Well after spending an entire day online researching new and or upcoming detectors to see what will be protecting me & the Z, I've decided on the new BEL 985 (replaced last years 980). Now I currently have and have had since it came out, a Passport 8500 in my Lexus. It has served me well and I have no major complaints. But after considering "price to performance" or "bang for the buck" (which is what it's all about with me) the BEL VECTOR 985 appears to be the clear winner, not to mention BEL & Escort are one in the same so I have somewhat of a history with their products. I had a 7500 back in the day, and it always performed well also. Before any of the Valentine 1 buffs start in on me, I have also tested it (courtesy of a friend for one week) last summer. And yes, it is a fine product and one of the Best detectors out! My beef is that it is 1. Overpriced 2. Instant-On was lacking. 3. Falsed way too much.
Here in Plano and the N. Dallas Tollway (where I spend most of my driving) they exclusively use 'ka' or STALKER radar guns I know this for a fact! And thank GOD Plano has a habit of riding around with em' on, so I usually sniff em' out well ahead of time. BUT! Instant-On is also used quite a bit around here, and thus VERY important for my detector to be the Best at that.
I found a fantastic price ($236.74 2nd-day shipped!) on the 985 which retails for $299! So I'm definitely extactic about that. And I will also add that, yes, there is alot of bias online and in magazines when it comes to testing, but this particular site seems to "Call it like it is!" http://www.speedzones.com/test2002new/test2002.htm

I will be "hard-wirirng" this detector in my Z.

http://www.beltronics.com/985_kaon.html


My current Passport 8500 in my GS.

 

Please post pics after you have installed. I would like to see your application.

 

Car and Driver does the most complete, unbiased tests on Detectors anywhere. And that one came in a distant third place. I know it costs a lot, but I think you can't go wrong when you buy the best. I hope to have a Valentine One soon.

 

Well SZ, I'm not gonna sit here and say that any publications has "the most complete, unbiased tests on Detectors anywhere" because I wasn't present when they tested them, and I don't have a MS in radar & microwave physics! As long as it does what I mentioned above at a "fair Price" I'm good to go.
By the way, C&D tested last years BEL 980 and not the 985 I'm getting.

 

Should have got a V1 ....I couldn't live without directional radar anymore...

-Andrew

 

Yes. That is a 'plus' that the V-1 has. Fortunately for me though, if my detector(s) goes off, I'm slowing down anyway!

 

Yes, and looking at the link provided above, the laser/radar from behind test says a lot, both Bel's were very weak.

 

That's quite allright my friend. I'm far more concerned with coming up on Johnny Law, that him coming up behind me. I'm pretty confident that Statistically waaaaaaaaaay more tickets are issued with "frontal/approaching clockings", what do you think............ But hey, spend your $400 however you see fit.

 

The price is unfortunate, and it would be nice if you could search around and find a better price as you were able to. But my understanding is that all Valentines are sold direct from the factory, so no chance of lowering that price.

 

sometimes its good to know where your cops at. you can sometime turn off, completely avoid him, or get into that neighborhood before those blue and red lights go on....


V1 is better than everything else...
(in my opinion)

 

you get what you paid for, imo. V1 is No.1 in my book

 

Txstyle, what version of the V1 did you test?

Was it in the "L" mode? That's the one where the computer mutes false alarms. The "A" mode shows everything and is really annoying in town. The "l" (little L) mode is somewhere in between.

Just curious.

I just upgraded my V1 to version 1.8 because this new version is a lot smaller than the older one. The final thing was that they improved the Ka sensitivity, and that's what they use locally here too.

As a bonus, we have some undercover vehicles that measure your speed, take a snapshot of your license plate and send you the ticket in the mail. Haven't got one since I got my detector. Radar detectors rule!

 

...hey TXSTYLE, thanks for the link. I was actually looking for a radar detector, and I think I'm sold on the BEL V940 ... pretty good performance (really close to the V985) and I can get it for under $170 shipped...

 

I had a Bell and it went off too much, so I bought the 8500. I was going to buy a V1, but the 100+ price difference isnt worth it. I dont know why everyone thinks that the arrows are such a great feature, simple as that. Yes they are nice, but once the detector goes off quit speeding. Everyone has their favorites and most of the top end units perform similarly, even if you have the best detector in the world it cant detect Instant on.

 

Valentine One............There IS no substitute!

 

Valentine One saved my *** many times. It actually paid for itself the first month I had it. Greatest radar detector available. Plus future upgrades are always available for outdated models.

 

All very good points. And just so you guys know, my 8500 and my upcoming 985 are both upgradeable too! Can't remember a b exactly which mode I was in, I switched back in forth in an effort to get a "true" impression. Again, V-1 great detector, just not worth the extra cheese in my book. I will say that my 8500 has "blistering *ka* performance"! It easily sniffs em' out form a great distance, and even if they're approaching from an intersection. Like I said, I don't need to know the exact direction, my a** slows down until the close is clear.

 

The arrows are good for this:

I was cruising on the highway and the detector went off. I was doing 140 km/h, so I would definitely get a ticket in the 100 zone. BUT, the indicator showed it was coming from behind. They were using instant on, so the reading was not continuous. The signal strength was the same for the next 45 minutes whenever they clocked someone, so I knew the cop was behind me (and I knew it was the same cop) and doing the same speed. So I just kept my foot in it.

 

EXACTLY! It's not that I like the arrows because they warn me about someone shooting me from behind, it's because it allows you to know (instantly) whether or not you NEED to hit the brake or if you are OK to continue. I can't stand it when you get a radar source setting off your detector for miles and miles and you don't know if you have to worry about it or not. If it's in front of me, I better stay behind it. If it's behind me, I can step on it and lose it.

 

I've said this before and I'll say it again. The absolute best protection I have seen to date is the Passport 8500 and Shifter ZR3 combo. This gives you excellent radar detection and almost perfect lidar/laser jamming. And the ZR3 can be controlled via the 8500 so you just have to mount the 8500 on your windshield, the ZR3 display may be hidden somewhere. I purchased mine from:

http://www.carmedia1.com/en-us/dept_49.html

Passport 8500: $259
Shifter ZR3: $299

-Plucky

Now I just need my Z to put it in. Hopefully in less then 3 months.