hey.. i need a radar detector to prevent getting too many speeding ticket.. any one that u guys recommend? or any that i should stay away from getting? thanks

 

Valentine 1 is considered an excellent radar detector. I have a bel 980 which has served me well for a few years now. I also have a K-40 Laser jammer which I will be installing when it gets a little warmer out.


BTW, stay away from any radar jammers. The only ones which work are the illegal ones. You need a license (regulated by the FCC) to transmit radar which makes a jammer illegal. Laser, on the other hand, is regulated by the FDA and you need no license to transmit laser.


In other words, a good radar/laser detector and a laser jammer would be an excellent team to fight against speeding tickets which 95% of are just a local revenue generation scheme anyway. Geez, sorry about the tangent lol.

 

There are only two you should consider the Passport Escort 8500 x50 and the Valentine V1. These are the two best detectors, don't waste your money on anything else.

The V1 gives you directional arrows but costs about $100 more. I personally have the Escort 8500 x50.

 

i use the escort passport sr7 radar detector
http://www.passportsr1.com/sr7.htm

combined with the zr3 laser shifter
http://www.passportsr1.com/zr3.htm

the setup is AWESOME, i have no units hanging from my windshield, it is very covert, in fact you can setup the install so that there is only 1 LED visible + sound to alert you to detection. i got the system a lot cheaper on ebay, but it is a lot. i installed it myself, and it's very high quality. it works extremely well. i'm more than happy with the purchase.

 

Valentine or Escort. Anything else is throwing your money away. Don't buy cheaper if you can't afford it now. Save and get the best. I'm using Valentine, love it.

By the way, last I heard, the jury is still very much out on whether laser jammers work.

 

Valentine is probably the best out there.

The Escort 8500 is not bad by any means and is just as good as the Valentine in terms of performance, but the arrows and bogey counter are life savers.

 

Valentine1 hardwired units are

 

i have the v1..it works great.

 

I have the Escort 8500 and ZR3 shifter, excellent combo. The ZR3 has definitely helped, I have been stopped by cops and told that they know I was going faster than 55 but that was all they could get me at.

 

V1

 

There should be a sticky on this cause it comes up every few weeks. There's no need to have so many radar detector debate threads.

 

$1600 for a radar/lidar detector?

 

Valentine V1 is suppose to be the best, a little pricy ($400) but so are tickets and insurance increases.

http://www.valentine1.com/

I'll be picking one up soon as my commute will be 45 mins now.

 

V1

 

K-40 not the wind mount but the intigrated one. Nothing beats it for stealth and clean looks for your interior.

 

if you can afford it, V1 hands down.

 

You want a detector that looks nice or one that will save your ass???

I'll go for the one that will save my ass every time!

 

I picked the Escort 8500 over the V1. The only feature the V1 has that is missing from the Escort are the directional arrows, and to me they are not worth the extra $100.

I have had a number of Passport/Escort products and their customer service is outstanding.

 

Once you drive with the arrows you will never go back.

 

Exactly….The built in units never perform as well as something clipped up on the visor or attached to the windshield with cups.
If you build one into the front & rear of the car it will look great, but you won’t get the same detection range.

V1 > *

 

You either LOVE the arrows or you don’t know what you’re missing.

 

I did a 3,000 mile road trip with V1-the arrows are nice but not worth the $$$ to me. YMMV.

 

You're kidding right?

 

I don't know about K40. I had their dash model & was burned bad.

110 in a 70 cop already had his lights on when it went off & it wasn't instant on.
K40 refused to pay the ticket as per their advertisement becuase I was more the 30 over the limit.

After that I went with the 8500, & it worked fine. I tried the V1 after all the raves onv here & other boards. Took a few weeks to get used to it. I decided the arrows were a great help. I sold the 8500 on Ebay shortly after.

 

i disagree... your telling me that a single unit mounted inside the windshield will yield better range than my units mounted to the exterior of my car at the furthest points... i fail to see this, my laser detectors/shifters have a full 360 degree clear view around my car, and my radar unit has nothing to block it... radar can be detected through certain plastics but laser CANNOT be detected through most plastics, they need a clear view...

 

One of the principles of a radar detector is to mount it as high as you can. This gives you better range. Outside units in bumpers & such are lower to the ground. This might give you less range. How much is the debate. I'm not sure since most cops are trained to aim at your front plate & bumper area.

I can tell a difference in range when I move my V1 from my lowered CLS into my lifted Explorer.

 

I took a good 600 mile trip to Tennessee with Veeral's V1. It was awesome. Saved my ass majorly.

 

Now I'm wishing I had one. The arrows make a huge difference. I've used both the V1 and the 8500 extensivly, and I must say V1>8500.

 

Thanks for the real life experience and comparison, helped to cement my decision.

 

To quote Philip Francis Queeg: "I kid you not."

 

Just for giving that quote. I haven't heard anyone mention that movie in forever. for an excellent response!

 

If you liked the movie you'll love the book.

 

K-40 only pays for a year after the purchase. As far as speed I don't know if there is a limit. They paid my cousins for doing 80 in a 55. I now have had this same unit in my MARK VIII and the CL-S, so 9 years of service and only one ticket. I am also always over the speed limit whether it be 5mph or 70mph.

I also just think that having that big thing hanging on your windsheild looks horrible on a nice car.

 

Doesn't bother me at all. Just another "cool electronic" to have and show off to your friends.

 

I owned a Escort Passport for 6 years and always worked like a charm. Its time for a newer model and im going for the V1 arrows