Breakbeat519

I heard once on some website that the valentine didn't work as well as it should for the money it costs...


and that the escort is the best...

what do you think?

gringott

iTrader: (17)

I have the SR7 and ZR3 Escort built in setup and it is the best. Valentine has not been updated in a few years.

mr2fasterthanyo

there are advantages to both. when new updates are available for the V1 you can send it in and they will update it.

I have the Escort 7500S "Turbocharged" one....... has worked just as well as the V1 i used to have.

it is mostly just personal opinion, they all basically work about the same (hell, even my roomate 5 year old el-cheapo works just about as well my V1 did. (we put them both on the window on a road trip just to test them out against each other0

mr2fasterthanyo

uea, my escort has pop.....

zman1910

iTrader: (3)

Ive had the x50 passport for the last 5 months and just recently got the V1 and I can honestly say the new updated V1 is the best radar I've ever used hands down.... The X50 cannot even compare...gave it to the wifey

forpointsex

The new V1 falses a lot on K band. The 8500X50 falses a lot on KA band including displaying POP for no reason. V1 is more expensive, but resale value is great; even for outdated ones. The 8500x50 is disposable since Escort NEVER released a software update, and you can't update the original 8500 to detect Pop.

Breakbeat519

thanks guys :] sealed my decision for the v-1!

mr2fasterthanyo

that is a good choice as well.....hopefully it doesn't get stolen like my old V1 did.
i got the 7500S because they had an open box special at best buy one day when i was there, saved over $100 on it....otherwise i would have gotten the 8500 or a new V1

gringott

iTrader: (17)

What does Valentine use for Laser Shifters? Or do you just get a "heads up" on the ticket?

Th3Cleaner

I have an X50 it picks cops up 3 miles away EVERY TIME.
I can't complain at all, never had a faulse alert, and I sware by it when I travel.

remember visuals and being alert is also important

southern_info

iTrader: (3)

I've owned the Passport 8500 X50 (1yr.) and I can honestly say it does the job for the most part for all the speeding I do. I can honestly admit I've gotten 2 tickets with it but that was due to the fact the cop wasn't popping his radar gun and they would wait til they have me in range to turn on the gun. I would also have to say I've picked up K bands probably like 5 miles ahead and KA band like 2 miles. You have to keep in mind no radar detector is full proof unless the radar gun is on. I'm still waiting on the reports of 2005 to see how my radar detector holds up and see if it is the so called best radar detector in the world again. So in all I think the Passport 8500 X50 is a great investment against all the odds I've been through.

gringott

iTrader: (17)

I don't need a directional arrow - I just need to know that cops are doing the radar thing. The Passport 8500 does that, and I can honestly say I have not had a false alert where I drive in over a year, I drive about 40 miles each way, several speed trap areas on my route, and it is really a ticket saver. If it goes off, I just look around and sure enough, there will be a cop ahead, maybe behind a building, maybe on the shoulder or peeking out of the woods. I just got the SR7 and ZR3 laser shifters and am in the process of mounting the kit.

Here is an example of what the experts think of the Valentine 1
As mentioned on the previous page, űerformance is King the chief complaint from customers is poor false alarm filtering. A cheap radar detector will alert you to everything from the closest grocery store door opener, to the vehicle with the closest radar detector.

As an example, in the November 22nd 2004 Autoweek magazine, they reviewed the new 1.8 version of the Valentine 1 radar detector and referred to it as the "Chicken Little" of radar detectors because of all its false alarms and commented that the average user would end up tuning out all alerts.

Motortrend gave the following review of the 8500 vs. the Val 1


Escort Passport 8500
(94.9 points)
SML Top Protection Dashtop Radar/LIDAR Detector

The Passport 8500, with its high-sensitivity, state-of-the-art POP mode capabilities, small size, and high-quality construction, remains at the top of the pyramid for overall radar and LIDAR detection. With its optional ZR3 laser shifter ($500 MSRP), it's the lone high-end detector offering the ability to legally interrupt most laser guns, making it the choice in laser-rich driving environments.

Price: $299 (manufacturer direct)
Escort: 800/433-3487

WHAT'S HOT Ž·Available optional plug-in laser countermeasures, with POP mode protection
WHAT'S NOT Ž· X-band performance falls just a bit short of leader
BOTTOM LINE Ž·Remains the gold standard in radar/LIDAR dashtop detectors

Valentine One
(94.8 points)

Although the external case has remained basically the same through the years, the Valentine One V1 is a top-flight instrument to detect all bands of radar as well as LIDAR. Owners swear by the effectiveness of its front-panel direction arrows. While it offers the highest level of sensitivity, its level of user-friendliness, overall protection, and value falls just a bit short of competitive units.

Price: $399 (manufacturer direct)
Valentine One: 800/331-3030

WHAT'S HOT Ž·Designates direction of the threat; high sensitivity in all bands
WHAT'S NOT Ž·Less POP mode sensitivity, size of case
BOTTOM LINE Ž·Great protection overall, but at a premium price.


They sum it up:
Motor Trend Recommendations
In the core, high-performance dashtop category, we have a statistical dead heat among three exceptional products. The BEL 985 receives kudos for offering virtually all of the performance of the top two detectors at a substantial cost savings due to the fact that it is available in retail stores. In the direct comparison between the top-ranked Valentine One and the Passport 8500, we felt that the Passport 8500's $100 lower price and the ability to add Passport's optional laser shifting technology, give it a slight nod over the Valentine One's directional arrows and measurably superior X-band sensitivity

While there are many fine performers here, the perfect device has yet to be produced. Since LIDAR, when used correctly, is almost impossible to detect, the ideal device will combine a sensitive X, K and Ka band radar detector with the ability to shift the LIDAR signal. While the combination of the Passport 8500 with the ZR3 comes closest, it is beyond the means of many drivers. At Motor Trend we feel that a dashtop device, with fully integrated LIDAR countermeasures (sans any LIDAR detection capabilities to save cost), priced under $500, would be the ideal device. Are any of the manufacturers out there listening?

So I sum it up - the Valentine 1 and the Escort 8500 are both fine units, some minor differences - but the Escort can shift Laser (LIDAR). And generally, it's a 100 smackers less.
So what do you need?

Paul350Z

iTrader: (1)

Let me add that where you mount a detector can be a bigger factor than the quality of the device. If mounted as high as possible in a window you'll do much better than those who sit it on the dashboard or even mount them remotely in the grill. Also beware that some window tints will block both radar and laser.

I've owned my V1 for about four years now. I drive the same routes each day and know where I'm going to get those false alarms. There is no such thing as the perfect alarm system that only alarms on true detections. There is always a slight amount of error one way or the other. We always adjust things to the noisy side where we get a few random false alarms rather than the quite side where there are missed violations. Radar detectors are pretty much the same.

I like the directional arrows as the city I live in is very aggressive with two teams of two motorcycle officers that work in hunter-killer groups. One guy will park his cycle and back off about 10 feet with the gun and nail people while the other officer sits down the road on the bike to catch them. On the highways of SoCal the cops do both stationary detection where I see my front indicator go on and I know I need to slow down fast. They'll also creep up from behind and either pace you or nail you with the gun from a few cars back in traffic. When the rear detector goes off I not only slow down but I keep my eye's on the rearview mirror for them creeping up to pace me.

Good luck, you'll not go far wrong with any of the top rated detectors if you use them correctly.

gringott

iTrader: (17)

Paul 350Z:
Well said. However, when mounted high, some detectors miss LASER due to the aiming point at front plate or headlights. High mounting will get longer range when you are not targeted.

Breakbeat519

I don't really see the point of the laser detection...

I mean, by the time the detector picks it up, wouldn't they have you clocked?

zman1910

iTrader: (3)

Yeah I was wondering the same thing....

gringott

iTrader: (17)

Right. That is why you need to have laser shifters.

mr2fasterthanyo

sometimes you will pick up laser "scatter"from other cars that he is targeting near by. remember for laser to work correctly, it has to be rather clear out, and the cop has to be stationary