i have a passprot 8500 x50, i think it's pretty damn good. i was going to go with the V1 but for the extra hundred i wasn't to sure about it. the x50 picks up radars from a good distance away plus it looks and is a little more sleeker then the V1. if you shut off the x band it'll lower the false hits. the beltroniics RX65 is the same as the x50 but just repackaged, and has some minor differences.

 

correct about being stationary, but it can be utilized at night.

 

I have a Cobra 9600 series and it does the job just fine. It picks up everything.

 

I did a full test on the V1 and 8500...

I road w. my V1 going from Atlanta, GA to Tampa, FL

My friend had the 8500..

We followed each other and his 8500 kept giving off false alarms alot of times and then sometimes when mine picked up a cop his didnt even go off... and the arrows helped alot cause there was a cop in FL w/ his radar on driving behind us and my friend had no idea where the cop was and mine just showed a arrow pointing back and he was in a jeep cherokee...

So I think the V1 is overall the best... I dont have any problems with mine and its saved me numerous amounts of times...

 

I've borrowed Veeral's a few times, and it saved me from literally thousands of $$'s in tickets on each trip.

 

the 8500 isnt really comparable to the v1. the 8500 x50 is on the otherhand.

 

What's the difference between the 8500 and the X50? Besides being battery operated, and having a blue screen?

 

I have both and the V1 always gave me more falses, and the 8500 ALWAYS detected sooner. Especially when i was testing distance with a friend who is a cop. The V1 i gave to the GF and i kept the 8500. Arrows yes are nice but not needed. plus the 8500 looks a million times better. The expert mode is nice to show all the different bands, 3+ signals and their strength in each. And the laser gave better detection.

 

Neither are cordless

 

Just save up for this one
http://www.escortinc.com/9500i.htm

 

the 9500i series looks really interesting.

I already have the cash....hmmmm

 

i was thinking of upgrading the 8500 to the blue x50, but now i think it will be teh 9500

 

That's going to a bad ass detector. But I'd go all out and get the jammers and stuff.

 

If you got the money for a 9500, just do it the right way and get the K40. We have the K40 people at our dealership all the time putting them on M6, M5, 550, 650, 750/60's all the time!One evening night before I left work, one of my customers picked up his E39 M5 and he's got the K40. I asked him if it really worked and to my surprise he said watch this...he pulled out a video camcorder from his trunk, switched it to night vision, turned the car on, handed me the camera and told me to flip out the display screen, and put it right infront of the rear tag bracket that comes with the system. And so I did what he said. Then he told me to slowly back up, so I slowly backed up. And on the night setting (at night) I could actually see a light halo protecting the vehicle from any kind of radar/lazer! I was ssoolldd. I just don't have the extra $2200 layin around. but by far the best!

I got the Escort Passport Plus, does the trick just fine, its saved me, but I've also been busted for doing stupid shit i.e. 90 in a 70 with noone else on the road

 

Oh and for you people in VA and DC, the x50 is invisible to police radar detector detectors

 

I have had the 8500 X50 for almost two yrs now. Use it going to Seattle, Vegas, Laughlin, San Diego. By far, the best detector I ever had. Who cares about the V1 and arrows, if your detecter picks up Ka, Laser or POP, common sense should tell you to slow down, do you really need an arrow for common sense.

 

very true, but i had an escort for years and just recently bought the V1. It is nice though, at night time a cop can be hiding, and your 8500 will go off but I enjoy how the v1 tells me its in front of me, then to my side, and then behind me when I have no clue where he is.

 

I used an x50 (8500) many times, actually I think Escort bought Bel... anyway after getting the V1 the little arrows make a huge difference is is worth every penny. It also counts the bogey's and it's saved me a couple times.

Anyway the two biggest issues with the V1 is the X, K, and Ka bands don't have distinguishing lights, people mod this... but if you don't get used to the sound you can't really tell what's coming at you in the dark by the light easily.

Also new Infiniti's somehow set off the Laser almost everytime I drive by their SUV. It actually landed me a ticket due to me ignoring lasers in local traffic.

Passports are ok, get a V1 and you'll never regret it. Plus they have awesome customer service.

 

Radar detector discussion belongs in car talk.