Radar Detectors

[BMW2000z]

Recently, after getting a speeding ticket, I decided to get a radar detector. I've been doing some research online and trying to find reviews, and it seems that the two leading contenders are the Escort Passport 8500 X50 or the Valentine V1. They both have pretty much the same specs (according to the manufacturers), but there is a $100 price difference. Since both are quite a bit of money, if one of them is really a better performing device than the other, i don't mind spending a bit more.

I also saw there's an Escort Passport 9500, which is the same as the 8500 but has GPS in it, so you can do some cool stuff with that, but that costs $450!!! So i'm not sure if that's worth it.

But the question is, which one do you think is better between the 8500 and the V1 (if price is NOT an issue). Any personal comments/observations/suggestions regarding either one are welcome. Please help! Thanks.

PS. Are there any good stores or websites where they sell the retail product at a cheaper price than the MSRP? All the sites that i've looked at so far, sell them at the same price as i can get from the manufacturer, so it doesn't make sense to buy it from some random site.

 

[uli2000]

Im in the same boat as you. ONe of the docs I work with swears by his V1. They are upgradeable, so if the cops change their technology, you can send you detector to Valentine and upgrade it for less than a new detector. For reviews, check out radartest.com, pretty good site.

I didnt know about that 9500, but that would kill 2 birds in one stone for me.

 

[02ranger]

I don't really know if one radar detector is better than the other, but I do know that if you get a ticket with the V1, they're supposed to pay for it. Don't know exactly how that works, but it may be worth looking into.

 

[tokomoto]

I have the Escort Passort 8500 and it's a great radar for me. I use mine on a daily basis and I feel it has satisfied my needs as a radar. It detects at all the right times and this is the older model, the non-X5 model, and it still works fantastic. The only thing that differs from the V1 and 8500 is that the V1 has the arrows that help a lot I'm sure. Other than that I love my 8500, I hope this helps!

 

[LOUISSSSS]

wheres a good place to buy either one of these radar detectors?

 

[BMW2000z]

Originally posted by: 02ranger
I don't really know if one radar detector is better than the other, but I do know that if you get a ticket with the V1, they're supposed to pay for it. Don't know exactly how that works, but it may be worth looking into.

Really?? Even if you get lasered? That's a pretty good policy, really all the manufacturers should do that. But really the point of the detector is to avoid tickets so that you don't get screwed with points and insurance rates.


I also double posted this topic here (http://forums.anandtech.com/me...2063222&enterthread=y) and it's been getting a little more traffic than in this category, so you can check that out for some more discussion and some useful links.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

Originally posted by: 02ranger
I don't really know if one radar detector is better than the other, but I do know that if you get a ticket with the V1, they're supposed to pay for it. Don't know exactly how that works, but it may be worth looking into.

can someone confirm this?

 

[zig3695]

first of all, who cares if they pay for your tickets, thats not the problem. its still on your record, if your in a state that give demeanor points, you still get them. the court still finds you guilty, you still rack up the public record. and, i doubt its very easy to get those tickets paid anyway- its probably a lot like MIR's (crapshoot)

second, NO detectors are valuable when you go over 10mph the limit. i dont care how fancy a device you have, as soon as it goes off you have very little time to hit the brakes. so, if your going 20 over the cop will still get you for goin 10 over. thats why you keep it at 10 over and youre usually OK.

with that said, the uber-expensive detectors are a ripoff. so are the cheap ones. i myself like Beltronics. they work like the V1's and the escorts, but half the price. i paid $160 for my bel at circuit city, but i could have had it for $120 online at the time. they are durable and they work. bel doesnt pay for tickets because youre not supposed to get any in the first place. DONT SPEED, drive safely, and DONT SPEED and youll be fine. if youre in a hurry, i can understand 10mph over using radar detectors, but for those people who get pulled over for 15 or more abover, GOOD i hope you die alone.

 

[BMW2000z]

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: 02ranger
I don't really know if one radar detector is better than the other, but I do know that if you get a ticket with the V1, they're supposed to pay for it. Don't know exactly how that works, but it may be worth looking into.</end quote></div>

can someone confirm this?

Yeh, i just called Escort (and BEL) and V1. Neither one has a policy of standing by their products and reimbursing tickets if issued.

 

[foghorn67]

Originally posted by: zig3695
first of all, who cares if they pay for your tickets, thats not the problem. its still on your record, if your in a state that give demeanor points, you still get them. the court still finds you guilty, you still rack up the public record. and, i doubt its very easy to get those tickets paid anyway- its probably a lot like MIR's (crapshoot)

second, NO detectors are valuable when you go over 10mph the limit. i dont care how fancy a device you have, as soon as it goes off you have very little time to hit the brakes. so, if your going 20 over the cop will still get you for goin 10 over. thats why you keep it at 10 over and youre usually OK.

with that said, the uber-expensive detectors are a ripoff. so are the cheap ones. i myself like Beltronics. they work like the V1's and the escorts, but half the price. i paid $160 for my bel at circuit city, but i could have had it for $120 online at the time. they are durable and they work. bel doesnt pay for tickets because youre not supposed to get any in the first place. DONT SPEED, drive safely, and DONT SPEED and youll be fine. if youre in a hurry, i can understand 10mph over using radar detectors, but for those people who get pulled over for 15 or more abover, GOOD i hope you die alone.

Pulpit is that way
<----------------------------------

 

[DJFuji]

Originally posted by: zig3695
first of all, who cares if they pay for your tickets, thats not the problem. its still on your record, if your in a state that give demeanor points, you still get them. the court still finds you guilty, you still rack up the public record. and, i doubt its very easy to get those tickets paid anyway- its probably a lot like MIR's (crapshoot)

second, NO detectors are valuable when you go over 10mph the limit. i dont care how fancy a device you have, as soon as it goes off you have very little time to hit the brakes. so, if your going 20 over the cop will still get you for goin 10 over. thats why you keep it at 10 over and youre usually OK.

with that said, the uber-expensive detectors are a ripoff. so are the cheap ones. i myself like Beltronics. they work like the V1's and the escorts, but half the price. i paid $160 for my bel at circuit city, but i could have had it for $120 online at the time. they are durable and they work. bel doesnt pay for tickets because youre not supposed to get any in the first place. DONT SPEED, drive safely, and DONT SPEED and youll be fine. if youre in a hurry, i can understand 10mph over using radar detectors, but for those people who get pulled over for 15 or more abover, GOOD i hope you die alone.

You dont sound like you've ever used a radar detector before. They're helpful because they go off like a damn mile before you ever see the cop -- and a lot of times -- before he sees you. Sometimes a cop up ahead is sitting there with his radar on like a mile up the road. My radar detector goes off before he even knows i'm in the area.

 

[feelingshorter]

I've used the escort 8500. Great radar detector and only falses around automatic doors (like at most super markets). Other than that, you often thing it is having a false call but often you just don't see the cop. I often hear my radar detector go off and i'm like "where is the cop" and sure enough, seconds later you will see the cop. Saved me a few times while i was speeding. Remember, this thing isnt a cop detector and not all cops have their radar blazing. Some cops do leave their radar detectors on all the time and the radar will go off when they are nearby. The V1, as i hear in reviews, falses too much. I sold my radar detector though. It was fun to use but 1. i park my car outside my house and don't want my windows being broken in, and 2. i grew up and i find no point in speeding. I just take a chill pill and drive slow.

 

[Sunrise089]

Originally posted by: DJFuji
You dont sound like you've ever used a radar detector before. They're helpful because they go off like a damn mile before you ever see the cop -- and a lot of times -- before he sees you. Sometimes a cop up ahead is sitting there with his radar on like a mile up the road. My radar detector goes off before he even knows i'm in the area.

Agreed - some people have only used $30 detectors before, and assume top-end products like the V1 perform the same way. The difference is like night and day.

 

[CaptainKahuna]

I don't know about the V1, but I have the Passport 8500, and I LOVE IT.

Very few false alarms, excellent detection range, excellent reliability (owned it for almost 4 years).

It saves me from a certain ticket at least once a month. The only time I've ever gotten a ticket since I bought it is when the cop swung in behind me at night with his radar off, then instantly gunned me and flicked on the lights.

In summary, the Passport 8500 is a great radar detector, I highly recommend it. However, I have no idea how it compares to the V1.

 

[ROJAS]

I have been using Escorts for years. I currently have (2) 8500's red LED in both vehicles. No compliants. Very good products.

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
wheres a good place to buy either one of these radar detectors?

http://www.valentine1.com/

 

[02ranger]

I swear in several car magazines I've read, they have had ads for the V1, and they say that if you get a ticket using the radar detector, that they will pay it. Maybe they discontinued this policy, but I promise you that I read this. I just visited their webpage and can't find anything about it, but I don't try and spread lies. I really don't. Sorry for misinforming you, but I promise I read this in SEVERAL ads. Come to think of it, I haven't seen one in a while, though. Sorry again.