Ok with picking up my 04 TL lastnight I am finding that the "car" just seems to go way to fast. Can you guys recommend any good radar detectors?

 

The best is valentine1 (but its expensive).

http://www.valentine1.com

I wouldn't use anything else. It has more than paid for itself.

 

Put on your Nomex suit. We've been over this 100000000x. Use the search.

 

Yeah good point Jdone. I guess I am still coming down the new purchase.

 

My vote is for the passport 8500. installing it tomorrow.

 

Escort Solo 2 no wiring required and can be moved from car to car. Works fine and still on the first set of batteries since October.

 

In recent studies the Escort 8500 beats out the Valentine 1 by a little. The only thing the Valentine 1 has over the Escort 8500 is that it has arrows. Im not going to pay an extra $150 for arrows...

 

Mr is right,

Every test that I have read has the 8500 at the top over the Val-1 and Bell.

 

My SOLO 2 is waiting for my TL.

 

This one is EASY!

Valentine 1 any day any month ...!

 

anyone have any hidden systems like the K40 or where there is nothign on the windshield? Looks tacky to me

 

I own a Passport 8500 and love it. But honestly, I think you can't go wrong with either the V1 or Passport. It's more about personal preference than one being "better" than the other. They both have strengths and weaknesses. For example, the V1 (if I remember correctly) is slightly better at picking up laser signals, but the Passport has less false alarms.

 

Can't go wrong with either the 8500 or V1. Both are great radars...from personal experience...but the arrows of the V1 do help a lot by giving you some knowledge of where the signal is coming from rather than you guessing where it's coming from.

 

Just curious: Does the Passport 8500 have 360 degree detection?

I have it and love it, but I'm not sure.

 

I believe the V1 is the only radar w/2 radar sensors..which is patented..hence the Ahead & Rear arrows...The Passport only has a rear Laser sensor (The sensor that's located on top, to the left)...but the 8500 will pick-up signals from behind and ahead..if that's what you're asking.

 

Ah, I see. Thanks for the info!

I always thought the thing on the top left was for aircraft, since there are signs on some roads that say "aircraft patrolled."

Oh well, guess not.

 

Aircraft don't need to use radar, they simply time you between markings that are a known distance apart. They calculate your speed from the time and distance measurements, and notify waitnig patrol cars to pull you over.

I have both V1 and Passport 8500. I like the V1 better, but the Passport is excellent also. Passport automute is nice. We use it in the other car.

 

Enlightened once again.

 

V1 all the way

 

The 8500 in my TL picks up radar from all around, and gladly has done so when I didn't even know smokey was behind me. Of course the detector must be mounted where it has a clear view out the rear window. It has picked up ka radar in Wyoming so far ahead that I actually drove slow longer than necessary, but better safe than ticketed. After spending $30,000 the difference in price between the V-1 and the 8500 doesn't mean much; I believe the V-1 is about $100 more.

 

The AutoMute feature is nice but is it really that hard to push the vol. knob on the V1?

I too have both the 8500 and V1..but I favor the V1 a little bit more since the range on it seems to reach further than the 8500..and the arrows! Its sad that I have to let go of my V1...its for sale in the For sale/wanted section.

 

how much you willing to spend? this is what i plan on getting in the near future for whichever car i have http://www.escortstore.com/srx.htm

 

I agree, it's no big deal to reach for the V1's button at all. I have the V1 remote display clipped to back of the power plug at the base of the stack, so the display is always in stealth mode. That's a very valuable feature, particularly at night. The arrows are great too, though not always accurate. Other than the arrows, the Passport has a the better display of the two. Passport display makes it a lot easier to see the type of radar you'e dealing with at night, when you can't read the V1's labels next to the LED. Passport display is much more flexible than the V1 in general, and the unit itself is far more programmable. I think the Passport is almost equal to the V1 in overall protection for around 25% less cost. That said, I still prefer the V1, and that's the one I use. The 8500 is in my wife's car. IMO, both detectors are worth every penny.

 

Bought a Bel . I hardwired it to the fuse block.

 

I too have it hardwired. Check the pic. below...



And as for the display on the V1..yes, it could use a face lift but it isn't too bad. All you need to do is remember how each band (X, K, Ka) chirps. Also, you can re-program the V1 as well..not as much options as the 8500.

Here's the link: http://www.valentine1.com/lab/MikesLabRpt3.asp
The only thing I re-programmed was the Ka sensitivity to be wider.

 

Passport 8500 or the Solo 2, unless you want a microwave hanging form your windshield, go with Brand X (Valentine 1)

I'm actually wanting to upgrade my 8500 to the Solo2 so mine is potentially for sale...

 

Mines not hanging from the windshield...it's hidden.

 

looks like it's on the windshield to me

 

Escort 8500 is great!!!

 

I have a V1. I don't keep it in the TL, because it makes me misbehave. That is not what I am looking for in a daily driver.

You don't want to go the well too often. It only has to come up empty once. Trite and cliche, but true.

I believe the V1 has better range than the Passport 8500. I believe the Passport 8500 has less false alarms and better filtering on the X band. I choose better range over less false alarms. I think either is a legitimate choice.

You still have to drive with an active visual scan, but you don't have to worry as much about a surprise.

X is pretty much dead in my locale and most of the country. You will pick up moving K-band a good two miles away around a corner on the interstate.

My only concerns are stationary instant-on Ka or Laser. As long as you don't come over the hill at an imprudent speed, you should be fine (assuming no VASCAR or other alternative methods). You can usually pick up a beam bouncing off a car in front of you.

 

I was being sarcastic...but obviously you knew that.

 

Like many others our family has both the V1 and 8500. The V1 stays in my TL. Just feel the arrows give me a little more info on where smokey is hiding.
I did have to mount the V1 high (next to rearview mirror). When the V1 was in the middle of the windshield the power cord was pulled tight across the radio controls and kept changing settings.

 

I purchased a Bel Vector 960 for my TL. From the research I did on the web, it's almost as good as Valentine and Escort Passport at half the price. I have had it for 2 weeks and am very pleased. The Vector 940 has the same detection capability with a couple of less features and even costs less.

 

From what I've read, the cordless detectors have far less range and protection.

 

yea.... obviously

 

I am having the 8500 with the ZR3 laser shifter installed next weekend. I looked at the V1, but it is just too big.

 

For you guys that have the 8500 and hardwired, where did you mount the detector? I'm thinking in the upper left hand corner of the windshield, but the crappy suction cups and where it attaches to the detector makes the detector "hang". Why couldn't they have made the clip/suction cups attach to the middle of the detector (like V1), instead of the front?

 

I personaly Like The Beltronics Pro Rx65

I have stayed with bell a long time I like there products, How they preform and how they look.

 

I have an 8500 and a Solo 2. Put the 8500 into the wife's CR-V and mounted the Solo behind the mirror in the center of the windshield. It's sensitive enough for me and not far from the 8500. As for which is better the V1 or 8500, its a toss up and personal preference. Both a great units.

I just had enough wires and the Solo is quite good on batteries and a cinch to install.

 

One of my neighbors told me that he was coming home from Denver International at about 2:30 AM, and got a strong laser signal. Slowed down from 90, and about a mile ahead over a low hill were three CHP cars. Had the 8500. Fairly straight interstate roadway.