Of all of you who are using radar detectors in the $350 price range, which one(s) do you like best, and why? I live in Southern California if that makes any difference. I like the rear view mirror mount idea ... but after spending much time on radartest.com, I am having a difficult time deciding which brand / model to look into.

 

Spend $50 more and get Valentine One.

There is none finer.

 

What makes the Valentine such a good unit?

 

I agree 100%. The main advantage is that it is upgradeable, you can send it back to have it reprogrammed with any new info.... Spend the money. And the arrows and bogey count are lifesavers.... Have many times have you passed acop and started accelerating and then another one appeared, the V1 would of told you.... I should get a job there

 

Agreed. I've owned my V1 for a couple of years now, and it's been amazing. Far better than any other detector I've ever used, and my friends all agree. Whenever they go on a road trip, they constantly say how much better the V1 is than their detectors.

Valentine's web page pretty much tells you why their's is the best. They don't lie. If you've got $350 to spend, then definitely just save up another 50 bucks and get the V1. If the V1 is just out of the question for you, then you might consider the Passport 8500. It's usually considered next in line when a V1 isn't available.

My only real gripe about the V1 is that it's pretty ugly. Not a big deal, mind you, but it could use a bit of a face lift. My model is the previous generation, though, and the new one is a bit thinner and lower profile. (The new cuts maybe 1/4" inch from the bottom.) I might send mine in for an upgrade before too long to get that new case.

Interesting note about www.radartest.com. I've read over and over about some long-standing beef that the radartest.com guy has with the Valentine1 guy. I don't recall exactly what the deal is, or if it's even real, but apparently radartest.com always rates the V1 low, despite the fact that just about every other radar test in the world says the V1 is on top. Weird.

 

I checked out www.radartest.com and www.radarbusters.com. Both claim the passport 8500 is the better detector. Of course the Valentine1 has a great reputation. Which one is better? I dunno. I do know which one is cheaper. I bought my passport 8500 at Best Buy for $284. Much cheaper than the Valentine1 at $399.

 

If you keep your eyes peeled, you can find a new Passport for $200-250. That's the route I am about to go. I will also get a laser shifter down the road a little.

8500 AND Laser shifter ~$550.

Run a search on radar here in this forum, you will find al you want to know about radar detectors and more! BTW, 99% of people will tell you that the 8500 and V1 are your two safest choices. Apparently there is a Bell detector that mirriors the Escort 8500 as well.

 

Get the V1. Maybe you save $50+ by not gettng a speeding ticket because of the arrows.

 

I've never owned a Passport, so of course I'll say go for the V1! The arrows are a major lifesaver and it's sensitivity to Ka band is very very accurate.

 

What's the big deal about th arrows? I'm sure they are a nice feature but if it gives an alert what differnece does it make what direction it is comming from. Slow Down!

 

Yeah, when I was first shopping I thought the same thing. I went ahead and went with the V1. Since then, I've becoming addicted to those arrows. I can't even imagine a detector without them. I suppose it's just peace-of-mind, and knowing right where to look.

Additionally, the V1 tells you exactly how many different signals it's receiving, and from which direction the strongest signal is coming. That's come in handy quite a few times for me. For example, it starts beeping at you, telling you 2 signals are coming from in front of you, so you slow down. You see the first cop and pass him slowly, and the V1 then says you've got 1 signal behind you, but another in front of you. If you didn't know there were two cops, you might start speeding back up at that point assuming you were past the danger, but the V1 tells you there is still one more up ahead.

It's just nice to have. All my friends (who use all sorts of different detectors) universally say they want a V1 after using mine for any length of time. I've loaned it out before when friends were going on road trips, and they come back addicted to it.

 

It's just nice to have. All my friends (who use all sorts of different detectors) universally say they want a V1 after using mine for any length of time. I've loaned it out before when friends were going on road trips, and they come back addicted to it. [/B][/QUOTE]

Did your friends use the passport 8500? It would be nice to hear from someone who has used both detectors for a signifiicant amount of time and can provide an objective comparison.

 

The passport 8500 has an expertmeter mode which is essentually a spectrum analyzer. It will display the intesity and band of 8 different radar signals simultaneously as a bar graph. This mode is partically useful when driving in a familuar area whith multiple usual false radar signals. Thus when using the expert mode multiple "unusual signals" may then be resolved.

 

None of my close friends own an 8500, but I do know some people who use them and are happy with them. I've poked around with them while I was riding in their cars. Seem like nice units. If money was tight and I just couldn't afford a V1, I'd definitely consider an 8500. When it comes down to it, though, I'm addicted to the directional arrows on my V1.

 

Good question, I have debated the issue probably to long as periods above 100mph become more common, not to mention crazy speed traps near the end of the month.

Anyway, don't have one but most forums speak very highly of the V1, it will be the one I get most likely.

I live in illinois, any know the laws for detectors, what's the ticket if cps stop you for a detector, $25,$50?

It will be my first mod i think,

she's 1.5months old and 2020miles, knock on wood no tickets yet.

 

V1 has a 30 day money back guarantee, you know...give it a try!

Myself, whenever my V1 finally gets stolen (I've into year 6 now, cross your fingers) I will order another the same day.

 

It is well known that radartest.com is biased against the V1.

As for radarbusters.com, they SELL radar detectors, but they can not sell the V1, so I am suspicious. If they rated the V1 tops they would basically be advising you to NOT buy a detector from them.

I can't prove radarbusters.com is biased, but it would be pretty dumb to tell your customers to go elsewhere on your own website.

 

Call V1 and ask if they have any 'Vacation radar detectors' left - it will save you about $20. Small discount, but hey - its a discount.

They are nothing but detectors that people bought to maybe go on vacation or something (hence, the name) and returned within the 30 days.

That's what I did.

 

actually it saves you $40, so the price will be $359. I just looked at my invoice.

 

Thanks 'nissan350z' ... I'll definately do that! BTW ... love the pics! :-)