yankystat

The price difference is pretty big between these 2 models. Is the X50 that much better? Anyone had experience with both?

fsttyms1

they bot are great (the 2 best) the x50 is supposed to be much better at detection. until i pick my new one up and test the 2 side by side i cant say for sure though

jwaters943

The only price difference is between the X50 w/ blue display vs. the red display (the blue is $40 more). The Escort 8500 X50 replaced the 8500 in their radar lineup and is the same price as the old 8500 at $399 (as long as you get the red display).

On a side note, I have both and find the X50 much better at picking up laser. It also seems to detect radar further away.

yankystat

buying used on ebay they arent even close to the same price. . . .
r u interested in selling the regular 8500?

Davidlamny

Yes, I have the X50 and my friend has the other one!! Just the LED color different, they work like the same. Both can detect well.
One advice is when you look for Passport 8500 X50, try to compare with the V1. more money, but better. :o

hzm82

Escort 8500X50 is $299 (NOT $399) retail and Blue display is $330 retail.

The X50 is suppose to be better at K,KA,LIDAR detection then 8500. It can also pick up the new POP radar (90% of the radars on the market can't, including V1).

Escort 8500 isn't phased out or replaced yet either. You can find the new Blue Escort 8500. If you buy on ebay just remember to buy the 8500X50 because they do have a Escort 8500 blue display (non X50). However old Escort 8500 can be upgrade to X50 for a price.

hzm82

Also POP detection on the X50 comes with it off as default. If you want it to detect POP, you must turn it on. POP is still a controversy because supposely the speed reading can vary more then 5+- mph, so it's not that reliable. Law enforcement agency are suppose to use POP just to get a general idea of the target speed and use a more reliable source to get the target's speed. That's why V1 makers doesn't think POP is a thread or is a serious issue. However, do people really read manuals? (Obviously not because you have people on this forum asking questions that the owner's manual can answer) I'm sure the law enforcement agency will use POP as the only source of getting a speed reading and you won't know. I personally believe POP to be a threat.

Davidlamny

hey hzm82, how to trun the POP on?? I read the mannual, but I couldn't make the POP to go on. Any thoughts about that?

fsttyms1

another V1 vs 8500 battle is gonna start.
NOOOOOO, i got rid of the V1 for the 8500. the 8500 has better features, less falsing. the only thing it doesnt have is the arrows, and you can live with out them, they arent worth the extra 100 bucks. the 8500's expert meter (showing up to 12 different signals and their strength has saved me more times than the arrows ever would have helped, that and you get a cool volt meter with the 8500 too!

bdv687

Hey, what's the smartcord do? I see it in your sig.

jwaters943

Sorry, I meant to say $299. As for the regular 8500, I don't see it listed on Escorts website any longer, so I think that means it's discontinued. Their website also has the blue display model priced $40 higher as I said. I never meant to say that this pricing is the same at Ebay, Best Buy, etc.

fsttyms1

the smart chord has a mute button and a little light that flashes (so you can turn the display off so its not visible at night. itss also a hard wire kit so you dont have the spiral chord running across your dash. i love the mute button on it. i have it mounted where the cig lighter would go(nice and close to my right hand on shifter) to mute when it does go off)

DeathtoToasters

Fsttyms1 -

Got any pics of the hardwired mute button / installation. It would be VERY helpful!

Thanks

fsttyms1

sorry for the dust and dirt

DeathtoToasters

Kewl Thanks....

I wonder if there is a way to remove the cover for the cig outlet without making it look like shiz.

So did you just remove the lighter plug all together?

Thanks

hzm82

You can use the empty blank next to the console light dimmer to do the same kind of install. It is right below the TCS/VSA + Cruise control button.

fsttyms1

yea when it can come off. but when the lids are closed it almos closes completly. it hides it. yea i removed the outlet to run the wire through the hole