So far so good. After a lengthy period of research, I determined that I wanted to get the Escort Passport 8500. THEN, I realized that the Solo S2 has the same great performance as the 8500 but is cordless and would allow me to switch between multiple cars. Can't be happier.

Although, it was around $370 including tax and a $20 4-year warranty.

(I got the warranty cause the guy at CarToys indicated that if ANYTHING happens, i.e. a new model comes out and I 'accidentally' drop it, they replace it without any questions with the current model)

 

I'm still thinking of the Solo II but everyone talks about the Valentine and 8500 so I’m still not sure. I want the advantages of cordless but also want a detector that is going to do the business. Please keep us posted on performance. Hopefully you will get some real experience of the Solo saving you from some tickets. Good luck with it.

 

i've herad cordless detectors dont offer the range protection that hardwired detectors do.

dunno though, post up and let us know

indulf

 

From the research I have read, the technology of Solo 2 is the EXACT same as the 8500. Same deal, just cordless.

 

If you want, you can plug the 8500 plug into the solo 2 and it becomes a wired detector so you can have best of both worlds. Plus the Solo 2 screen is very cool looking

 

Scott -
Have you had any real road experiance of the Solo II ?

 

I've used both and the SOLO does not have nearly the range of the Passport. I talked with several people about this, and they explained that the SOLO is made mainly for motorcycles. No cordless detector can compete with hardwired ones, that is why there are only a couple on the market. Check some of the radar detector test sites for proof if you don't believe me. I actually heard the same thing from the guy who sells SOLO detectors.

-Jeremy

 

We sell escort products, and the 8500 seems to edge out the solo 2 on performance. Also the solo seems to go through batteries pretty quickly. It doesnt seem to be much of a difference in performance though. My boss has been using the solo 2 for a few weeks in his viper and he loves it. He's also tried the 8500 and says they seem very close in performance.

 

From EVERYTHING I have read, it has the same performance....thus, the rationale for it being $30 more than the 8500. Besides, it has a cooler display, ergonomics, and availability to put it in any car you want.

 

That's cool, I was just sharing my personal experience. Maybe I just had a faulty unit or something. We have these radar stations on the highways here. They display your speed as you pass them. I used those to test my radars. The Passport always started going off about a mile away, and the SOLO's range was maybe half of that. I tested a BELL model also, it was about the same as the SOLO. I have never used a Valentine, so I can't comment on that one. I have been using radar detectors for 9 years now, and I have never been more impressed than I was with the Passport.


-Jeremy