Thinking of getting a radar detector. Is it worth the caust? I other post recommend the escort or valentine v1. Any thoughts out there?

 

I'm in the same process and am scanning radardetector.net, an online forum dedicated to radar detector equipment, etc...

FWIW, i'd go check out that site and reviews and come to a conclusion. I got referred to it from s2ki.com and the moderator there made a good point: You go to car specific forums for information about a specific car (acurazine for the rdx, s2ki for the s2k, etc...) not edmunds or motortrend. Same should be the case for radar detectors, go to radardetector.net for those type of reviews/advice, not amazon or other more general forums...

 

Definitely worth the cost. Over time, it'll save you money in potential speeding tickets. I bought the Escort 8500 then switched to the Beltronics Sti Driver because of its undetectablity to the new radar detector detectors in VA. Radars are illegal in DC and VA which I frequent.

 

It is really hard to prove whether or not radar detectors save you from speeding tickets or not. I've owned several (Escort, Bell, V-1) and the Valentine was the best. The only ticket I've ever had with one was for an illegal U-turn. For the most part good luck was the reason I never got a ticket, but who knows, I never got to ask the cops I passed why they didn't pull me over. I gave the V-1 away (traded for a detail) because it never made it out of the glove box any more. My advice, keep a keen eye on the road and
SAVE YOUR MONEY

 

I would swear by my radar detector. I have a Beltronics Vecor (highly recommend) mounted via a Blendmount (it connects to the stem on the rear view mirror and has a couple of pin connectors to plug into the wiring on the RVM (power is for auto-dimming) so it sits high and no wires showing.

Alot of cops use Instant On detection (and there is nothing you can do about that) but at least you know that you have been detected. Thats why when speeding in lighter traffic i like to get behind someone else and follow. When they get hit with the Instant On (and you will know, the alarm and lights max when its close) you will detect it and have enough time to slow before they hit you with it.

Usually in traffic the cops keep the K, KA or Laser bands on and you can detect it pretty strongly from a few hundred yards giving you enough time to slow down. Ive had radar detectors my whole driving life and have had three speeding tickets in 33 years, yet have been known to have quite the led foot.

So, all in all, to me its well worth the money, but nothing is foolproof. You can definately help yourself if you learn to drive with it.

 

i just picked one up last week went with a cobra with red light camera and gps

 

Well said Buck, you gotta know how to use them effectively! In traffic they'll (detectors)save you every time, but on a lonely road you're on your own, and better see him ('copper') before he sees you
I remember back in the '80s when I bought an Escort (best at the time) and got 2 tickets shortly thereafter funny thing is/was that in all instances I was being paced from behind for a couple miles by the cops after which they speed up to you and pull you over (thats cops in Florida in the '80s for ya)

 

Ahh the 80's ^ bad music, bad hair & cocaine.

 

LOL. Unfortunately the 80s for me were either in High School or the Navy. I made up for it in the 90s though--college, grunge and rehab.

 

Escort PASSPORT 9500ix

 

+1
Absolutly love it!

 

I have a Valentine 1 connected to the mirror via a stealth cord. I have it mounted to the mirror using a blendmount. Its a slick setup.

I have had issues with the stealth cord pins popping out of the mirror connector. I need to add a zip tie to the stem to keep it from getting caught on anything.

My last two tickets were the result of being hit by laser. There really is nothing a radar detector can do to help with this one. It will go off about the same time the officer has your speed. It is rare to get a detection off another car.

The only defense against laser is to get a blinder system. Unfortunately they are pretty expensive. Just have to be careful out there.

 

that one is nice for the extra features. like day if you are in a area with a lot of red light cams, speed cams, speed traps. saved my ass a few times on a recent trip to atl

 

I have a valentine 1. Its hands down worth every penny.

 

I like my beltronics and the stelth cord

 

passport 9500i

 

I've had one for a few months now. As long as you understand that it isn't a panacea to speeding tickets, then yes. It's worth the cost. A detector, combined with common sense, should prevent most tickets; but you can still get pulled over very easily. And you'd be smart to pull it off the windshield when you do. I use mine mostly for interstate driving, and won't go more than 10 over the speed limit. For this application, it is very effective, so long as you aren't driving through Georgia. Radar detectors have a few key flaws. They are useless against laser, as you've already been tagged by the time your detector goes off. Cops can also pull the night radar trick--basically, the sit in the median with their lights and radar flipped off, then flip the radar on as soon as they see headlights. Your detector will go off, but you'll be too close to the cop to slow down, and he catches you speeding or sees your front end dip down drastically. This is illegal, but good luck arguing with a cop. Sidenote, get a battery powered detector--I hate the way my power chord hangs in the rdx. It basically runs right across the front dash. Very unattractive. Hope this helps.

 

Thanks for bringing this out of mothballs. Which is exactly what I need to do with my radar detector.

 

the latest Counter Measure for tickets is ESCORT LIVE .

Escort GPS mapped , internet enabled , REAL TIME speed trap locations and moving patrol cars.

the map can be as good as the V1 for arrows and is first real defense against
Laser and Vascar and instant on radar and silences known falses

Could possibly be legal in Radar illegal states - we'll see

Japanese drivers have been using this set up for almost a decade

you need a Android or Iphone

http://escortradarforum.com/forums/f...splay.php?f=46

 

I run an Escort, using the factory mount next to the rearview mirror, with a 6" pigtail connecting to the mirror power supply. I've seen stats showing that the V1 is a more sensitive detector, but I haven't found that to be necessary out here in the Rocky Mountain West. I drive a mix of limited access roads, canyons, and some in town driving and I wouldn't dream of starting up without having the Escort in the RDX (instead of mounted on my CBR)-it's saved me more than a few bucks over the year and a half I've had the RDX.

HTH,
Bryan

 

I use the Passport iQ. Nice size screen displays up to 6 bands at once. Red light Camera, Speed Camera warnings, also a great GPS!

I've had Passport 8500 and 9500ix great detectors also.

Escort Redline is Top Notch. Longest range out of all and Undetectable.

 

I own 2 radar detectors the Escort Passport 9500ix in my Acura RDX and a permanent installed Beltronics STiR Plus in my Lexus IS300. Both are top of the line detectors for the money.

If your looking to have a removable detector, get the 9500ix, for a stealth install, look into the stir plus. Few of my friends got the Escort Redline, but it does not have GPS built in so you cannot block out unwanted signals. This is good if you travel 75% highway.

Also, as for the Escort Live, it really needs a good database of users around your area to be of any real benefit. I would look into the Waze android app here:

Waze Social GPS Maps & Traffic

Its really good with GPS/Navigation too, i find it equally as good as my Google Maps!