Radar Detectors
Radar Detectors I am looking at buying a radar detector sometime this summer, I am going to spend less than $150 for sure. What model do you guys recommend for me to purchase? I tried to do some research but most of the websites that I came across had not been updated lately, so I am looking for some opinions from you guys.
DO NOT BUY PASSPORT! My dad buys them because they are suppossed to be the best. He gives them to me when he's done with them and every single one eventually starts giving false laser warnings which are the scariest, most annoying alarm they have. Its like a bomb going off in the car and it does it every minute or so and doesn't stop once it starts. This has been the same with about 8 Passports that I've had so far. It happens after about 2 or 3 years of use. DO NOT BUY PASSPORT.
Other than that I had good luck with a Cobra that I had once. It was a base mdoel for about $150 and lasted a few years before it quit working which is about what I was getting out of the $400 Passports. The Cobra picked up signals from further away, too.
J. J.
Other than that I had good luck with a Cobra that I had once. It was a base mdoel for about $150 and lasted a few years before it quit working which is about what I was getting out of the $400 Passports. The Cobra picked up signals from further away, too.
J. J.
If you are willing to spend a few extra bucks, you can try and pick up a used V1 for around $200-250. I picked up a second one for $200 shipped so that I don't have to switch the detector from car to car.
I used to have an escort 8500, and the V1 has much better range and the arrows are very helpful, I didn't think it would be such a big deal until I got a V1.
My passport crapped out after a couple years as well.
I have had a V1 for probably 7 yrs with no issues.
The way I see it, buying a detector to prevent tickets, might as well try and get the best range, which to me is worth the extra 100 or so.
I used to have an escort 8500, and the V1 has much better range and the arrows are very helpful, I didn't think it would be such a big deal until I got a V1.
My passport crapped out after a couple years as well.
I have had a V1 for probably 7 yrs with no issues.
The way I see it, buying a detector to prevent tickets, might as well try and get the best range, which to me is worth the extra 100 or so.
DO NOT BUY PASSPORT! My dad buys them because they are suppossed to be the best. He gives them to me when he's done with them and every single one eventually starts giving false laser warnings which are the scariest, most annoying alarm they have. Its like a bomb going off in the car and it does it every minute or so and doesn't stop once it starts. This has been the same with about 8 Passports that I've had so far. It happens after about 2 or 3 years of use. DO NOT BUY PASSPORT.
Other than that I had good luck with a Cobra that I had once. It was a base mdoel for about $150 and lasted a few years before it quit working which is about what I was getting out of the $400 Passports. The Cobra picked up signals from further away, too.
J. J.
Other than that I had good luck with a Cobra that I had once. It was a base mdoel for about $150 and lasted a few years before it quit working which is about what I was getting out of the $400 Passports. The Cobra picked up signals from further away, too.
J. J.
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not sure how much escort charges for the tunes but valentine the first year is free and then there after is $40. not bad really.
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there are 3 or 4 different websites that review radar detectors. every year and/or model the passport and the v1 are usually a neck and neck tie for 1st place. bel has a model that is a close 3rd. most of the detectors you look at thereafter are significantly less in price but also in performance. i have owned the cheaper detectors before, and i have gotten tickets with all of them. i purchased a passport x50 6 years ago and to this day have never gotten a ticket, and i do speed. i have never had mine tuned either. in 6 years my laser detector has gone off one time, and it was in fact a motorcycle cop shooting people with a laser gun.
you'll find people are fans of v1 on ls1tech more than passport...i'm not sure why. probably the same reason zaino is touted more than meguiar's. they aren't necessarily better, just with different features. i believe the latest passport 9500ix beat out the v1 this time around.
if you are looking to spend only $150, this is coming from someone that has gone down that road. don't buy a detector with that money, save the money for the next ticket you get. there really is no point in spending money on a detector if you aren't willing to get one of the top 3, because in reality all of the inferior ones just won't do the job the same, and will leave you a lot more exposed than you think.
you'll find people are fans of v1 on ls1tech more than passport...i'm not sure why. probably the same reason zaino is touted more than meguiar's. they aren't necessarily better, just with different features. i believe the latest passport 9500ix beat out the v1 this time around.
if you are looking to spend only $150, this is coming from someone that has gone down that road. don't buy a detector with that money, save the money for the next ticket you get. there really is no point in spending money on a detector if you aren't willing to get one of the top 3, because in reality all of the inferior ones just won't do the job the same, and will leave you a lot more exposed than you think.
just for reference:
http://www.radarbusters.com/
http://www.radartest.com/
2 well-known sources. both place the passport at the top. as you can also see the bel's are a good option for cheaper detectors.
http://www.radarbusters.com/
http://www.radartest.com/
2 well-known sources. both place the passport at the top. as you can also see the bel's are a good option for cheaper detectors.
they tell you which direction the band warning is coming from. the passport has 360 protection also, just doesn't tell you which direction the radar is coming from when the detector goes off. really the odds of a threatening radar coming from any direction other than directly in front of you (or possibly a quickly approaching cop car from behind) is really rare, so the arrows are more fluff than anything.
they tell you which direction the band warning is coming from. the passport has 360 protection also, just doesn't tell you which direction the radar is coming from when the detector goes off. really the odds of a threatening radar coming from any direction other than directly in front of you (or possibly a quickly approaching cop car from behind) is really rare, so the arrows are more fluff than anything.
While I was apprehensive at first about the arrows, I will not go to a detector without them from now on. Just a few months ago a cop caught up from behind me while using his radar detector, if I didn't have the arrows, I would of hit the brakes fast rather than coast down as he made his way through traffic.
I have had cops come up from behind several times.
The arrows help you decide if you should coast or hit the brakes...not saying it will work 100% of the time, but it gives you additional info that those without the arrows lack.
I'm going to assume you never drove with the V1 then with a comment like that.
While I was apprehensive at first about the arrows, I will not go to a detector without them from now on. Just a few months ago a cop caught up from behind me while using his radar detector, if I didn't have the arrows, I would of hit the brakes fast rather than coast down as he made his way through traffic.
I have had cops come up from behind several times.
The arrows help you decide if you should coast or hit the brakes...not saying it will work 100% of the time, but it gives you additional info that those without the arrows lack.
While I was apprehensive at first about the arrows, I will not go to a detector without them from now on. Just a few months ago a cop caught up from behind me while using his radar detector, if I didn't have the arrows, I would of hit the brakes fast rather than coast down as he made his way through traffic.
I have had cops come up from behind several times.
The arrows help you decide if you should coast or hit the brakes...not saying it will work 100% of the time, but it gives you additional info that those without the arrows lack.
what does it matter if you slam on your brakes or coast? if the cop doesn't have you clocked, in most cases he's not going to pull you over. i would think slamming on your brakes, or at least applying them, would be wiser in any scenario regardless of knowing what direction the cop is coming from simply because it gets you from speeding to not faster than a coast. really strange logic i must add.
If you think brake lights lighting up when there is no traffic infront of you doesn't draw attention, then by all means hit your brakes. If you want to comment on a detector you have used, then that's helpful, but for someone to say the arrows are worthless and never have used a detector with them, that's not a fair statement for the OP to judge what he should spend his money on.
I already mentioned that I had an escort previously and did not believe the arrows would matter until I got a v1. Now its required by me if I am investing in radar detector whose sole purpose is to help me avoid tickets., which seems to be the reason OP posted this as he wants something for a cross country trip.
Last edited by peterlawl84; May 24, 2010 at 06:38 PM.
what does it matter if you slam on your brakes or coast? if the cop doesn't have you clocked, in most cases he's not going to pull you over. i would think slamming on your brakes, or at least applying them, would be wiser in any scenario regardless of knowing what direction the cop is coming from simply because it gets you from speeding to not faster than a coast. really strange logic i must add.
Thanks for all of the helpful replies. I will be looking for a used V1 based on what has been said about them. I already knew that this was probably what I would be told, but I thought I would check to see if there were other better suggestions. Too bad they are so expensive new (and used). LoL I guess since they are that good they can be that expensive though.
sure, brakes can draw attention to your car, but that doesn't mean the cop clocked you speeding--and THAT'S why cops are supposed to pull you over, not because you use your brakes. what if an animal/object was in the road and you were slamming on your brakes and the cop saw it? how's your v1 gonna help then? your logic is just silly, that coasting is smarter than putting on your brakes, yet coasting means you are going faster and have a higher potential of being actually clocked speeding. you are playing with so many variables now it doesn't matter if your detector can make you coffee, you're just making assumptions and reactions based on what you think is the best thing to do. like every v1 user even agrees with you that's what the arrows are for...c'mon.
i don't see how there could have been a more unbiased response to your thread, and yet you completely ignore it. jeez...why did you even ask the question? Last edited by tuffluck; May 25, 2010 at 10:46 AM.
so you are buying based on the opinion of 2 guys on ls1tech that most likely are not experts on the topic instead of the opinion of professionals that rank detectors? did you even check out my thread/links? i don't see how there could have been a more unbiased response to your thread, and yet you completely ignore it. jeez...why did you even ask the question?
i don't see how there could have been a more unbiased response to your thread, and yet you completely ignore it. jeez...why did you even ask the question?Yes I did read your links, but I trust the people that are ALL telling me to go with V1.
Only 2 people in this thread have voted for passport: tuffluk, and bad_408_vert. So yea, if I was basing my decision off of what two people voted for I would be going with a passport.