I'm trying to decide which one to get. I use my cig. lighter for my cell phone so I really don't want to buy a bulky splitter for the 8500. Does the Solo 2 provide enough performance to offset the cordless feature?

 

I just got the 8500 and I love it. I wouldn’t call it bulky, it’s made solid. After researching the web and reading various articles i found out that this radar is best bang for the buck. You can always get a cigarette lighter splitter if you need to charge your phone and use the radar.

i paid $220 shipped

 

8500 no doubt about it! You can get a hardwiring kit for the 8500 for just 30 bucks from escort...

 

8500. cordless radar detectors lose their range after time when the battery starts to drain.

 

Hey, where did you find the hardwire kit on the site? I checked but could not find it. Could you send me the link? Thanks.

 

Definitely go with the 8500 out of those two. Hardwire it and put it at the top of the windshield. Not only does it give you better protection but it also hides it from thieves. Put is so the sensor is just below the tint band. Here is a pic of how my V1 is mounted:

 

What did you hardwire yours to?

 

Mine is hardwired across the windshield, down the driver side A pillar, between the door and the dash, and across to the cig lighter. No problems so far. I have since wired some V1's for friends and just ran theirs to the fuse box. That is how I would run mine if I did it again since it is right there.

Also, I tried wiring mine to the sunroof but the sunroof has some kind of f'ed up switch where whenver I tapped the positive wire the sunroof would tilt. It is easy to tap the overhead light right there as well but I didn't want my V1 on all the time.

 

Most likely, I will be hardwiring my 8500 to either the fuse box or the map lights. I take my detector down everytime I leave the car anyway (do not want it stolen), so having it on all the time would not be a problem. I think it would be easier to wire it to the map lights, correct me if I am wrong.

 

If you wire it to the map lights you will have much less wire to run - so yes it will be easier.

 

Did you buy a kit or did it all yourself? Do you have a writeup? Thanks.

 

My V1 came with a hardwire kit. The map light and surrounding panel just pulls out of the headliner. Get a voltimeter, find the 12V wire going to the map light, and tap that. I am sure the hardwire kit from Passport wil have a connector to clamp onto the wire. Good luck!

 

Get A V1 And Ditch The Passport Pos

 

Yup...

 

V1 is great, wish I had it. I have the 8500 though. It works fine for me. Hasn't failed me yet.

Thanks for the help WaarrEagle

 

8500...all day long.

 

The 8500 direct wire has a mute button on it, you want to pick 12v up under the dash somewhere that way you can mute it....I have my button right underneath the steering wheel.

 

It also has a mute button the the unit itself. How did you hardwire the smart cord without cutting it?

 

Where did you get it for this price? Care to share?

 

I got mine for $205 shipped

 

Ebay? share brutha! share! LOL

 

lol. I got mine used for 2 weeks in pefect condition of an org member. Great deal. Keep your eye on the classifieds.

 

i got mine new for $160 a year ago. gotta love that best buy discount