Save for a couple more weeks and buy the Valentine.....end of discussion

 

My Valentine 1.8 works at 147

 

Mine worked well enough that I got down to 73 from 105 in a 55 (sounds like a song ) and got off with a warning. I'm sure I would not gotten just a warning if I didn't at least have time to hit the brakes. And the arrows are worth every extra penny, especially when you have radar sneaking up behind you.

 

FYI they are one and the same company.

 

+1 just save up your money and get the best.valentine 1 is the only one.

 

One option is V1's remanufactured program. IIRC, they sell them for around $260 and they are guaranteed to work just like an unused unit. Most people on the www.radardetector.net forms who have bought them swear they even look like unused units.

 

The Passport 8500 X50 (w/Blue LED) is much better...and if you shop around you can get one in the $300-$350 range, better if used on eBay.

To the OP....Check out some used ones on eBay, rather than get a cheaper quality one that beeps every time you go past a shopping center (those damn electric doors do it every single MF time!)

 

or get the one w/ the red since they are the same price

 

Dude they are the same detector for the most part. The difference is semantics.

I got the rx65. At the time everyone was singing the same valentine or bust song but it wasn't worth an extra $150 to me. EVERY website has the bel, the passport and the v1 placing within the top 3 (just different orders depending on the site). That tells me enough that there's not a $150 difference. The bel rx65/passports are more than good enough for what a radar detector should do. The rx has performed flawlessly for me, save me a bunch of times and is decent on falsies.

With a rearview mirror mount from someone on this board the radar is out of the way and permantly wired right into the homelink wiring. I can still yank it and use the cig lighter and in my second vehicle if I need.

Can't go wrong... enjoy your purchase!

 

I've been running a Sensoro Traveller for a few years now and no problems, no tickets. It gets great response time and can go wireless (battery powered) or you can use the cigarette adapter. It's under $100 on eBay. Plus the design matches the interior of the car pretty well. I wouldn't have wasted my time posting about it if it wasn't worth it and a great deal.

The main diff between the Traveller and Traveller II is that the Trav II talks to you.. great for long boring drives lol.. and if I get really bored I switch it to Spanish for ***** and giggles...

http://cgi.ebay.com/PNI-SENSORO-TRAV...QQcmdZViewItem

 

I swear I need to stop being cheap and get one.

 

I disagree with the people that say Solo S2's suck. It is one of the best for the moeny. I do, however, agree that the Valentine is the best out there. Most people don't speed enough to justify spending that kind of money on a radar detector when something $150 less will meet their needs. With that being said, if you can afford it, get a Valentine, if you are looking to spend less, get an Escort. IMO, I would never buy another Cobra or Whistler. I had those in my younger and dumber( and broker) days, and all those are good for is to find the nearest grocery store.

 

You don't need an expensive detector.. I have a 1 hour commute every day and 50 minutes is highway... part of it is technology and the rest is knowing where you are and understanding how cops work. The better your senses and knowledge, the less you have to depend on the technology.

Of course nothing is fool-proof...

 

Exactly what I convinced myself. I figure, if it saves me from ONE ticket, it was worth it.

And as others have said, the extra $150 was not worth it for the Valentine to me. I don't drive THAT fast.

 

hey wheres the best place to buy a new valentine v1

 

i bought escort 8500 x50 on ebay for 250 new (red light)

 

I bought an Escort Passport 8500 several years ago and even back then it was only $300.

 

https://store.valentine1.com/store/

 

Well taurran, I don't think he meant the Official website. I didn't check the prices for that one because I knew it was above what I could afford, but the brands website is usually the most expensive. There is no BEL X65 on the Bel site for $230.

But now browsing, looks like the Official site has some of the best prices. Weird.

 

I'm pretty sure the V1 official site is the only dealer of the V1 except for ebay that is.