i got S2 like 4 months ago, and i'm very pleased with the performance. Saved me from the cops a lot of times.

 

well, I just took the plunge and got an escort 8500. Its an excellent unit. The V1 may have the arrows, but the 8500s expert meter is pretty helpful as well. It will show you the diff sources, the number and the relative strengths of the signals. Additionally, you can have it show the actual frequency.

So far, the area that I really like the most about the escort is the lack of falsing. Very nice. I'll be adding the Zr3 laser shifter this week as well - so thats a plus.

V1 vs 8500. Its a tuff call. If I could go out and buy a V1 on the street I may have one today. however, the things that turns me off re: the V1.

1) features and displays. Cmon mike...its been ten years and you're STILL using that tired old display and ****??

2) If the arrows are such a big deal....HOW COME NOBODY HAS COPIED THEM!!!!!

Imitation is the best form of flattery. Look at macinstosh and windows. AGain, its been ten years...and nobody has copped mikey V's arrows? (or directional detection)? In my research, I ran across several missives that dismissed the arrows - stating - a direct radar attack from the rear will most likely STILL be detected by a forward facing unit simply by virtue of the reflection of waves inherent to the radar technology.

By this same token, the V1s arrows can of course pick up reflected signals as well.

 

I have the V-1 upgrade...I bought my original one about three years ago and it was great. Because V-1 has the upgrade option, you can always return it for a new one with the latest stuff (for a price, of course).

I also have the remote display and it's really the way to go; the display on the main unit is blanked out when the remote display is connected. That way, you can mount the remote in a lower location away from the sight line of other vehicles.

I absolutely swear by the directional arrows on the V-1...if your unit doesn't have arrows, you are missing some very important information when you need it the most.

 

I have the Escort 7500 (worthless) Escort 8500 and the Valentine 1. I did a side by side test on a 1,000 trip with the Escort 8500 and Valentine 1 and felt the Valentine 1 was better. It did pick up 1st all of the time and was never behind the Escort on alarms. They are both good units and I wouldn't leave home without one of them.
One feature the Valentine has it tells you how many things it is picking up and which direction they are coming from. The X band in congested areas can be anything.
I almost bought a Valentine before I bought the Escort 8500. I wasn't completely happy with the Escort and wanted to try the Valentine. I bought it before going to Florida on one of my trips back and forth and was going to return it if it didn't perform better than the Escort. I felt it did a better job and keep it. The style isn't as good but who cares if it works better.

 

Finally took a road trip with the V-1 (LA to SF).

My V-1 was AWESOME. And the arrows are KEY. Lets you know when you hit the trap and pass it. The stutter beep means no falsing, and it caught like 5 or 6 cops for me. 1 I definitely would have gotten a ticket for, since I was in the lead blowing by one of those overpasses/speed traps.

LOVE IT! Thanks V-1 for letting me get up to 123 mph with no fear!

(wanted to try for higher, but that Memorial Day I-5 traffic comes up quick when you're going that fast!).

 

You animal!

By the way, can you turn the X band off with the V1 ?
Since nobody uses X band anymore for speed radar (at least here on the east coast) it helps weed out a very high percentage of falses by turning it off (as I can do with the 8500).

 

Your right it is annoying except in one town I go through they do use the X band and set up in areas where there are a lot other people using it for door opneners etc. I would stay with the X band for this reason. The speed limit in this area is 25 mph so they catch a lot of people who are ignoring the alarm. The Valentine shows 4 boogies in this area and when it shows 5 it is the law enforcement.

 

U guys have mad experience with all these detectors and thats good info ur spreading BUT.... I read an article on laser jammers and i have to say that soon radar detectors are gonna go the way of x band. They can catch u in 1 second with laser and if your detector does pick up laser its probably already too late. The article showed that the jammers are effective in giving u the alert as ur hit and it gives u 5 seconds of jamming so u can slow down.

Article was on audiworld.com

 

I purchased a Laser Jammer off of Ebay a few months ago from VISIBLEMEDIUM, LLC. , Mfg. Rocky Mountain Radar. The unit is called a Viper 11, they also sell a Phantom laser detector/ jammer.

With in a few days I contacted the seller to return the detector for a refund and I was denied a refund of 240.00. I believe this unit is as bogus as the seller and the company he represents.

I purchased a Valentine 1, this is a great unit, I would recommend the Valentine1 to anyone who is interested in purchasing a radar/laser detector.

 

I bought the same kinda **** crap from Rocky Mountain Radar also (rmr-410). I think we have been screwed!!!

Can't face it enough to go out and spend another $300 on a V1 though.... sucks

 

I'm going to throw another detector into the mix here. I just picked up the Bel Vector 985 about a month ago and love it. It is almost exactly the same as the Passport 8500 at this point. Basically they are so similar because Escort and Beltronics just merged. The difference for me was mostly looks, I liked the black color of the vector instead of the silver passport. The vector 985 is great, upgradable for the future and has the same detection and features as the 8500.

The V1 does have the best range for detection and adds the arrows. But is also considerably more expensive. For me, I picked up a brand new Vector 985 for $185 off ebay and am completely satisfied.

Bel Vector 985 is worth it when you consider the money you save...

 

i got a passport 8500 for 200 bucks, there is no way that the valentine at 400 bucks is twice as good IMO. (of course i had the hookup and got it at cost but still... )

It has saved my *** enough times to pay for itself many times over

 

since I have a problem with anything being on my front windshield I don't like the conventional radar detectors.... the SR7, if you got the money for it, is awesome. Dectectors attach to front and rear bumper and you can put the module anywhere in the car

 

Let me just say - nothing can beat this combo - 8500 and Shifter. I have escape 7 + Tickets since I have got this car in October. The laser shifter DOES WORK and the performance difference between V1 and 8500 are very close. The Shifter benefit is AWESOME and it DOES WORK.

 

You bought a radar detector based on looks?!?!

"No doc, I know you can cure my cancer, but I'm going to that hot-looking female doctor straight out of med school instead..."

 

Do you buy a specific color car? Or do you just tell the dealer go ahead and give me the most repulsive one you got on the lot?

Think before you try to talk smack.....

 

But the color of the car does not dictate the performance or features of the car.

 

....as is the fine Radio Shack extenstion cord with 1:2 outlets I run under the passenger seat. Not ideal, but fused and supports my old BEL radar detector and my cell phone.

What where they thinking with that back-center power outlet?

 

In this case, neither does the dectector. As I pointed out in the post, the Bel Vector and Passport perform the same. They're made by the same company. The level of detection out of both of them is equal.

It's like saying a CS Performance Z will out perform a Brickyard Touring Z.

 

....as is the fine Radio Shack extenstion cord with 1:2 outlets I run under the passenger seat. Not ideal, but fused and supports my old BEL radar detector and my cell phone.

What where they thinking with that back-center power outlet?