I am in the market for a new radar detector and was wondering what the majority of you folks have and any comments you may have. Also was thinking about pairing up the 8500 w/ the Escort ZR3 Laser Shifter. If anyone has a ZR3 let me know what you think of it!!

 

None but I want to get the V1.

 

Passport 8500x50 is da best!!!

 

I went with the 8500 X50 since that is what I spent my hard earned money on
I think both the 8500 X50 and V1 are top notch detectors, X50 is just a better value since you give up very little to save $100. I have been very happy with my X50

 

I love my 8500. Go with it you won't be disappointed

 

V1, only the best man

 

I got the X50 blue and I love it, but I DID think about getting the V1. I figured it was cheaper to buy the X50 on Ebay than to risk getting an old model of the V1.

 

I think i'm going to go with the X50...my buddy has a V1 so once I get my X50 I'm gonna stick it next to his V1 on the windsheild and see for myself how they really compare and I'll let you guys know what I find. From what I have read, the only aspect the X50 is not so hot at is the Laser detection. I read about the ZR3 Laser Jammer and have heard some good things, especially when paired with the x50. You can get the jammer for about $300 and a x50 for about $220 so for a hundred or so more than the price of a V1 I think you end up ahead. I just need some people who have had direct experience with the ZR3 to give me some feedback on this....

 

My V1 has saved me countless amounts of times. But I am not saying that a Passport 8500 X50 would have not done the same. I just like the solid look of the V1, over the Escort.

 

whats the difference between the x-50 and the solo s-2??????

 

solo is cordless - i think that's about it

 

I absolutely love my V1, I couldn't live without the arrows. But, do not rely soley on a radar detector. If you're the only one on the road, it won't help against instant on. (I know this from experience)

 

Is there a radar that can protect against instant????

 

I am using the X50 and I got it hardwired. I can not live without a radar detector. I got caught in a speed trap on 295 in maryland and then got the x50. I got back on 295 the following weekend to go to baltimore and they moved the speed trap a mile away. X50 caught the speed trap way in time to the point the other cars that I let pass me all got caught. two cops = 6 cars they pulled over and I drove by laughing. X50 has saved my azz atleast 24x in the last two months since I picked it up. Where I live in maryland there are speed traps, photo enforcement, and cops that like to hide out everywhere. Oh and it has picked up it's share of laser, but it's not cop laser (haven't seen one yet), it's catches the Redlight cameras laser beams that shoots out from them, catching red-light runners. The Law < X50 ..... period.

 

Laser detection is useless. The laser beam is so thing the only time the radar detector will go off is if it's aimed at your car (at that point you're screwed) or if it reflects off another.

The V1 is the more sensitive detector, great for highway driving. If you do a majority highway driving I would go with the v1. My friend has an older V1 and the thing was going off non stop with false alarms. My x50 in city mode gives me some false alarms but nowhere as much as the v1 did. x50 is a good all around radar detector.

The laser shifter is great from what I heard. It works better the closer you are to the cop. Just to be safe you can coat your headlights and license plate in this: http://www.laserveil.com/ above 1000 yards the laser couldn't get a reading with that coating on. Laser blinder is also a good product that has been tested and it works. Just an alternative to the shifter, http://www.radarjammertechnology.com...mers/index.php

BTW laser works by reflecting off a reflective area of the car, cops aim for the headlight or the license plate.

 

V1 would be my choice

 

I think the best protection for instant on is other cars. When the cop hits a car that is a good distance from you, your radar detector will go off but maybe not full strength, it can give you a chance to slow down before they hit you.

 

I love my 8500 but I still think the V1 is more useful with the arrows. When they come out with a new model I will probably upgrade with one caveat. The old/current V1 falses too much. I know from putting mine next to my friends V1. Stupid thing was falsing WAY more than the 8500. 8500 picked up KA about the same as the V1 and K WAY ahead of the V1. Laser detection is useful if you're lucky but most of the time it's too late. Remember, cops tend to be creatures of habit. Make it a point to find out where they like to hide and that is worth more than any radar detector. The detector helps for when they switch it up a bit.

 

now what exactly is the difference between the $100 detectors and these $400 500 dollar detectors? I have a $100 from best buy and its saved my a$$ alot.. just curious to know.. never saw the reason to dish out $500 for one.. or more..

 

Basically the difference comes down to how early you are alerted of a cop radarring you. I have a $100 Whistler detector and it has saved my *** quite a few times but I also have gotten tickets a few times with it. The last ticket I got I was alerted by my Whistler too late and was not able to slow down fast enough. I have been with friends on different occasions with V1's and 8500's and they are usually alerted far in advance and have much more time to react, at least if the cop is not using laser....

 

I have V1 now. I swapped w/my friend's x50 for a week, and both of us agreed the V1 was prefered. The question was cost.

I set both to "City" for less false alarms. I'm on the road when traffic flows at speed limit. No real use for detector. But on the highway, I feel the v1 has greater range. I'll admit the arrows are not as important on open highway. All you need to kno is to be more alert. And if they're behind you, what difference does it make, I'm still gonna slow down.

I need to upgrade my v1 firmware. I'm 1 version behind, and I'm getting false lasers from 2002+ Trailblazer brake lights and 2004+ Infinity cruise control emitters.

Jae

 

I have a Beltronics RX-65 Pro. It works fine against lazy *** cops
running radar continuously, but it is useless against:

1) Laser--got a ticket that way

2) A smart cop waiting silently and firing unexpectedly a
short burst of radiation at your vehicle

 

Dont go cordless. Those things have poor detection range.

 

Pretty sure that's the same thing as the Passport 8500x50. Bel and Escort share an office building.

 

I'm V1 all the way. The arrows give you a direction to look. It also tells you if you passed a cop. You can always upgrade ANY V1 through the site. If it costs too much to upgrade you just pay a fee and trade it in for a new one. I like the "looks" of the 8500x50 though, blue is nice.

 

Save the money and drive the speed limit

V1 gets my vote.

 

I exchanged my x50 blue for the Solo 2. I have noticed that the Solo goes off way less then the x50 did, although, it seems when it does go off, its for a reason. The x50 was constantly going off for no reason. I wanted to try the Solo and see for myself since I have a 30 day return window. The jury is still out.

 

V-1 Save your money until you can afford the V-1. I have one in each of my cars and you can't beat it. It is ugly as hell compared to most radar detectors, but I rather have a ugly RD than a pretty on and a big fat ticket. They like speed traps in Texas and the V-1 always finds them for me.

 

You're insane to buy anything other than a V1.

 

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....ighlight=radar

 

The Valentine One is the best radar/laser detector on the market today.

http://guysoflidar.com/radar-detecto...ctor-test.html

http://guysoflidar.com/radar-detecto...adar-test.html

http://guysoflidar.com/radar-detecto...-rdd-test.html

http://motortrend.com/features/consu...r_buyersguide/

"This year, the measurement of the radar and laser detection abilities of each of the over $200 units gives the Valentine One ($400) a small edge over the competing BEL Vector 995 ($260) and Escort Passport 8500 X50 ($300 with red display or $340 with a blue display) units."

V1 is the best in laser detection:

http://www.radardetector.net/viewtop...213&highlight=

http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detector-performance/

http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detec...adar-detector/

http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detec...ice-laser-gun/

http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detec...adar-detector/

http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detec...ice-laser-gun/

V1 has the best rear radar detection because it is the only detector with 2 antennas to locate radar:

http://www.radardetector.net/viewtop...214&highlight=

V1 is the least detectable detector by RDD's or Radar Detector Detectors in states where radar detectors are illegal. The Spectre III is the most used RDD in the world and it can only pick up the Valentine One if it is 166 feet or closer which is better than the X50 which can be detected 954 feet away.

http://www.radardetector.net/viewtop...383&highlight=

The Valentine One which accounts for only .6% of radar detector sales wins every poll when it comes to being the favorite detector. The X50 doesn't even get an approval rating as high as George Bush's worst rating.

http://www.radardetector.net/The-Ult.......-5523t.php

Which of the "Big 3" is really the best overall - in your opinion?
V-1
64% [ 45 ]

RX-65
12% [ 9 ]

X50
20% [ 14 ]

Other (state which and why)
2% [ 2 ]

Total Votes : 70


Here is a poll on a BMW M3 Forum:

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showt...ight=valentine

What kind of Radar Detector do you have?

Valentine 1 144 people

64.86%

Escort 8500 52 people

23.42%

K40 5 people

2.25%

Other 21 people

9.46%

TOTAL VOTES 222 PEOPLE


Here is a poll on a LOTUS ELISE Forum:

http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/show...ight=valentine


What do you think is the best Radar Detector?

Bel Pro RX65 2

1.92%

Escort 8500 X50 18

17.31%

Valentine One 78

75.00%

Cobra Pro 9780 0

0%

Whistler Pro 73 0

0%

Escort Solo S2 5

4.81%

Whistler 1788 1

.96%

PNI Silver B. 0

0%


Voters: 104


Here is a poll on another site:

http://www.socaleuro.com/forum/showt...ight=valentine

Best Radar Detector?

Escort Passport 8

11.59%

Valentine One 47

68.12%

Cobra 4

5.80%

Beltronics 5

7.25%

Uniden 0

0%

Other 5

7.25%


Voters: 69 people



Here are the results from the Corvette Forum:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...=valentine+one



Which Radar Detector do you have...

Valentine V-1 122
44.36%

Bel RX65 16
5.82%

Escort 8500 99
36.00%

Whistler Pro 73 2
0.73%

Other 36
13.09%

Voters: 275



Here are the results from the Acura Forum:

http://tl.acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=76772

Which Radar Detector Do you Guys Suggest up to $400


Valentine 1 136
59.13%


Escort 8500 78
33.91%

Beltronics 904 3
1.30%

Other 13
5.65%


Voters: 230



Here are the results from a VW Forum:

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2444300


Valentine V1 (65%, 81 votes)

Escort 8500 (28%, 35 votes)

Escort Solo S2 (4%, 5 votes)

Whistler (1%, 2 votes)

(123 total votes)




http://www.radardetector.net/viewtop...ghlight=#42353

Radar Roy from Radarbusters.com said this about the Valentine One, "Just spoke with Carl Fors from SML, his website will be going online tonight with the 2005 results. He has declared the V895, 8500 and the Valentine One as the top performers. Motortrend, who was also at the test, will be declaring the Valentine One as the top detector based upon its detection of laser.

http://www.radardetector.net/viewtop...=4696&start=90

Radar Roy said, "There were results that they (Guys of Lidar) got during the test that I was not exactly pleased with, such as the discovery of the Blinder not having Stealth Mode installed and the Valentine beating out the Escort and Bel in the range tests. Even though I don’t sell the Valentine, it does have slightly better range than both the RX65 and the 8500 and I also show this same fact on my site. Would love it to be the other way around."

Here is a link and video of the V1 alerting to radar quicker than the X50 and sometimes the X50 didn't alert to the radar at all. They are quick pulling the radar gun's trigger and the X50 is filtering it out and the V1 is picking it up every time.

http://www.radardetector.net/V1-vs.-...otout-865t.php

http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...ZmQzMXk1NDE%3D

V1 wins in POP detection:

http://media.putfile.com/JammerTestscom_tests_V1X50_POP

V1 wins because it detects a certain laser gun in stealth mode while the X50 remains silent:

http://media.putfile.com/JammerTests...nd_X50_stealth

 

$50 whistler from wallmart FTW!!!

 

i will be picking up one soon and will be gettign a v1. jsut have to figure out where to hide it cause n va they are illegal.

 

check out http://www.radartest.com/

 

Can I take my vote back? I've been using the newest V1 and it's waaay too sensitive. I'm getting false alarms worse than my previous gen V1 (without the POP), and the range doesn't seem any better than before. I think they really messed something up this time around.

Jae

 

I have Bel RX65 in one car and Escort 8500 in the other car. I like the Bel RX65 better, less false alarm and better Ka reception.

 

if they're not identical cars, it could have something to do with the windshield... different kinds of glass (or different coatings) refract radar differently.

 

They are both hardwired to the car, but they can use the same power cord. I have switched detectors from one car to the other and got the same result. The Bel gets less false alarm.

 

Cool, that's a legitimate test with a very interesting result.

 

I have both the sr7 and zx3 in my 06 maxima. They are the best thing i have bought for my vehicles. I also think you can get a cool look for a radar because the sensors mount in the front and rear bumpers! The main unit can be hidden anywere! It is awesome. Also when you are cruising and you see the cops on the left you get an awesome feeling when you see the cop look at his gun and think something is wrong! Cant help but laugh! long live the radar!!!!!!!!