willyfive

I got a speeding ticket within the first week of getting my TL, which was only about a month a go, so I decided for a while to drive the speed limit where ever I go, but thats not really working for me. Does anyone have any suggestions for the best type of radar detector? A friend of mine has a 'Valentine One' and claims that its the best brand, but I wanted to do some more research before investing that much money. Specific brands and models would be great if anyone has had any experience with them.

Thanks

co1063

use the search feature: https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=181590

carlos9827

iTrader: (2)

I have a radar detector (dont know what brand) but it was like $50 so It cant be that big of a deal. I think I've seen some $300 ones??? Anyway I think its the most annoying thing in the world, not to mention all the false alarms!

You can get a radar detector as long as you know that it isn't always gonna save your butt from a ticket. My first two speeding tickets cop was behind me and just happened to catch me speeding and I didn't see them It was a night time tho guys!! LMAO. Now I can spot them damn headlights from a mile away, night or day! LOL

Third ticket (most recent) was during the day cop was going the other way and he supposedly got me on his radar, whatever, I was going 53 in a 40. Effen cop dude he swears. Anyway that my experience with speeding tickets and radar detectors.

01tl4tl

good protection cost good money!
Passport and Valentine are well liked- have a read of thread titles and find more info

fsttyms1

Search button works great.

Just know radar detectors are only as good as the person using them. YOU have to still pay attention. They arent a oh they wont get me cause i have one device.

That said i much prefer My Escort 8500 (and the new 9500) over my V1

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...highlight=8500

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...highlight=8500

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...highlight=8500

blkaspec

Beltronics STi

Escort 9500i

or V1

all are around $500 or so

ftLauTL

hmmm ya im gonna be looking into this as well. I wanna hardwire it either to the panel under the dash on the left or to the rearview mirror

CJITTY

I love my Bel 995, but thinking about getting the new Escort with GPS memory feature for false alerts

ac08odl

new escort sucks i had it and sold it.

CJITTY

^^^word??? Oh snap

bibledriver

What sucked about it, exactly?

CH46ESeaKnight

Here you go, try this. Pretty good info for all pric ranges.

http://radartest.com/

I'm going to go with the Bell 995 for the under $200.00 range.

And don't be fooled by brands claiming to have "New KU band detection". It's not used in the US and most likely won't ever be used. Well just read about it on the web site above. You'll see what I mean.

I'd stay away from the Cobra's, based on thier performance tests.

dtan1691

iTrader: (1)

I have this one radar detector called the phraser two... it scrambles laser that is pointed at your car.... the company claims they will pay for your speeding ticket if you get a ticket...

fsttyms1

And ive used it(friend has it) and like it even more than the 8500

Phrosttz0

just switched from the 8500 to the 9500,the9500 is a whole new world compared to the old 8500

CS-SuperchargedTL

Are you talking about the 9500ci the $1400 model right? I have a couple buddies that have it on there cars and I've seen it work great. I would just like to hear your reasons to why you didn't like it


OP: I had the Valentine one but put it on my fiancees car works great but if you have $1400 to blow look at the 9500ci I just had that put on and there are a lot of test videos on it and like I said above works pretty good. Plus the ZR4 was ok on the older models.

Phrosttz0

i have the 9500i, was 450

azn_xxxd

I got the V1, man V1 is the best. , and remember if you getting the V1 , try to get the V1.8 . Lol Escorts are ok but too much false alerts and kinda short distance protection comparing with V1. I used to got the 9500i but its kinda laggy while talking on the phone and driving through under bridge or something. So gave it to my dad and bought the new V1. Man trust me, if you got one, im sure you will love it.
Yeah jus want to mention for you guys know becareful if you are using the Pop mode. Do a lil research about it and youll know what im talking about.
Good luck dude

hockeynut

I have a Passport 8500 and like it but am seriously considering trading in for the 9500 for the GPS feature that remembers falses and will no longer false in that spot again. I think they are offering an $80 trade in right now - off the shelf they're appx. $450.

I have long been curious abouth the Valentine, but looks too big to me.

As fstyms said, they are not foolproof. You have to be alert, if you are all alone on the highway they keep their radar off until they have you in range and bam, gottcha. Your detector will go off but too late, they see your car dip from braking and already have a read on you. If you are with other vehicles you are good as you will always pick it up early (unless they have laser).

Still a good investmewnt if you have a heavy foot as most here do, mine has paid for itself many times over.

blkaspec

i am thinking about doing a similiar thing with the Bel STi. I have an older Bel that stopped producing noise, which SUCKS, and that $80 off is a pretty nice incentive. I like the Escort because of the GPS and the blue LEDs, but i cant trade my Bel and still get $80 for the Escort. I think i only get like $15 off

EL19

iTrader: (4)

I have a Cobra and it works just as well as my friends valentine. If you spend decent $$$ i.e $90+ for one you should be fine. They are annoying as hell and eventually you will learn to weed out the false alarms from the real ones. I havent gotten a speeding ticket since I got mine 3 years ago and my premium on my insurance has gone down signifcantly due to my "cautious" driving. Just learn what bands your local police use and you'll be fine. They only use K, Ka, and Laser around here but I know on the New Jersey turnpike they use the X band alot.

AirJordan23922

Escort 9500i, best by far IMHO

CS-SuperchargedTL

The New 9500ci but the V1 is also a great radar...

blkaspec

i will say this, what you got there is BY FAR one of the best out there. From what i read, it basically combines all the great features of the STi and the 9500i, and then makes them better. If i had the $$$ this is the way to go

fsttyms1

Yea ive got one and i can tell you the V1 falses a lot more than my 8500 and my friends 9500. My 8500 also detects sooner than the V1. Many people i know complain about the falses with the V1 and prefer my 8500. Not to mention the escort unit looks better. The only good thing about the V1 is the arrows. And if you rely on your eyes and not on the detector like you should there really is no need for the arrows.

fsttyms1

ts_vaj

I have a Valentine 1 and the arrows are nice. Is it a patent? How come nobody else uses arrows?

It shoulda saved my butt twice but I had the music up and couldn't hear the beeps until flashing lights were in my rear view.

Works great on those late nights where you are driving home and a cop car deliberately follows you around...

Tommy99TL

I still like the STI over the 9500i, but does anyone had a bad experience with the STI? I really want to hear about it.

fsttyms1

Yes they do

blkaspec

me too!!! but it seems like everyone here went with the Escort. we may have to look to another forum for this info...

RyanCHICL

iTrader: (1)

If you want a great detector for a decent price I would say the Bel V940 or Whistler Pro 78. All the current Bel Vectors have the same detection capability but the more expensive ones have more features. Dont buy a Cobra, they aren't good. Both these detectors will be better than the most expensive Cobra. They both run about $150. I went with the Bel V940.

ac08odl

i dive 25 miles to work and back home every day and my girl lives in jersey i got out there also and i pass cops on the high way a million times and the radar never use to ring and when it would ring its when i passed the cop. you cant tell me out of the million cops on the high way i passed not one had there radar on. my 8500 way so much better.. i even called escort passport and they told me to reset it and still the same. the radar would ring for any stupid shit but not a cop and for some reason when i would pick up speed it would ring..

ac08odl

when i drive in jersey some times i see cops out side there car with a radar gun in one hand and something els in the other hand in front of the radar that looks like a fliter i guess. any one know whats that?

Krazylegs

I have the Escort 8500. 1 month after I baught it, they came out with the 9500. I have it mounted just to the right of the rearview mirror. It cost me $50- at the installer to have it hard wired to the fuse box. I turn off the X band compleetly, and also turn off the K band when in Collier County. If I get hit by lydar, I am screwed. It is funny though, sometimes the cops leave on the radar in their crusers and get out and run Lydar so the cops own stupidity has saved me. If you are in an area that runs alot of lydar, get a jammer.

blkaspec

what the fk are you ranting about???

so when you accelerated the detector would "ring"?

maybe they dont have their radar on...maybe you got a detector that fell on the low end of being acceptable...i doubt its millions...what do you mean by "any stupid shit", like when you pass by a store or something?

i dont mean to be rude, but you seem to be pissed at something and i am not sure what.

Krazylegs

They are running lydar comonly referd to as Laser. Lydar is kind of finicy. It can't be shot through a glass windshield, and does not work on rainy days. I am not sure what the filter would be used for. I would think that it would take away from the accuracy of the unit itself.

Krazylegs

My installer jumped up and down telling me not to buy the Passport which I wanted to buy. He sells both. The Passport is battery powered. It's not as fast as the Escort. Passport is made by escort. From what I understand it was designed with motercycles and people who travel freequently in diferent vehicles.

fsttyms1

The passport is NOT cordless.

http://www.escortradar.com/

azn_xxxd

i think he meant the Solo S2 ^_^

azn_xxxd

Yes lol, ya mi team now. Lol is your V1 up to dated ? and where do you mount it ?