Dario

iTrader: (1)

My radar detector was destroyed today and i wanted to get some u guys or gals opinion on a good radar detector as well as a price range

AdamK

iTrader: (1)

I recommend the BEL 980 or the Passport 8500 for more info. go to www.radartest.com

mingo

iTrader: (4)

i know i wont be the only one.. but i'll be the first.. i say valentine 1

maximadave

iTrader: (10)

Check out the "Audio/Electronics" section on Maxima.org and click on Maxima.org members looking for car audio....

I carry both the Passport 8500 and the Bel 980 (I have the 980) both are sister companies and there are not that different...

Passport 8500.........$235.00
Bel 980...............$299.00

Let me know if you are interested...I can ship merchandise to anywhere in the U.S.

Maximadave
private email me or maximadave@hotmail.com

2001SE

You got it the other way:

Passport 8500........$299.00
Bel 980..............$235.00

maximadave

iTrader: (10)

NO, I have it the right way. These are special prices for Maxima.org members...

AdamK

iTrader: (1)

I personnally don't like the Valentine 1. Allthought The BEL has a 94 versus the 8500 which has a 97 on radar test I like the BEL in terms of styling and one band is better sensitibe.

Maxima-Ness

There is only one radar detector as far as my opinion goes....the Passport SR1. The only downside is price. You can find it for between $500.00 and $600.00. Its money well spent IMO.

bry2kse

I recently purchased an 8500 and have been very happy with it. The auto mode is pretty good with weeding out false alarms.. and the distance is excellent. I have had various older units from Uniden.. and the 8500 is above and beyond them.

I looked at the V1 .. but couldn't justify the extra $100 for the directional display. I haven't missed it yet.. as where I normally drive.. the traps are almost always setup behind trees/buildings ahead.

I wish Long Island "authorities" didn't use speed traps as a means to increase revenue.. but they do.. and I trust the 8500 to give me a little better chance.

AdamK

iTrader: (1)

My friend has a Valentine 1 allthough it's probably sensitive to police it's also "too" sensitive to microwaves, cd radios, etc. Too much money for a unit which is so vulnerable to bands which have nothing to do with po-po's. Check out www.radartest.com the valentine 1 scored a 77 compared to the passport at 97, bel 980 @ 94, and the looser k40-ss3000 so the valentine 1 is the second most expensive and the second worst...read the article man the bel 980 and passport totally outperform the valentine :-)

ahkim

I had a V1 for 2 yrs and I loved it. I bought a Passport 8500 (I dont know why) and have used it for 6 months, works fine, but I really miss the V1! I use the V1 in the medium sens. mode and it is just as quiet as the 8500. The arrows are what I miss the most. When the radar goes off weak Ka, its nice to know if its a car nearby that you're passing or if its an instant-on Ka coming up ahead. With the arrows, you know. There are so many times my 8500 has gone off and I don't know if it's a cop, I'm a very aware driver too. As for the range, you should be aware that the tests on radartest.com may be bias. I haven't noticed any improvement with the 8500, so I'm going back to the V1.

I highly recommend the V1.

AdamK

iTrader: (1)

I believe radartest.com is a third party testing company/service I don't know why they would be biased...just my 2 cents

mike-777

Valentine is the best from the recent comparisons I've read,
but they also cost an arm and a leg and look like someone
built them in a garage )

Adequate units are from Escort and I like the Solo series as they are battery operated, so no cord to deal with. Cost arount $200+, and they look good.

MajesticMax

I own the Passport 8500 and have had great success with it so far. I especially like it's programmability, i.e. the ability to disable the X band. I live in Texas and the X band isn't used anymore and can be really annoying because just about anything can set it off. Grocery store automatic doors, security systems...

I looked at the V1, but it's kinda big and clunky. I couldn't justify the price difference just to get the directional warnings. Besides the 8500 is just about a perfect match to my Frost Leather interior.

So for the most part, my 8500 sits there silently stalking out radar, and has done a good job of finding it.

Dario

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for all the info, ill probably be going with the bel or passport not the val1, just dont think its worth that much...thanks for the help...oh by the way is voice alert on the radars worth it or should i just stick with the beeping????

Max_Gator

Check out the 950. It has the exact same electronics as the 980 but a few less features and is cheaper. The only feature that the 980 has that 950 doesn't that is worth anything is the ability to turn off the x band. Too bad they don't make one that doesn't talk - for cheaper. I turned that annoying talking off immediately.

I've found the bel to be very good. I'm sure I would have like the valentine better but was too cheap to go for it since I paid about 180 for the bel. Only thing I don't like about the Bell is that there is a volume button instead of wheel, so you have to hold it down for 10 seconds to get the damn thing to change volume - can you say STUPID.