Hey everyone I was wondering what kinds of radar detectors everyone has out there? What brands are good, which brands suck, how much do quality ones cost, and what else should I know before buying one?

 

Good timing, I just went through hell with a remote mount Whistler Pro3450 I'm on my second one and it is malfunctioning also. Picked up a Passport (Escort) 8500 last week and couldn't be happier, much less false alerts than the Whistler or the Bell I had in the 03 Max, $269.00 at Best Buy. I used the advise in the how to sticky for wiring.

 

Best two out are the Passport 8500 and the Valentine 1.

 

I agree, the 8500 X50 or a V1. Can't go wrong with either one.

Pedro

 

I have the Valentine 1 in the Maxima and on the Hayabusa and I have a built in Bell in the Porsche. The Valentine is far better than the Bell, it give you a lotmore time to slow down.
Automon

 

My V1 saved my a$$ whole bunch of times.

 

I've had an Escort 8500 for a couple of years now and it's been good to me...

I think it's about to go though... been getting a ton of false LIDAR hits on it.

 

I am not sure if this is still true but back in the day both Passport and Escort were made by the Cincinnati Microwave Company - the same company that manufactured 75% of all radar guns used out there. Those two always worked well for me.

 

Valentine one - i also have the passport 8500 - they are both great but i have to give the edge to the V1 - the range is just better - IMHO

 

where can i get one and how much? Thanks

 

So has my 8500 plus the fact that I use my head.

I got a bit of both, actual "laser" hits and no cops in sight as well as the radar just acting up. I know a few people whose 8500 went off every time their minivan downshifted under heavy loads! Supposedly Escort fixed it by adding shielding to the case. As for the LIDAR acting up, I called Escort and they suggested I restore the factory settings (turn it off and press the top two buttons and the mute button all at the same time while turning it back on). After a few months it starts acting up so you have to reset it again.

 

Go with K40....it's totally stealth and they guarantee to pay any speeding tickets up to a year.

 

i use passport 8500x50 , it is really good and has saved me lot of times.... havenot tried V1 yet.

 

How can they guarantee any speeding tickets? Even if the cops wait till the last min to pull the trigger on his radar gun?

 

you can get the V1 at Valentine1.com - another nice feature on the V1 - you can check by your serial # - if there is any updated radar detection circuitry - and have yours updated - for a fee of course but not as much as a new one - good luck -

 

The same goes for Escort. Some time next year (I guess after the X50's demand slows) us 8500 owners will be able to upgrade to X50 software and hardware, for a fee of course.

 

The best part about the V1 is that it tells you what direction to look when it goes off. front, back, and side to side

 

Ammi....if you get a speeding ticket, you just send the ticket and they will reimburse you.

 

I'm so appauled that there are no Bel users chiming in here! BELTRONICS ALL THE WAY!!! Been a faithful user for ~10 yrs now... Hasn't let me down yet and my 945 is doing me justice! There was a recent article somewhere out on the web comparing the newest top of the line Escort, V1, and Bel products... This article had Bel just edging out the Escort and both of these practically leaving the V1 in the dust due to dated technology... If I find it, I'll post... Can't believe there are so many Escort users out there...???

 

Technically, you are an Escort user. Belltronics uses the same technology as Escort since they were bought by Escort a few years back...

 

Are you serious??? So Escort owns Beltronics? No wonder they're so close in performance and features... Thanks for educating me!!! (if what you say is true)

 

Latest talk is about POP radar technology being usd by more and more police departments. It's a new kind of instant-on that doesn't even stay on long enough for your radar detector to react and sound an alarm. Even though the latest Valentine and the 8500 X50 both claim to detect it, it's kinda like laser ... if the alarm goes off, you pretty well know it's time to pull over and get out your license and insurance card ...

Mike

 

It is true. http://www.ey.com/global/content.nsf..._-_11-23-02CDC

Escort is now owned by American Capital Strategies.

 

If you buy an Escort you can add an XR3 Shifter. Otherwise nothing will save you from laser.

 

V1... Like Porsche, there is no substitute.

 

Good article about POP from radartest.com: http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleID=9080

 

Escort Passport 8500...it's worked well for me so far..

 

Just got my Escort 8500, Since you'all have had them a while already....whats the BEST place to mount it? Low... high....middle of windshield? Yeah, I read the manual...(RTFM), but I gotta trust you guys, you have MY car!.....OK...our car...
THX

 

Thanks for that link - it's good info. The thing that bothers me, though, is what it says about the police officers using POP. It may not be 100% "approved", but they can just say they weren't using it and you have no defense in traffic court.

Mike

 

Good read. This is what I rely on: "so long as you're not the customer chosen to receive a POP-mode blast..." (or any other type of "blast" for that matter).

I always let somebody else show me how "good and fast" his car is...

 

Does anyone have any wireless radar detectors? I'm looking at purchasing one...I was like looking at the Sensoro Silver Bullet (sweet looking) and its brush aluminum, but it gotten so-so to bad reviews...if anyone has this one or recommends any, let me know. I saw a few, but I'd like to hear from those who actually have a wireless one in the rides...

 

I had mine low and just above the dash for a long time while I was using the cig lighter cord, but since I added the XR3 and ran the power up to the headliner its now just below the tint and to the left of the rear view mirror. I think it probably picks up radar from the rear better in the new location. Its definitely closer to me and easier to see/hear.

I also like the voltmeter display, and the totally dark option at night.

The only problem is the visor hits it so you can't flip the visor all the way up to the windshield anymore.

 

I've got a Bel that I have for a couple of years....$129 but it has worked pretty well. No tickets so far.

My issue is that after so many times of mounting and dismounting the detector from the windshield (with suction cups) the suction cups have worn out and the detector keeps falling from the window. And the Maxima visors are so thick, I cannot really clip the detective onto them.

 

I have a Silver Bullet. While I think it's a good unit, there are 2 things I don't like. 1) The display isn't as cool as my old PNI unit 2) I couldn't find a good mounting location in my car with the wireless battery pack/bracket.

however, I think I want to keep the unit as it is easily transportable between cars and has the coolest case out there. Right now, it's just sitting in a box in my office.

Overall, I think the Sensoro is the best in it's price range. I got it on Ebay for ~$100.

If money's no object, you have to go with the V1, 8500, K40 or vector.

 

Buy a radar jammer and a laser diffuser....or just slow down...we all know our Maxi's are fast as hell...there's no need to drive fast and ruin our babies.

 

Well I've had V1 for over 2~3 months now and last night i got my first ticket with it. The cop told me he got me from behind with laser but my V1 never alerted me. It did pick up the Ka from behind when it was coming to get me. I got mine mounted high and i think he was bluffing. what do u guys think????

 

He couldn't get you with laser if he was moving... he might have tagged you from an angle where the V1 couldn't pick it up or something, then chased you -- at which point you picked up the Ka.

Either that, or your V1 is b0rked and you wanna have it looked at...

 

well he said that he was stationed at an angle and he said he tagged me there and then when he was coming he turned on his moving radar(ka) on to see if I was speeding more. But the thing is that My V1 didn't pick up the laser and its Brand Spankin New!!

 

What's an "XR3 Shifter"??? Does this work well against laser?

 

Outstanding article...good info!!! As I stated earlier, there was a similar article about overall X, Ka, Laser, even POP radar detection performance and the BEL just edged the Escort 8500... Here it is:

http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleID=9090

That's why I can't understand why there are so many Escort users who prefer not to opt for the BEL. I've used BEL products for almost 10 yrs and they've always performed really well. What is it about the Escort that appeals to so many... I don't even like the way it looks compared to the BEL... I even have a friend who has a beefed up '02 Mustang GT (~400hp) that uses the Escort as well. What gives???

And V1 users... According to the tests, the V1 practically played "stepchild" to it's stronger siblings... What's up w/ that???