rmccarthy1234

Which Radar to Buy?

1. Escorts 9500ix with Nav and Online Location Update

2. K40

3. Valentine

4) CHP 11 / 99 Licence Plate Holder?

Always liked the K40 and the license plate holder but thinking of swiching to the Escort above. My buddies swear by it.

Thoughts?

boolala

I have the K40. It's stealth. It works.

What else is there to say?

tcsracing1

the v1 has always been a favorite. Especially if your state/province wasnt legal.

But with the new aussie built spectra sniffer in cop cars there are only two choices.

escort and beltronics.

I know for a fact that the beltronics when sat next to a spectra sniffer cannot be detected.

i also know that a beltronics devise was also laid on top of the spectra unit inside a cop car and still not detected.

i know which unit im using

boolala

He lives in California. I don't think they are illegal there so he has a wider choice of designs.

All these internet web sites that do radar detector comparisons are laughable. Who cares if a radar detector can pick up the signal at 2000 feet vs 1500 feet anyway? V1 makes the case that because their detector is placed higher up that it has greater range. Built in units like the K40 and Escort position it behind the front and rear bumpers and thus supposedly have shorter detection ranges. But does this make any practical difference? I've had my K40 for 4 years and have zero tickets. I guess V1 thinks they can improve on having no tickets. Considerations other than raw perforrmance numbers should guide your choice of radar detectors at least when considering the upper range units. They will all do a good job of giving you sufficient warning. None of them will obviate the need for you to keep your eyes open at all times and be cognizant of speed traps. So since performance is not a serious issue with any of these units your choice will rest on other matters such as esthethics, cost, convienience, features (GPS) etc.

For me putting an ugly, oddly shaped box on the windshield of a 100 K car is simply objectionable. A box that, moreover, depending on where you park will have to be removed and stored whenever you park on a public street so as to avoid thieves (this has been decribed on RL). A box that, should you be stopped for a non speeding moving violation, will almost guarntee that the cop will not give you a break when he sees it on your windshield (this too has been been described on police websites and posted to RL at least once before). The advantage of a V1 is cost. It's cheaper than the alternatives. So if you bought a 100 K car and can't afford a $1500 K40 installation then there you go.............

CarlJ

I have the Escort 8500(9500 without GPS) in my MINI and the Valentine V1 in my 911. I think the valentine is by far the best of the two. I always thought the Escort was really good until I got the Valentine. The V1 is top notch. I don't think you would regret either of the two.

LlBr

Yes. Sadly my V1 is basically only peripheral device now since cops seem to have mastered a highly selective stealthy only-once-every-ten-minutes instant-on ambush method.

You just can't be speeding alone (separated from the other traffic) while there's oncoming traffic in the opposing lane which could include a cop who's smart enough not to keep zapping everybody.

HOWEVER, even though the cops probably only transmit/ambush once every ten minutes, I'd still say getting maximum range sensitivity is paramount.

I kinda feel sorry for guys with highly visible bright blue, yellow or red cars.

crw

Do you want:

Stealth - more cost, easier to use, convenient?

Portable - can use in multiple cars, less cosmetic, more visable, bulkier

That is you first decision - after that, any of a number of units will fit your purpose- Escort, Bell, Valentine etc.

LlBr

Oh, BTW the cordless battery operated models are crummy. No sensitivity. Might be okay for city driving where closing speeds and distances are less of an issue. FWIW

The arrows on the V1 are better. I have both V1 and Escort: often times I'm left wondering with the arrowless Escort.

utkinpol

V1 hands down. Best bang per buck and compact.

At Law

I have had Escorts for years and have had good luck with them.
Presently, I have the Escort 8500 as well. Works well and is fairly
compact in size.

richc

I like my V1.

MJones

V-1 Great situational awareness.

Pretty useless for LIDAR or Aircraft.

A detector is not a license to speed....you just take your chances

crw

No doubt Valentine is better than Escort.

Only downsides are:

- bulk unit with no remote capabilties

- if you leave it visable in the car it is a bit attraction for the smash and grab crowd who are looking to make a quick buck

- having to mount and dismout it all of the time is a PIA

I wonder why they never got into the stealth prouct line with front and rear detectors?

Jake951

Agreed. In actual side-by-side comparisons, my V1 has much better sensitivity when stowed in the glovebox than the battery-powered Escort Solo has when mounted on the windshield.

My V1 also has better sensitivity than the top-of-the line Escort 9500ci (the concealed model), especially from the sides and rear.

Edgy01

Wow. No one ever thought to ask this before on the Rennlist.