Radar Detectors
 

Which radar detector would members of this forum recommend? I used to own escort units dash mounted years ago. At the time they were considered the best. What is the latest and offer the most bang for your bucks in radar detectors in the market today. In Canada, where I go skiing radar detectors are considered illegal and confiscated. Adding insult to injury you get fined $ 500 Canadian.
Like to hear from as many as possible about your experiences with the detectors. Types etc, and models.
The Pilot

I have a V1 and am happy with it. I would also be happy with the 8500. These are the two that seem to be leaders, with the V1 being arguable a little more sensitive and having directional arrows; and the 8500 being much nicer to look at and $100 cheaper. Your call.

I have both the 8500 and the V1. I like the V1 better though! Go the route I did and have the V1 stealth hidden in the car with the rear view mirror display! :)

Wow^, that setup is totally money! I didn't know you could hide it in the mirror like that. Very clean look. How much for the whole package? 1k?

Where did you get that installation? A place in Long Island has something similar but they are for BMW cars. How much did this set you back?

I have an Escort Solo S2. I got that one because it was wireless. Supposedly, it’s the 8500 in a wireless package. I've never used an 8500 so I don’t know how the two compare.

As far as the Stealth V1, I know two people that have one. One guy has a 996 Turbo and the other a BMW M3. Both had it factory installed. If you are worried about using it in places where they are illegal, my buddy with the M3 lives in Virginia, where they are illegal, and he has never had a problem using it. Everyone that I have ever met with a V1 loves it.

Just a question. Do you guys think that these detectors actually perform well enough to justify the expense now that the police are using laser more and more? Just wondering whether you have any success with them in defeating laser or are they just effective against radar units?

It's really tough out there, any way you cut it. Every other morning I drive with a State Police cruiser, I guess we have the same schedule. We go with the flow of traffic, 65-70 mph in a 45 mph zone. It makes me feel better that I know if he is scanning me or not (he never is). The point of it is that you never know when your number is up. The police typically tolerate reasonable speeds regardless of what the marked speed is, but that gives them the chance to enforce the law whenever they want. (I wish we could just have a 90 mph limit and then have it strictly enforced, that would make driving a lot less stress for me)

It's just situational awareness. It alerts me to at least 75% of the outright traps and 100% of the times I am on the road with a cruiser approaching who is trolling.

Overall, I'd say it cut my risk by about 75%. I went from 1 ticket/year to none for the last year in which I've have my V1. But I still expect to get a ticket every 2-4 years now.

I have been driving with that philosophy for the last few years without a radar detector. What I would like to avoid is the radar trap, revenue enhancing tickets, that they like giving you in NY. Like in wide blvds. they have the radar there and you are traveling at 45-50 in a 30 mph you get nailed. Lately in Great Neck the police hides in driveways with the radar which really annoys me big time. Naturally driving a Porsche is a natural invitation for speeding tickets so we must be extra careful since the deck is stacked against us.

The unit is not in the mirror. The mirror is only the display. The unit is hidden in an area in the car where it is not visible at all.

One of my customers who is a top of the line installation shop in Manhattan does this install with all the parts included, custom lazer cut mirror, stealth V1 and K40 lazer jammer for about $3,000.

I know it seems pricey, but I like the gimmic and I also like the protection and feeling of freedom while driving. :)

Dang, it ain't cheap. lol I think that I'll just save 2200-2500 bucks and just put the detector in the cubby in front of the shifter and mount the senor up front. Anyone have this setup? Is it any good?

Check this out. I think this might be an acceptable solution for stealth location without the big bucks.
Will investigate further.
http://www.m3motorwerks.com/products/description.php/II=70

That's exactly what I have, only it's a BMW mirror. The Porsche mirror is about $800 but it's only a display. You still need the V1, a few accessories, the K40 jammer and the full day of custom install done right which brings it all to the $3,000 mark.

P.S. If you do it wrong then the radar will be deemed useless.

I have a V1 with a remote display, looking at buying an Escort Z3 Laser Shifter to go with it.

I have the V1 and I depend on 100%, If I get popped at the speeds I drive I am going to Jail. I also have a V1 on my Hayabusa
which has saved me more times than I can count.
Automon

Detector/Jammer info wanted
 

I'm considering buying a Rocky Mountain detector/jammer...

I know the detector manufacturers poo poo it, but I have too many law enforcement buddies who say it works (makes them mad, too) and a buddy with one who drives his Suburban at 90 mph and never slows down for cops, even when it goes off.

I know this is probably debated hotly, but does anyone have any experience good or bad with a newer Rocky Mountain detector/jammer combo unit?

I swear by the V1. The directional arrows have become a complete necesssity with the advent of the apparent "jamming" detectors. The concept is flawed. If everyone on the road purchased jamming or transmitting radar detectors, then everyone would be in a complete panic all the time. And, the cops would be happy. However, in the meantime, we have to try and distinguish between the real and fake. When I get a signal from behind, I slow down and when the signal passes and it is some joker in a Ford Explorer, I have the peace of mind to speed up again and pass. The Valentine will let you know if a new signal is coming from behind by distinguishing it with its beeps and the LED number.

I have tried many other detectors, and gotten tickets - 4 tickets in three years. Since I started using the V1 five years ago. No tickets. It certainly is worth the money.

I feel naked driving without my V1.

Its not so much the alerts that are gratifying but the long periods of silence when you can calmly break the law :) (err traffic laws that is). In a recent test the V1 was the only top detector to pickup Laser from a moving vehicle. Its hard enough to pickup laser from a standing cop let alone one that's hiding a few cars back.

But seriously with the speed limit pretty much ignored by everyone its really a must have for you Boxster. These cops love to hate on a poor guy who scraped together enough pennies to buy himself a world class sports car.

tips:
1-remove the front license plate (the no plate ticket will be cheaper than speeding ticket and insurance hike) laser is often pointed there and headlights.

2-Put a bra on your car, laser doesn't reflect well on dark colors.

3-coat your headlights with that laser veil "sun screen"

4- get a V1 or Escort

5- get a PBA card from your local cop buddy.

by the way the remote relocator for the V1 is the greatest invention. It eliminates the tailgaters who will spot the flashinglights coming from your windshield and it also hides the flashing light from the cops looking for a challenge. I have my remote right ontop of my steering wheel below the gauges.
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...15_23_full.jpg

Andicati: Have any idea why some cars or SUV's (Ford Explorer as you mentioned) set off your V1? Is it another radar detector that's leaking, or a jammer that's sending out false signals?

Perfectlap: What's a PBA card, and why would this help you? In Houston, we have the 100 club which when giving a gift of $100 to a policeman's fund for families who had a cop killed in the line of duty, one receives a sticker for the back window...everyone thinks this will help you get more warnings or passes than tickets. Of course, the cops know this too and ignore it from what they tell me. I do want to know what a PBA card is though!

I never had used a detector. Seems to take all the fun out of speeding. Hey, where is the risk?

:D