GLAlexander

Anyone have any recommendations for a good radar detector? I am leaning towards the Valentine One, but they are pricey. I appreciate any opinions anyone could provide.

Edub-TL

Happy reading

http://www.acura-tl.com/forum/showth...ighlight=radar

http://www.acura-tl.com/forum/showth...ighlight=radar

http://www.acura-tl.com/forum/showth...ighlight=radar

http://www.acura-tl.com/forum/showth...ighlight=radar

http://www.acura-tl.com/forum/showth...ighlight=radar

http://www.acura-tl.com/forum/showth...ighlight=radar

FLAcuraTLS

Alexander...There IS only one radar detector--->VALENTINE ONE....yeah it is pricey, but everything else is complete junk in comparison. And I am speaking from experience, I have had escort, passport, K40, and even whistler...It all SUCKS...Dont waste your money on those boxes that just make alot of noise..You want a real radar detector that will protect you, just get together $400 and get yourself a V1.

TL-Researcher

A Valentine One will pay for itself in no time. Plus it's usually upgradable when new standards/specs are introduced.

shimbo519

Hey GL...i have an older model V1 im selling....i bought a month ago for 350 but ill sell it for 300....let me kno if your interested.

oblio98

Valentine One - The best in my book!

Don't leave home without it...

:-jon

gohawks63

I love my 8500 and it's over $100 less than the V1. Not knocking the V1, but I get unbelievable range with mine. A week ago I caught a cop over a mile away over a hill!

Almost no falsing, multiple signal strentgh for multiple signals, etc. The only thing you don't get is the arrows, but for over $100, you decide.

crmsnidol

http://www.radartest.com/

Scrib

The results posted on that website are bogus because the editors were paid by Escort. You can argue if the results are correct all you want, but you can't hide the fact that the people were paid off.

I have a V1 and it's great. If you want a more unbiased test of all the popular detectors, check the Feb. issue of Car and Driver. The article can be found online.

I've seen the 8500 in action, and in my opinion is the directional arrows on the V1 are worth the extra money alone...

sniper5

I have Escort's 8500. I think it works pretty good. There was a few times when I would get mad for false alarms on the highway, and then realize 2 miles later that there was a cop waiting for me. I guess owning a Cobra and a Bel got me used to hearing the alarm a second before I would see a cop. BTW, My Bel completely stopped working after 10months. I didn't feel like messing with their warranty process, so I bought an Escort. Valentine may have some updates, but that thing was developed over 10 years ago. I don't wanna knock it, because I never had any experience with it. No regrets with my Escort though.

fredjones

I have had a Escort 8500 for over one year. Has never let me down. Picked up a cop over a hill using a button once. I like the simplicity of it. Fits very easily on my dash to the right of the middle console. A snap to take down if I need to. Not knocking the V1 at all, to each his own.

gohawks63

Ain't that the truth! I had the same experience, you almost start ignoring it then OOHHHH $hit, there's a cop.

As for updates, both the 8500 and V1 and be "flash programmed" for future updates. It means shipping it in to the manufacturer (for a fee of course), for the programming update.

crmsnidol

The Bel 980 took first place in their tests and it's considerably less $$ than the Escort. Does Escort own Bel?

BMW74

I have a Bel 980 and sware by it! It picks K and KA band radar guns up at extreme distances and has worked flawless for me. Money was not an issue when I made this choice......size and range were and the 980 is second to none in those categories.

That is my $.02

GLAlexander

I do appreciate all the replies. After some extensive reading and research I decided to go with the Escort 8500. I am curious on where everyone mounts their detector? I have mine halfway up the windshield just to the right of the middle console. It seems odd there, but the only thing provided by Escort was the suction cups for the windshield.

Wampum

I have the Passport 8500 and have had no problems with it at all.
totally agree with what the guys said above, especially on Ka band this radar detector can detect miles away!

Mine is located in the middle of my windshield.

gohawks63

Bel and Escort merged a couple of years ago. I think Escort bought out BEL.

RedLined

I have the Passport 8500 and have been very happy with it. Most will tell you to go with either the Valentine 1 or the 8500. I don't think you can go wrong with either one.

Southbound

I too, am thinking about getting a radar detector. I've never had one before because I never drove over 80mph.

BUT IT'S A B!TCH KEEPING THIS TL-S BELOW 90MPH!

One concern I have is that I ALWAYS cruise the highway with my stereo cranking loud! The faster I drive, the louder the music. They just go hand in hand... SO, how loud are the beeps on these radar detectors? Can you hear them over a LOUD stereo? I'm sure there is a light also? Is it bright enough to catch your attention in time if you don't hear the beep?

Thanks!

Road Rage

He;s the Sal Zaino of radar.

I have an EE degree, and from an engineering perspective the V1 is tops.

I have owned a Valentine product (original Escort, now a V1) since 1985, and have not had a speeding ticket in all that time!

Plus, the V1 is upgradeable. I just sent a 5-year unit back and got a breank new unit for about $250! nice....

TUFF GONG

Yes indeed, Mike is the guru on radar's! I had hiss old Passport (Cinncinati Microwave) and purchased the V-1 several years ago. I love it!!

I had no idea I could upgrade my V-1. My unit is a bit older then 5years so I'll probably have to look into my options.

Thanks again for some useful tip Rage.

lilboykorea

hahaha! i have whistler...its quite ghetto, paid 200 CANADIAN! lol.. thats pretty cheap compared to all ur v1s and 8500s... but radar detectors are not much used in my lil town so i guess its good enough...
radar detectors dont pick up signals from just cruising cop cars rite? cuz when i was using mine going to vancouver for the weekend it gave me some beeps on oncoming cop cars...but that was only like 4 seconds before the car past me...

sniper5

That's a little steep isn't it?
Unless by upgrade they mean take the guts from your unit and put new ones in. In whichc case, it's not really an upgrade, its a whole new detector.

gohawks63

This is also the case for the 8500.

Road Rage

Depending on your unit's age, they will either upgrade it or send a new unit. Either way, their website calls it an upgrade.

And an upgrade 8500 is still an 8500 - Child of a Lessr God

Road Rage

If they are running radar in their cars, YES! Thyere are movable radars, KR-10 for example.

I also use a Bearcat scanner modified to pick up the "repeaters" that allow our State Police to use their mobil handhelds with their cruisers.

It tells me when they are in the vicinity even without radar.

Great 1-2 punch, never failed me.

Countersurveillance, Baby, the only way to fly.

BTW, the 2003 Cobra has dynoed at 423 BHP, with another 30 bhp from catback exhaust. Cowabunga. I cannot wait. Bought a Steeda Tri-Ax billet shifter for it already.