So wait, does the V1 bracket stay on the window? This is important to me. One of you says it does (favo: "the bracket stays on the window"), the other says it doesn't (Golfer: "the mounting bracket stays attached to the unit").

 

I leave the bracket on the window, because it's easier. If you take the bracket off, you have to put it back on, which involves paying some amount of attention to getting it where you want on the windshield and then wetting the suction cups for better adhesion. If you don't mind doing this, then you can easily take the bracket and detector off the windshield together.

In theory, I guess a thief could see my bracket (even notice that it's for a V1) and break into the car figuring to find the detector. I just think it isn't too likely. If they see the detector that's one thing, but smash and grabs tend to go for the sure bet.

As far as the 4-5 seconds to stow the detector, I am talking about flipping up the armrest cover, unplugging the detector, removing it from the bracket, putting it in the armrest, and closing the cover. (V1 is not on my Z at the moment.) Just removing the V1 from the bracket takes about 1 second. This is all done one-handed.

I might add that it is sometimes a little finicky to get the V1 back into the bracket. Might take me a couple of tries to get it right if I do it while driving. I try to avoid this, since distracted driving is not too smart. Also note that my V1 is about 7 years old or so, so they may have improved the bracket since then.

Finally, there are some threads on "stealth installs" of V1, so you might never have to take it down.

-Favo

 

No no, on the contrary: I want it to work that way! I was just making sure the detector would come off the bracket leaving the bracket on the windshield and the detector wherever you wanted it. I'm thinking it would be a pain to re-attatch the braket every time!

 

I have had the 8500 for approximately 2 weeks now and have experience very few falsings. I hardwired the unit into the mirrors power leads and found the process to be extremely simple. If you have any questions about which wires to tap into, just drop me a line.

 

All the tests mentioned 8500 performance over-the-hill, and I had an incredible results with it myself (look for my post):
https://my350z.com/forum/showthread....a&pagenumber=2

As to WHY, I have no clue, but sure can come with some theory. It still not clear for me why 8500 going off later in usual conditions. I still thik, it has to do with some setups. Did you run it in Expert+Higway mode?

 

I've ran the 8500 on HWY the past 2 days. I went by the stationary k-band signal I pass everyday on my commute and there was no difference in sensitivity compared to the auto mode.

The V-1 still comes in a few seconds earlier.

I will comment on the V-1 being very chatty in the all bogey's mode. So much so that I had to put it in logic mode. The 8500 was extremely silent in comparison. IMO the V-1 needs to be used in a logic mode (certainly here in the NYC metro area). V-1 states that in logic modes the unit still operates at full sensitivity.

 

From what I've read from many different sources, disregard anything you read on radartest.com. Word is they are an extremely commercial organization, influenced by "sponsorships" or other support from companies whose products they are supposed to be impartially evaluating.

Hell, in one test, they even declared a Bel detector best (guess what -- test sponsored by Bel).

Valentine has never sponsored one of their tests nor hired the guy as a consultant, so they get repeatedly slammed.

Just what I've heard/read. Free advice is worth what you paid for it!

However, impartial tests like we're reading on this thread are what we need. I'm in the market and appreciate the effort here.

-reen

 

ZGolfer, thx for the great info!

Just to add my own 2 cents of experience/research to this thread:

- The test results I've seen in various mags and websites showed
that the better units all did a reasonable job in picking up radar
signals, and differences (which eventually led to one being declared
"better" than others) were mostly academic (who cares if one picks
up a signal at 20000ft and others "only" at 15000ft?)
- User feedback on the web shows that just about all the respective
Escort and V1 owners are happy with the performance of their units
- 2 of my best friends have an Escort and love it
- Personally I have owned a V1 for the last 2 years and I have lost
track of how many times it has saved my behind (I even escaped a
laser trap because the distinct signal the V1 emitted made me jump
on the brakes, and I guess the laser operator wanted a 2nd
reading). BTW, the V1 has primarily been used in my M3, and my
commute is 40mls each way in the DC metro area, so believe me it
gets a workout.
- The difference to me comes down to the arrows, it just lets you know
what you're dealing with much better. It's kind of like being at
home and your security system sounding an intruder alert vs "garage
door open" (the latter indicating that it's probably just the wife
or kids coming home).
- If I had to buy another unit and let's say Valentine made a V1 w/o
the arrows and sold it for $200, I'd still dish out the $400 for the
arrow version, that's how much I like that feature.

 

fvoelling,

Good point. I've come to the same conclusions. For me it was also the rear sensitivity.

Now, I'm the proud owner of both the V-1 and the 8500. I have the V-1 in the Z and will either keep the 8500 in my beater or let my wife use it. We also have a Passport 6800 that will be in the 3rd car. I have demoted a 3rd detector to a hand-me-down.

 

I have several radar detectors including the Escort (original in a aluminum case) 7500, 8500 and a Valentine 1. I bought the Valentine before one of our trips from Florida to another home we own up north over 1,000 miles. I was going to ship the Valentine back if it didn't work better than the Escort 8500. I did the side by side test and keep the Valentine. It did work better for my use and also I do like knowing how many boogies it is picking up along with the directional arrows.
I use the Escort 8500 in our SUV and the Valentine in my Z. The original Escort was a really good unit in it's time before ka and laser.

 

thanks for the info guys....very informative post.