Radar detectors and their effectiveness...

[HyTekJosh]

With it getting warmer out there are more speed traps. I was interested in your recommendations for a specific model I should get. In addition, are they really effective?

 

[goldboyd]

Valentine One, end of discussion.

 

[boyRacer]

Depends... there are some cops that use laser... heh good luck with those. Those cheap ones don't work... they'll start beeping right after you get pulled over. As for Valentine Ones and the high-end Escort models... supposedly those work well... but eh... dunno... those are $300... you're better off slowing down.

 

[N8Magic]

Originally posted by: goldboyd
Valentine One, end of discussion.

 

[HyTekJosh]

Yeah, I have heard the Valentine One detectors are great. But $400 is a lot. Does anyone know where to get a good price on one?

 

[bozo1]

I've used mine for years but I don't think it ever saved me from anything. Cops usually only use them when they can tell someone is speeding and they use it to get the speed to put on the ticket. So when my detector goes off it means that he zapped someone else nearby in which case he'll be tied up with that person and won't fool with me or it means he zapped me in which case it's too late.

Occasionally I'll be in an area where they have the old X or K band radars that stay on and I'll pick those up but it's rare to come across those these days.

 

[HyTekJosh]

Does the V1 detect the new laser technology?

 

[Ultima]

are illegal in quebec, and cops don't have to go to court

 

[rufruf44]

Originally posted by: HyTekJosh
Does the V1 detect the new laser technology?

Yep, but if they zap you, ain't not much of a warning isn't it?

 

[HyTekJosh]

Originally posted by: rufruf44

Originally posted by: HyTekJosh Does the V1 detect the new laser technology?

Yep, but if they zap you, ain't not much of a warning isn't it?

But if they zap people in front of me wont I get a warning?

 

[Ylen13]

if you want to get a radar detector then valantine is th way to go, as for how affective it's from what i read and talked to people its pretty affected but like always you got to keep your eye open. You wil get a warning if someone got zapped but usually it won't matter anyway as the cop wil be buys with giving a ticket to that person.

 

[Freejack2]

If I had $400 I'd have gotten a Valentine 1, seeing as I didn't I got a Bel.
It's not bad.
As for effectiveness of a Radar detector. Don't expect to speed and never get a ticket. Radar detectors only save your ass if your detector sees him before he clocks you. If you come upon a lazy cop with his gun always on or a cop who is clocking someone else it's your lucky day. If it's a cop who is using his gun in instant on mode, he'll have your speed before you can even react to the detector.
That being said, My Bel has kept me out of tickets for over 3 years. However I rarely go more than 5 to 9 miles over the limit and cops don't often bother with anyone doing that little over.
If you can't afford a V1, my vote is for a Bel. Though people also like Escorts too. Check those two makers out.

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: HyTekJosh
Yeah, I have heard the Valentine One detectors are great. But $400 is a lot. Does anyone know where to get a good price on one?

Every magazine review has substantiated the claim that there is a direct relationship between price and performance. IF you are serious about it, get the V1. Nothing else works as well, and the difference will be moot when you you start having to pay tickets + insurance raises when your crappy radar detector doesn't give you enough warning

 

[GroundedSailor]

Originally posted by: goldboyd
Valentine One, end of discussion.

What he said but used intelligently - you have to understand the technology and it's limitations. Blind faith will only lead you in to more trouble.

Have had the Valentine 1 for 4 years and ticket free...

 

[Spac3d]

Originally posted by: N8Magic

Originally posted by: goldboyd
Valentine One, end of discussion.

 

[Syringer]

Doesn't the maker of the V1 have some sort of guarentee where he'll pay for your ticket if you get one?

 

[Gatsby]

Originally posted by: N8Magic

Originally posted by: goldboyd
Valentine One, end of discussion.

I just hardwired it to my car and it works wonders.

I've tried all the expensive radar detectors and have always gone back to the V1.

To answer the question above, v1 does not pay any tickets. They do tell you to drive intelligently.

 

Dont speed. That simple. It wont really save you that much in time, and cops are starting to zap cars one by one. They dont really leave their radar on. Shrug, that just what I do. I have yet to be pulled over for speeding. Your eyes are your best dectector, just look for spots where they commonly sit, or those speed trap streets.

 

[Cfour]

Passport 8500
Valentine 1
Bel 980

Top 3 unless theres some new stuff I haven't heard about yet.

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Originally posted by: FallenHero
Dont speed. That simple. It wont really save you that much in time, and cops are starting to zap cars one by one. They dont really leave their radar on. Shrug, that just what I do. I have yet to be pulled over for speeding. Your eyes are your best dectector, just look for spots where they commonly sit, or those speed trap streets.

Thank you! Instead of buying something to help you from getting a ticket, just stop doing the activity that will get you a ticket in the first place.

 

[CrazyDe1]

It's paid for itself 15 or 20 times over. There's been tons of times people used me as a runner and I was flying 20 or 30 over. Detector goes off, I brake, person flies by and they get a ticket. I can count at least 5 or 6 times this has happened. The only way to possibly get a ticket is laser or pacing. Before I got a detector I got 3 tickets in the time period of a year. Since then, I haven't had a ticket in 3 years. That and in most states, the cop has to visually estimate your speed and verify it before using the radar. Thus, if he's using the radar properly, you would have to be close enough for him to get your speed. In that case you'd either see him or your detector would have gone off a mile down the road. That being said...I own a bel, but the escort and valentine one are badass and I'd get one of those if I could

 

[Ylen13]

Originally posted by: Angrymarshmello

Originally posted by: FallenHero
Dont speed. That simple. It wont really save you that much in time, and cops are starting to zap cars one by one. They dont really leave their radar on. Shrug, that just what I do. I have yet to be pulled over for speeding. Your eyes are your best dectector, just look for spots where they commonly sit, or those speed trap streets.

Thank you! Instead of buying something to help you from getting a ticket, just stop doing the activity that will get you a ticket in the first place.

i don't think he posted this question so that you guys can tell him not to speed. I am pretty sure he alrady made up his min that he will be speeding, so if you can't give him a good advice on radar detectors, maybe it would be best then to skip this post.

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Originally posted by: Ylen13

Originally posted by: Angrymarshmello

Originally posted by: FallenHero
Dont speed. That simple. It wont really save you that much in time, and cops are starting to zap cars one by one. They dont really leave their radar on. Shrug, that just what I do. I have yet to be pulled over for speeding. Your eyes are your best dectector, just look for spots where they commonly sit, or those speed trap streets.

Thank you! Instead of buying something to help you from getting a ticket, just stop doing the activity that will get you a ticket in the first place.

i don't think he posted this question so that you guys can tell him not to speed. I am pretty sure he alrady made up his min that he will be speeding, so if you can't give him a good advice on radar detectors, maybe it would be best then to skip this post.

I was going to say that most radar detectors are absolute crap except for the top of the line ones like that Valentine one, but that's common sense anyway. Of course, so is not speeding.

 

[HyTekJosh]

Any places to get the units at a lesser cost? $400 off their website is going to hurt.

 

[jaybert]

Unfortunately, no. They are only sold from Valentine, you cannot purchase them elsewhere (unless used of course)

Originally posted by: HyTekJosh
Any places to get the units at a lesser cost? $400 off their website is going to hurt.