Best Radar Detector?
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On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2008
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Best Radar Detector? Ok i need a new radar detector. I currently have an Escort Solo S2 which is the cordless model that takes 2 AA batterys.. Its nice b.c you dont have to worry about a wire. But its getting old and the range its been picking up the daily road radar road signs is getting shorter and shorter. So i want to invest in a new one.. Now i like escort but i saw one at circuit silly the other day, the Beltronic RX65 Professional Series which after the 30 percent off was only 260 bucks compared to the 400 retail.. How is beltronics? I have been to sites to compare but everyone pickes different models.. What do you guys have.. With a car like this and the amount of driving i do, i need a radar detector..
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Cleveland
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Reading, Pennsylvania
I have heard some good things about Bel. Haven't had any experience with them though.
Personally I'd get a V1 or the Escort 9500i, although if you're looking for something under 300 bucks neither of them are within that. I have the 9500i myself and love it. Alot of people will really get into it with Valentine vs. the Escort models but both of them are very good.
No matter what you get though they're only as good as you're ability to know how to use them. People who have them just to blatantly speed all the time will end up getting burned regardless. They're a great resource of you know how to use them properly.
Personally I'd get a V1 or the Escort 9500i, although if you're looking for something under 300 bucks neither of them are within that. I have the 9500i myself and love it. Alot of people will really get into it with Valentine vs. the Escort models but both of them are very good.
No matter what you get though they're only as good as you're ability to know how to use them. People who have them just to blatantly speed all the time will end up getting burned regardless. They're a great resource of you know how to use them properly.
V1
I've used all the rest, Valentine is the best. Its also an investment. You could keep the thing for 3 years, then sell it on eBay and only lose like 50 bucks off what you paid for it.
I first bought a used one on eBay that had a dent in the display for cheap. I sent it in and they replaced the complete outer housing for $40, it looked like a brand new unit, they just swapped over the guts. Kept that for a while and then I got the MSD 6AL in my mustang and it would set off the Laser detection all the time on my V1. The great thing about the V1 is its programmable. I keep X band turned off because nobody uses it anymore. I turned off Laser because my MSD box was setting it off. Then I got pinched for speeding and the ticket said right on it that he used a Laser gun, my V1 didn't go off. So I called up V1 and they said it was a known problem with certain ignition boxes. They said the newest V1 didn't have that issue anymore. They offered to give me $219 for my old unit and trade up to the newest one. I wound up just selling mine to a friend and getting the new V1. It works awesome and is not affected by my MSD box at all. Almost never a false alert and you always know what direction the alert is coming from. You'd be amazed how far away it will pick up a cop shooting radar.
Best $400 I've ever spent, period.
I bought my dad an Escort 8500 2 years ago for x-mas. He likes it, but I hate it. It goes off all the time, doesn't have a smart muting feature and its non-programmable.
I've used all the rest, Valentine is the best. Its also an investment. You could keep the thing for 3 years, then sell it on eBay and only lose like 50 bucks off what you paid for it.
I first bought a used one on eBay that had a dent in the display for cheap. I sent it in and they replaced the complete outer housing for $40, it looked like a brand new unit, they just swapped over the guts. Kept that for a while and then I got the MSD 6AL in my mustang and it would set off the Laser detection all the time on my V1. The great thing about the V1 is its programmable. I keep X band turned off because nobody uses it anymore. I turned off Laser because my MSD box was setting it off. Then I got pinched for speeding and the ticket said right on it that he used a Laser gun, my V1 didn't go off. So I called up V1 and they said it was a known problem with certain ignition boxes. They said the newest V1 didn't have that issue anymore. They offered to give me $219 for my old unit and trade up to the newest one. I wound up just selling mine to a friend and getting the new V1. It works awesome and is not affected by my MSD box at all. Almost never a false alert and you always know what direction the alert is coming from. You'd be amazed how far away it will pick up a cop shooting radar.
Best $400 I've ever spent, period.
I bought my dad an Escort 8500 2 years ago for x-mas. He likes it, but I hate it. It goes off all the time, doesn't have a smart muting feature and its non-programmable.
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From: Reading, Pennsylvania
No because most of the LS4 crowd don't stray outside of this section since we're pretty much looked down upon among the rest of the LSx community haha. So we kinda post all sorts of things in here even if it's not directly related to the car.
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Bay Area, CA
+1 on the V1.
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On The Tree
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: St louis
Bel makes the sti driver witch i would would say is is the best when it comes to lidar i used to be a cop in D.C. and that sucker would pick up laser radar from several miles away cops arent using radar very much anymore and also its undetectable by any vg-2 or 4 finders pretty nice v-1 is also a very nice one to, not as powerful detecting from a distance and around corners but very acurate
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2008
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well its kinda related to an ls4, its a fast car, so someone will have one lol.. so i see a lot of people like the valetine.. Circuit city now raised the percentage to 40 percent for the beltronics.. so its down to 228 from 379.. lol i hate comparing..
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From: NC
HAHA ... Damn, I was trying to think of something helpful to say. But I thought about it, and your right...
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: des moines iowa
i have a escort 8500 and i've never got a ticket, and i even have it down on the console.. the only bad thing i have to say about it is it used to give me false laser alarms so i turned everything but k and ka off
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 65
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From: upstate NY
V1 or go home- this had been debated endlessly- I'll keep i short-
Directional arrows, and counter- know where, and how many- great when smokey is overtaking you-
Service- upgradeable, no obsolescence- In a couple years, every other detector is outdated, the V1 can be updated relatively cheaply- I have had mine over 10 years, and three upgrades
Hint- if you read the reviews, don't trust the sites that sell everything but V-1's Not saying they are biased, but it is business, you know...
Directional arrows, and counter- know where, and how many- great when smokey is overtaking you-
Service- upgradeable, no obsolescence- In a couple years, every other detector is outdated, the V1 can be updated relatively cheaply- I have had mine over 10 years, and three upgrades
Hint- if you read the reviews, don't trust the sites that sell everything but V-1's Not saying they are biased, but it is business, you know...
Teching In
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 11
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From: Huntsville, AL
Another V-1 owner I also own a valentine 1. I find the arrows and counter very useful. I have had situations when i pass one police car and the arrows show front and back saving me from a seonc cop in 1/4 mile at night.
I am sure most know the valentine has detectors facing foward and aft so you know the direction the radar/laser is coming from which makes you feel more informed.
Also with the valentine 1 you can get a remote display. I mounted mine on top of the steering column out of sight of drivers behind or beside. The worst thing is tail-gates who want to see the lights on your detector.
I have had my V-1 for 7 or 8 years and sent it in for two updates. I feel naked on road trips without it on. I find it as entertainment to see where the cops hide. I am 5 over kind of driver.
Before the valentine 1 I had a Cobra detecors which was good but the arrows and counter of the V-1 were the upgrade i was looking for after using the cobra a couple of trips. I think battery detectors are not a good thing, rather run it off a good power source.
I am sure most know the valentine has detectors facing foward and aft so you know the direction the radar/laser is coming from which makes you feel more informed.
Also with the valentine 1 you can get a remote display. I mounted mine on top of the steering column out of sight of drivers behind or beside. The worst thing is tail-gates who want to see the lights on your detector.
I have had my V-1 for 7 or 8 years and sent it in for two updates. I feel naked on road trips without it on. I find it as entertainment to see where the cops hide. I am 5 over kind of driver.
Before the valentine 1 I had a Cobra detecors which was good but the arrows and counter of the V-1 were the upgrade i was looking for after using the cobra a couple of trips. I think battery detectors are not a good thing, rather run it off a good power source.
Teching In
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 13
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I have had the same V1 since the summer of 2001. I have X band shutoff and it works great. I've been hit a couple times with instant on radar with no cars in front of me to give the V1 a chance to go off (my own fault). Would highly recommend it. A great investment and has saved me many many times.
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