G20Flyer

But see the problem is even with the arrows...now you're in a situation that if you get hit from behind as you drive away...you're already caught. The arrow is now just telling you where the ticket is coming from. Some speed traps cant be avoided.

RapidMax

iTrader: (2)

The rear radar may not help in that situation but it can help if the cop leaves his radar on as hes driving you. Doesn't really happen when I'm home on Long Island but when I'm at school upstate they almost always leave the guns on cause I guess most people don't own detectors.

G20Flyer

I think radar detectors can help you catch a threat (hopefully) before you see it. Your eyes need to be scanning the road constantly and you need to be thinking to yourself..."if i was a cop, where would I hide"...you also need to use other cars in front of you for your protection. You need to look in the rearview constantly. If you come to a spot on the road where a cop could be hidden, the only real safe way to avoid the ticket is to slow down. When cops use instant-on and laser...arrows and even detectors are almost useless.

98maximaSS

hey go to google and search for radar detector reviews i just read last night that the bel 980 was equal with the passport 8500 they both picked up on radar at 7.6 miles away on an open stretch of hight way with only 1 false alarm in the city

Triple8Sol

iTrader: (29)

Escort now owns Bel. Those 2 are about the same, but I went with the parent company's Passport...

maximadave

iTrader: (10)

you need to get the lead out of your foot.

Maciek

PNI Silver Bullett, cordless. It is the **** for the price. I have it set up for plug in on my visor and in case I got to use the lighter plug - cordless adapter on the windshield in the bottom middle.

Slow Moe

iTrader: (2)

I think with the 8500 X50 comming in now is the time to get a regular 8500. I saw an 8500 today at a best buy for $200.

Virus

iTrader: (1)

With my V1, I picked up a cop running Ka a half mile away and 2 hills, pointing in the opposite direction of me. That's pretty good reception

Andrew

iTrader: (5)

Since the 8500 without the X50 is discontinued, the X50's are out there for the price of $299. The regular non-X50 8500 is for sale at Crutchfield for $249.00 I know that some of you guys/gals have found it at Best buy for $200. Just giving in my thoughts.

A-

94M@X

No radar here, but I've only been driving for 3 years. No real need for a car in Manhattan. Oh and no real speed traps here ether lol

LiquidhMax

http://www.motorists.org/index.html
Great site for fighting speeding tickets

wrj

Triple8Sol;
Did you hardwire into the overhead console (console with map lights)?. If so, how did you get console off? I removed 1 screw and tried to pull it off but it wouldn't budge. I was afraid to use too much force.

Andrew

iTrader: (5)

WRJ,

Try this:

http://2k2maxima.freewebspace.com/catalog.html

They have a section where they explain how to hardwire a detector. I'll be doing it soon also thats why I searched for it.

Andy

wrj

Andy:

Got this tip (on removing overhead console-which is not easy) from John...

After removing the screw, you need to pull vertically downwards very hard. There are four plastic locking pawls that engage with the inner frame, these are spring loaded and will release if you pull with sufficient force. Work one corner free at a time, use a strong flat blade like a one inch paint scraper to ease under the edge, then pry down, get your fingers in and pull while controlling the motion with the other hand to stop over travel when the spring lets go. After the first corner pops, the others are easy. If the first coner you try seems impossible, try another corner. It will come out with controlled force (not brute force). Take care not to mar the headliner.
Bill

lophix

iTrader: (3)

on the contrary.
While I still had my V1, I was headed east on I-70 (in Kansas). I was going ~85/90 or so and feeling really invisible while at it. V1 picked up a rear blip and I immediately let off the gas and down shifted without hitting the brakes. Sure as heck, not a couple of seconds later, a trooper came flying from behind and passed me only to pull someone else over a couple of cars ahead.

With a lot of highway driving along I-70 while I had it ( 160miles to and from school daily for a semester) I came to trust and obey the V1. I never once doubted a Ka alert and even though I didn't always see anyone, I would slow down nevertheless. I am yet to get a ticket on I-70 to this day. And this is after 3years of driving on it on and off while disregarding the limit (not blatantly)

For anyone who likes to disregard speed limits, especially on highways and interstates, GET ONE. It costs as much as 2 speeding tickets, but i'd rather spend it on a toy for MYSELF than to pay for someone else's.

edit: btw, I have picked up several rear alerts and they have been on "on-ramps" to the side. Troopers sit at the top and clock vehicles. As Mike Val says, once you live with the arrows, you'll wonder how you lived without them.

elektronic

Anyone know why this guy didn't put an inline fuse in after installing this? It seems like it'd be necessary considering there's one in the cigarette lighter plug.

-Jeff

GodFather

iTrader: (10)

i've gotten the v1 for almost 3 years, it's definitely worth the money. before v1, i got 6 speeding tickets in one years, that pi$$ed the hell outta my pocket. then i saved up $400 and got the v1, got a few tickets after that, but it saved my a$$ so many other times, too. go for valentine one, pay the radar, not the lawyer.

NAS

My passport 8500 has paid for itself atleast 3X or more, went form whistler $49 to superiority

GaMax97GLE

iTrader: (3)

I have the K40 on my bike. It's awesome!

http://www.k40.com/Products/Radar/Un...gleRemote.html

http://cpcwired.com/Merchant2/mercha...tegory_Code=RP

ablythe

Passport 8500. I bought it at a truck stop for a long drive from CA to TX. It definately gave me lots of advance warning.

Pick one up on ebay.

MannyNJ2k2max

iTrader: (3)

Best radar detector is no radar detector.....keeps you honest on the roads, and have gotten a ticket just for having one two times (obstruction of view)

Virus

iTrader: (1)

Self control keeps you honest as well

Zigg

iTrader: (1)

If/when I get a radar detector, it will probably be a V1 or a K40 un2000.

All of my friends have the V1 and I love it when I've borrowed it.

And yes, I've been nailed from behind (with radar.)

The only thing about radar detectors is complacency. Yes, the V1 is a wonderful radar detector, but nothing can replace common sense, watching out for cops, and noting trends in police behaviour. But when a radar detector is matched with good driving habits and the aforementioned, you have a wonderful setup. Don't ever forget that when you get a radar detector.

Andrew

iTrader: (5)

Does anyone have a write up for a hardwire install of a V1? heehe just got mine!

Thanks!
Andy

GodsmackMAX

iTrader: (4)

I use the 'force'... PM and I'll teach you, young grasshopper.

drew

BTW SLOW THE FU(k DOWN WHERE PEOPLE LIVE, WORK, SCHOOL, ETC!!! I'm always on the lookout for some little kid to just jump out in front of my car. Personally, I don't want any manslaughter charges on MY record....

Dunno, I might be the only one that thinks this way...

packetattack

iTrader: (1)

It should always start in the last mode you left it since the powerdown.

I've had two V1s, recently upgraded to their newer one and they both did that.

Holding down the volume button switches modes and upon powerup, the last mode is remembered.

krasavchic

Everybody's talking about V1... I have Cobra 9700
I love it... never got (knock knock knock a single speeding ticket. It gives me about 5-10 sec untill I see a cop after it starts to tell me what kind of radar is being used by a cop. It detects POP and laser. In a couple of words, I am happy with 9700!

P.S. It has 360 degrees monitoring, but I never use it though if the cops a already behind of you... then it's too late

G20Flyer

I have a Bel 995. Love it.

koolranch

I have two (2) Valentine 1 units... one for my max and the other for my pos 96 chevy cav.... I think that they are the best because of the arows....you can not beat knowing were the radar is coming form..... I have also used whistler and I think for the money they are a great value...



Kool

Virus

iTrader: (1)

Uh, that's not true at all. I've had several cops traveling behind me and my V1 picked them up well in advance to slow down. It's probably too late if you own a 9700 Every detector claims 360 degrees of monitoring.

krasavchic

No, if they're are following you, they don't use the radar The check your speed with their speeometer

JAIMECBR900

I've replied in other threads about the same subject.

I own both the 8500 and the V1. I've had somewhere between 10-15 different RD's in my driving years. Everything from POS's to the ones I have now. No need to bad mouth the POS's, but they are definetly out there. As a matter of fact some have been mentioned here already. The reason why people still use them is because they have never used a GOOD one, so they have nothing to gauge off of.

Be that as it may, the 8500 vs V1 has been around since Mike Valentine (the original INVENTOR of the Passport for Cincinatti Microwave) left the Escort camp and did his own thing. As owner and user of both, I probably can give more first hand experience and feedback than some.

My personal experience is:

The 8500 is awesome. I don't feel "naked" by any means. It does exactly what it's supposed to. It is smaller than the V1. It has a couple of more bells and whistles than the V1. It has very good support after the sale for accessories and such. It is a very good RD. One of the top dawgs on the heap.

The V1 is awesome plus. It really has better range. I've used them head to head and the truth is in the pudding. The arrows are very useful to use when you are deciding to either slam on the brakes or not. BTW, you CAN get snuck up from behind. Most radar guns in police cars today CAN'T clock you while going in the same direction, BUT that's NOT how the police can and do get you. Police customarily leave the gun ON while driving in one direction and clocking on coming traffic. If you are traveling in the same direction, he may not be paying you much attention at first but then when he CAN'T gain on you and pass you he'll quickly summize that YOU are speeding and therefore turn his attentions to YOU. THAT's how it happens most of the time. Another way is for you to be in traffic or at night when you suddenly get a signal. Where's he at? W/O the V1 you don't know. So you look ahead and don't see anything alarming, you keep speeding or forget to use a blinker or something stupid that you WOULDN'T do IF you KNEW he was BEHIND YOU. Get it? It's not that he will clock you from behind necessarily, but simply that's where he IS.

Either way, in MY experience the V1 is a little better range wise, but it also falses more than the 8500 (but only very slightly). Laser range is also much wider than the 8500. I've picked up a laser gun, then turned around and used the 8500 only to not pick up a thing. Same place, same car, same cops, and on the same road. Personally Laser and instant-on will get you faster than anything else and even the V1 won't always help. I also found the rear range to be better than the 8500 because the V1 actually has a rear FACING antenna vs the 8500 which uses a deflection into the forward facing antenna instead.

Just my first hand experience and I hope it helps.

Virus

iTrader: (1)

Jaimecbr900, very good write up. The only thing I don't agree with is the size issue. The V1 is shorter and thinner than the 8500. The only plus to the 8500 is it's width is narrower. Again, really good write up.

Jonny98max

iTrader: (2)

if anyone is interested in a Escort 8500 x50 let me kno.....its brand new and im selling it for $240 shipped.....

JAIMECBR900

I've never measured them, so you may very well be correct. The V1 is visibly taller and less sleek from the front. Some people don't like the look, others (like me) don't mind it. I'm after performance in RD vs looks, so that's not a plus or minus with me.

Again, the cliff note version of my long winded post is that both the 8500 and the V1 are the best of best IMO. Both offer excellent protection, within limits. 8500 is $100 cheaper (new) than the V1, but the V1 is upgradeable.

BTW, some of the "tests" sites that have been posted on here are very very biased. Notice that on one of the "test" sites the ONLY RD that received the perfect score was anything with the Passport label on it. Everything else didn't even come close.....lots of bias there. As a matter of fact, one of those "test" sites is sponsored and run by a gentleman that has a personal beef with Mike Valentine. Something to do with bad blood between them. That site has NEVER given even remotely decent marks to any V1. Kinda odd when other tests by much higher and well funded publications always find the 8500 or the V1 on top.

Don't buy all the propaganda before doing your own research. I have been an RD user for 17 years now. I've used RD that some of you youngsters have NEVER even SEEN before. So believe me when I tell you that there are dogs out there and there are winners. Cheaper is NOT always "just as good as" in this case. When the difference between a ticket is sometimes measured in seconds, you don't have the luxury to skimp. Even a "simple" ticket costs atleast 2x what any high end RD does.

Virus

iTrader: (1)

Without a doubt good advice. Escort owns Bel. The Bel RX65 is supposes to be the X50 with the addition of KU band for European drivers. It also adds voice warnings. The V1 is the only other detector that has KU band detection. All 3 of these detectors are the best available. It's a matter of features and looks. The Bel and Escort look prettier than the V1 and they give a digital readout. The V1 is more straight forward with it's alert and you get the directional arrows. The V1 also has a remote display which is phenominal when using in Virginia.

BensMax93

I have a Bel 980 and love it. I got a great deal on off of Ebay ($113 shipped) and couldn't be happier.

http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=1064 Has the Bel 980 beating out the Valentine One (94 v. 77) and is only 3 points behind the Escort 8500.

just my $.02
-Ben

JAIMECBR900

The Bel 980 is a pretty good unit sure enough. It has been performing well for years now. Remember that Bel is now owned by passport, so pretty much all the newer models are gonna contain similar/same internals. Be that as it may, the 980 is in fact one of the good ones.

As for radartest.com.........I'll remind people.....don't believe the propaganda. This is one of those sites I was referring to about being biased. That is one of the only sites that has ALWAYS found the V1 LAST.....why do you think that is? They have better test equipment? Do it under perfect conditions? or maybe it's something a little more simple and personal?????

When publications such as UL, Motortrend, Car and Driver, SCC, and even Consumer Reports finds that the top 2 are usually the 8500 and the V1, suddenly this guy ALWAYS finds the 8500 first and the V1 LAST......HOUSTON, we have a problem!!!!

As with most everything in life.....toss out the top score as over zealous and the bottom score as hater and you will get a more accurate view. If you're always on the bottom or always on the top then that's what you are. Trust me, www.radartest.com, didn't discover America or re-invent the wheel.

G20Flyer

I agree. I love my Bel too. I got a new 995. One reason I love it is you can turn of individual bands. In CT, highways are monitored by the DOT by permanent X-Band guns stationed all along the highway. If you could not turn off X-Band detection, you get a false alarm for 20 mile stretches.

I don't know if the passport or V1 can do that, but that feature alone is great.

I also hate the passport because it is not black and it makes an annoying reflection in the window. BLAH.