SocaliCLS

i am currently looking for a radar detectors and i was just wondering, does anyone have passport 8500 x50? if so how are they? and are they worth it? I really wanted v1 but they are just too much.. any input will be great~!

moonraker

i have the regular 8500, not the x50. ive had it for about 8 months now and its great, saved my ass numerous times. you wont regret it!

ny212kp

i mean yea it was pretty good purchase for me, bought it at radardetectors.com for $299 with free shipping. I mean it definteily is pretty sensitive, the only thing that i wish the radar had was directional arrows just like the V1. I mean it would be nice to know where the signal is coming from. But if you have used radar detectors before, you can tell by the frequency and the sound of the alerts if it is a real cop or just stores. The radar does not tell you if it is an instant on or constant signal but you can tell by the alerts if it is instant on or constant. When you get a constant hit, the alert rapidly beeps until you get closer to the source. But when it is on instant on radar, you get a beep then it goes away and then it comes back. Also pop and laser alerts do not have any frequency at all. You just get a distinct pop or laser alert, but it does not get louder when you get closer to the source meaniung that whenever you get a pop or last alert, slow the F down. Also POP tends to false a lot which gets annoying, but since i live on long island. I get a lot of POP hits on the LOng island Expressway. The cops try to use instant on mode all the time which makes it tougher for the detector to pick up. There were times when i would pass a cop and then i would get the alert. This is because the cop is hiding in a very well downhill curve and is shooting not very often so that he/she does not give away the alerts too easily. Otherwise look at this website, it ranks escort x50 much better than the V1.
http://www.speedzones.com/

BC2G

:threadhijack:

must you put the detector on your front window? will it still pick up signals if its (for example) in the area underneath the coin tray?

klepto

it has to be high up, it has to "see" the radar. i.e. it must be unobstructed in the front and back

babyblue

Yes I have the escort 8500 x50, countless times it has saved me...... My view is that its one speeding tickets not to mention the points, and insurance cost savings.

underdog

I have the 8500 X50 (Blue) and it works great. The Xpert display mode is nice - tracks
up to 8 bogeys simultaneously showing relative signal strength of each. So far (in 2
months of use) it appears to live up to VG2 and SceptreIII immunity - cops around
here use both and none have given me a second look.

SocaliCLS

where is the cheapest place where i can purchase passport 8500 x50. ebay?

babyblue

I wouldn't buy from ebay since I believe escort doesn't honour the warranty if it is not bought from an authorized dealer...

Red Rider

Everyone should have a good detector !!! I highly recommend the V1 though, the directional arrows are worth the extra $$

mrsteve

iTrader: (1)

V1 >*

sidemarker

i have had my escort 8500 for 4 years now. it has saved me numerous times but ive been caught twice!

if it was to do it all again i would have spent the extra $100 for the v1

but then again i have little patience. if i want something i better get it right away or i aint buying it!

i think if they sold the v1 in the stores i would not mind paying 50-75 more for it...

sidemarker

RaptorCLS

Was thinking about getting the solo, but might have to take a look at this one.

Nugs3

I am selling mine...used it for a few weeks before I moved to the city (public trans). I have the original books, case and invoice from Tweeter. I wouldn't trust ebay.

PM if your interested. need to sell asap

EZZ

A word of caution...in my experience, so-cal cops don't use the radar too much. I used to use my X50 all the time in Indiana and it worked very well. I moved back to So-cal and found it useless as cops rarely use their radars. They seem to tail you and match speeds to determine how fast you are going. I only really use the X50 now when I do long trips across cali...other than that, being alert is the best option.

CL260

I used to have the 8500 and then i heard you can get an upgrade for 30 bucks soo i upgraded to the X50 and i speed often and it has saved my ass many times. I think the X50 is worth the money. Me and my friend tested the V1 and the X50 and my rader cop caught the cop 500 feet before the V1 so the article saying that X50 is better then V1 is true. I personally think that the X50 is more classier looking then the V1.

NiteQwill

So. Cali cops usually use instant on Ka-band. Their primary method too is laser. But 80% of tickets is from pacing, not actuall radar/lidar speed.

How did you test the detectors? There is a crap load of variables that can be changed to favor one detector over another. I don't trust tests, I trust my own experience & performance. What does the look of a radar detector have over performance?

Magnesium Cased V1 > *