Passport X50 the replacement for the 8500 or something? I've never heard of it. But then, I recently moved to Virginia, where they are illegal, so unfortunately, I fall under the "no radar detector" category.

If I were to buy one, I would buy the V1. Based on friends who've owned the Passport and the V1, I would spend the extra money on the V1 -- it's a far superior product.

And the directional arrows are very useful -- here's a scenario I just created, but I'm sure there are tons more. You're at the intersection in a small town, and get an X-band hit. In front of you is a grocery store and in all other directions is nothing. If you had the arrows, you could be sure it's a false alarm from the automatic doors in the store. If you don't have the arrows, you're left wondering if it's a cop coming up behind you or crossing in the opposite direction.

By the way, for those of you complaining about looks of the V1, that's ridiculous. If I bought products on looks alone, I'd be on a Mercedes board complaining about the poor build quality of my SL500 right now. :-)

[Perfectlap]

Well here in NJ where insurance rates are the highest in the country and the previous governor ratched up surcharges for speeding, I think you have to be nuts to drive without a detector. Bottomline is NO ONE drives at the speed limit.
If the police were truly interested in enforcing speed limits they would use those toll cameras that photograph your license plate once you trip the speed sensor.
They have those in Austria because the police their aren't just trying to make money. A detector is no guarantee but all it takes is one speeding ticket to ruin your insurance bill. The long periods of silence from the detector is what I enjoy most no more looking in my mirrors for that phantom cop.

anyhoo...
I rode along with my friend has the wireless passport which is like the X50 without the cord or POP. It functions much like previous detectors I've had in the past. Its nice but its no V1.
The arrows really really changes the whole driving experience.


Once you start using the arrows you really appreciate them once they are gone. The speed at which the V1 determines that you have passed the radar gun is amazing. I passed a police car that was pulling over another driver and THE VERY SECOND I was alongside the arrow changed to left or right and the after that it went to pointing behind.
That was a great example to confirm the accuracy of the arrows but sometimes that sneaky police guy is hiding so its REALLY REALLY nice to know when you're past him. I don't think I would trade that instant feedback for the uncertainty of whehter you're still being followed or not knowing if you have come up to the gun yet.
Yes the V1 is sensitive even on full Logic mode but you can turn down the volume to a low level and with the remote readout box situated right under the speedometer you train yourself to go with the visual warning first and instantly compare against your speedometer. This visual warning of arrows is very helpful if you have the volume up loud on your radio as I often do.
This morning I put a piece of electrical tape over the X band light which from what I understand is rarely a police frequency. So if the remote box lights up I can only see the K and Ka. Valentine should use different color lights for the different threats.

By the way in that radar shootout that some one posted on here the testers noted that the V1 was the only unit to detect laser from a trailing vehicle. They glossed over this but that's impressive considering how difficult it is to detect laser from a stationary object alone. And who cares what it looks like...

[pez]

I agree with Brucelee, I used a detector once and it gave me a false crutch to lean on, I got more tickets in that one month then in 10 years of driving without one.
Being a Firefighter/EMT I talk to police and troopers all the time, usually their take is if they pull you over and you have a detector in the car means instant ticket, no warning!
Seeing a detector in the car means you intend to break the law.

Just my .02 worth

Originally Posted by Brucelee

Its kind of funny. My son always has the latest technology for avoiding tickets and gets them by the basket.

I haven't had a dector or a ticket in over 35 yrs. During that time, I have owned some of the fastest cars in the world.

Go figure!

[Lux]

I would also have to agree with Bruce and Pez. Having a detector hanging there is kinda asking for trouble I think. Plus the thing going off every time you pass an automatic door would be obnoxious. However, if you gotta have a detector, the only detector worth having is the K40. Total stealth with front and rear protection. Sure it costs more...but not that much more.



-

[St. Louis Boxster]

Just bought a Solo 2 from Passport and used it on a drive to Birmingham from St. Louis. Saved me 5 times. It caught K and Laser. It's battery operated, so no cables and I can switch it from car to car. After 24 hrs of use the batteries are only 25% spent.

Thought about a V1.. changed my mind, not for the difference in $$, but for the ability to switch between cars. During this trip the V1 could not have perfomred any better.

Good luck !!

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by pez

Being a Firefighter/EMT I talk to police and troopers all the time, usually their take is if they pull you over and you have a detector in the car means instant ticket, no warning!
Seeing a detector in the car means you intend to break the law.

Just my .02 worth

That's a ridiculus attitude by law enforcement. All one has to do is go on a highway and see that 1% of traffic (around here at least) is driving at or below the posted speed limit. Did they all just decide on a whim to break the traffic laws? No. They intend to break the traffic laws every time they merge onto the highway. Unless there is heavy traffic, no one staying at 55. When I travel to other cities like Miami I can't believe how fast people drive in SUV's, minivans and Jeeps. I bet none of them have ever had any formal driving instruction since they were 17 years old applying for that learners permit.

The funny thing is its not just law enforcement that believe Radar detectors are for "speeders". My friends father shot me a disaproving look when he saw the V1 in my Boxster
Around here People seem to forget that going with the flow of traffic means you speeding. Most people I know go with the flow, even my friend's father.

I think I lost count after the 12th time that my V1 warned me of a police speed trap during light traffic on the two major highways here in NJ. If the cop had decided to come after me at least just once it would have cost more than $400 I spent on the V1 in the ticket and insurance surcharge. Well worth the investment in my opinion. Why walk into a trap if you can avoid it?

People who don't think radar detectors work need to talk to my friend Dan who just got his license suspended after several tickets. And he's defiinitely not a "speeder" and drives an old Volvo. He now has to wake up at 5am to take public transportation to get to work by 9am for the next 6 months(at least 2.5 hours to get home). Yeah that's almost as much commuting time as time at work.
The speed limit is set so that the Police can arbitrarily pick anyone off and bring in some revenue. If he speed limit is intended to be a deterrent then its a collosal failure.

[YellowJacket]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

. When I travel to other cities like Miami I can't believe how fast people drive in SUV's, minivans and Jeeps.

Haha, it's funny how views of the same exact thing can vary. Every time I'm in Miami, I get annoyed at how slow people drive. But then, I learned to drive in Atlanta -- which by definition is 16 lanes of bumper-to-bumper traffic going 85-90 mph.