HU

Is there any use in lower model radar detectors besides the Valentine and top of the line Escorts? What about the Bel 916 or the Uniden LRD967? Are Uniden radar detector good?

I tried a Fuzzbuster (supposedly made by Escort or something) and returned it as I couldn't see the display in the sun. However, it did save me twice, one laser and one KA radar.

When comparing, I am looking at radars with the same option, ie... laser, all bands etc.

Your thoughts?

edgalang

if valentine or the escort 8500 is not available...my next choice is the BEL.

AcuraTLFan

Test show that uniden and whistlers detectors are at the bottom of the barrow. Valentine, Escort and Bel take the top 3

HU

Do you know which website the tests reports are located?

Does anyone own a Uniden radar dector here? If so, how is it?

AndySara

Cheaper Radar Detectors

What do you mean by cheaper ???

Less than $100, $200, $300 ?

A clarification might get you better replies.

agean

i bought my girlfriend a $150 detector about 2 years ago, just cuz she wanted it as a toy. the only time that thing goes off is when we pass a supermarket. we drove 2,000 miles to florida and back, it never went off once on I-95. hard to believe that in 2,000 miles there wasnt one cop.

spend the money for the v-1 or escort. the extra couple hundred bucks now is better than the tickets you will most likely get with a cheaper detector.

v1 gets my vote. saved my a$$ twice already, only had it a few weeks.

AndySara

spend the money for the v-1 or escort. the extra couple hundred bucks now is better than the tickets you will most likely get with a cheaper detector.

I agree completely!!!

If you can afford a $30K car, $400 for a radar detector is not out of your price range. Just grit you teeth and DO IT !!!

TopGum

save your $$ for good one. If you can buy a $200 one now, you should be able to buy a V1 or 8500 in a couple months. Also check ebay, this website, a-cl.com. Someone might be selling one. They ARE worth the wait. Just use a light right foot until then.

agean

yah, buy it used

Turboara

I think some of the Bel detctors are pretty good for the money. They generally have almost the same detection distance as the Passport and V1, but fewer features. Check out comparisons and for info on specific BEL models. You can find them much below MSRP on many electronic/photo stores.

AndySara

yah, buy it used

Sorry Agean. I beg to differ on this.
Buy it new for $399.00
Used on eBay (version 1.8) is anywhere from $370 - $420.
You can get a version 1.7 from the high $200's to the low $300's. However, upgrading it is $189.
Better to get new.
I've been monitoring prices for the last 3 months.

850EX

Radar detectors tend to go off near supermarkets and bank machines due to some type of electronic circuitry. even driving past some houses can causes the detector to go off.

This has occured on the Valentine 1 and the Uniden I have used.

agean

hey andysara...good point, but you forgot to monitor the "for sale" section here...i just bought mine off a member, with the remote display, for a very reasonable price =)

AndySara

Oops Agean.

Me bad....and you lucky dog you!!

I forgot about the "For sale" section here.

TLover8888

or you could just slow down...

TopGum

dogg :cop:

jdone

I have heard good things about the Passport Solo-II. I think it's about $230. My Solo-I is just adequate-cost $199.

HU

I am looking at either the Bel or the Uniden as the $400 USD cost of the Valentine is too steep. I don't know how much they sell for in the US.

HU

Which model of the Uniden do you have? How did you find it? I guess you upgraded to the Valentine. How much and where did you buy it from?

HU

I think every speeds a bit It is those times that the radar will work. If you are going 200km in a 50km, I doubt any radar detector will save you!

2_tl_owner

I'm sorry but I can't justify a $400 investment to save an $80 speeding ticket. I could get five tickets for that kind of money.

I have used a Uniden since 1994 and I have (knock on wood) not had a speeding ticket during the period. I currently use the Uniden 767 (or something like that) and it does the job. No radar detector is perfect.

As far as my driving habits, I have probably only been passed once since I have owned my TL. I easily average 85 on the interstates where I live and I love jackrabbit starts, so I am a prime candidate for a speeding ticket, but my radar has saved my on countless occasions, so my suggestion is save the money and get a less expensive detector.

It is obvious I am in the minority, but it has worked from my personal experience. FWIW.

showgunz

$400 for initial investment vs. >$400 in insurance premium increases. That's the no. 1 reason for many people. And while few people may speed all the time and never get caught, there will likely be a day when the advanced warning of the top 3 radar detectors will save your butt. That's what you pay the higher cost for. A detector better than the rest to save you for the bigger tickets.

850EX

Acutally I dont remember the Uniden Model # as it was a top model a few years ago. I just slow down a little when it beeps unless I know Im near bank machines or heavily populated stores.

I just borrowed my friends Valentine 1 for awhile and it beeps much less than the Uniden.

I say just drive safe. I dont speed much and if I do, I only go about 70kmh.

I just use my radar detector to remind me not to speed.

HU

I agree $400 is an awful lot... especially with the US exchange. I will not get the cheap ones but instead settle for the mid range Bel's. They seem to rate well. Let's hope I am lucky as you.

HU

I speed but like yourself, I average around 70km in a 50km. I think a radar dector would help in those conditions. It is hard not with the TL as it is so smooth. You can get past the speed limit and not notice it.

Darkshear

iTrader: (1)

Guyz,

First off, if you want to speed, its not cheap, no matter how you twist it. Either your going to pay MADD CHEESE now, or later.

A V1 is $400. No better on eBay.

BUT GUYS, dont forget, a V1 isnt the only thing you need if you want to speed. Sure its great, but you still have 3 problems:
1: Laser
2: Instant-on
3: Pacing

Heres the solution
1: Laser defuser (K40)
2: Good GOOD reflexes and good BRAKES
3: If you get paced, its your own fault.

I just got the K40 defuser and a V1. And i trained myself to slam my breakes it she picks up Instant-on.

Total out the door?
$616.52

Is that alot? HELL YES IT IS
Lets go over my record:

1998: 52 in a 30, $145
1999: 63 in a 40, $145
2000: 70 in a 50, $145
2001: 60 in a 40, $145

Grand total: $580
Insurance? I dont want to talk about it

So, im my mind, its paying for itself.

I speed, so i need protection. Its a condom for my car

If i got the Escort or the Bel, i would always wonder if it was doing its job the way i needed it to.

Just my $0.02

-Me

AcuraTLFan

here's the website

http://www.caranddriver.com/xp/Caran...keywords=radar

HU

I see why you went all out for the radar detector!

The K40 seems really intersting. I think i will check it out with a decent radar detector.

Good luck with you new hardware!

gohawks63

We used to have a Uniden in my wife's car and it sucked!!!!!!!!!! It was always falsing and we began ignoring it, then then all of a sudden there would be a cop.

Kinda like the boy who cried wolf. Go on E-bay and try to find some of the older Escort models. I have the 8500, but we have a 6800 in my wife's Land Cruiser. , It has no where near the range of the 8500, but it works well enough

adam2000TL

I don't think you really want to go cheap with a radar detector. It's kinda like using a no name condom. You're taking an unnecessary risk. Not that a good radar detector will always protect and save you, but your chances are much better. The price difference between cheap and real good is only a couple hundred dollars which is far less than the cost of a ticket or increased insurance premiums. Personally I use the Passport 8500 (about $300.00 USD) and recommend it highly