Which radar detector is better?

[shoota77]

I've only had one radar detector and its the 8500 X50. I bought it before I drove from Anchorage back to Boston and it had paid for itself before I left Alaska. It has worked very well and gives me excellent early notice of police presence. The only time I've ever been pulled over with it was when the car I was in got hit by laser (which we got out of)...it was instant notice but I hear once you're hit with laser you're fubar. So, that's all I have to say...it's a great product and it's slightly less expensive than the Valentine which also seems like a fine product. Good luck!

[WyrreJ]

I have the V1 with remote display. I have the main unit mounted over the rear-view mirror and the remote display is hung off the driver-side a-pillar and stuck to the windshield with some kind of tacky clear tape I had at the time. I removed the housing of the remote display so it would be thinner and mount better on the windshield.

The remote is directly at eye level so that when the alarm goes off I can see it and the directional arrows without moving my eyes from the road. I figure this gives me a few 1/10ths of a second faster response time than using the display directly on the main unit.

One day I am also going to wire up the remote audio so that it is the driver's side headrest.

The false laser alarms from neon signs and the trailblazer's 3rd brake are annoying, but rare enough that it is not a big deal for me. I find that the directional arrows are most useful as general "cop locators" so that when I am driving around town, I am aware of their location since they usually leave their radar units on even when not in use.

The bogey counter has saved my *** twice in 3-4 years -- speed traps under "cover" of known false detection zones. Normally the bogey counter reads 1 in those areas, but the times it saved me it read 2 instead so I knew something was up.

[VehiGAZ]

Here's my 2 cents...

Car & Driver magazine tests and compares 5-10 radar detectors every few years, using real-world tests and precision measuring systems, and every single time they do it, the Valentine beats the pants off every competitor. They measure the distance of detection, the offset angle, rear detection, performing these tests on flat roads and on roads with undulations (i.e., radar located over a hill), and a whole bunch more, and multiple times. In all tests and categories, the V1 trounces all comers with detection distances and angles almost TWICE that of the next closest competitor. Let me stress that point... if the second-place detector finds the radar signal at 500-600 feet, the V1 picks it up at about 1000 feet. I don't care who you are and what your detector bias is, that's gotta count for something! It may give more false signals, though - I don't remember the results THAT well - but I figure that's going to come with the territory if it is that much better than the rest. If anyone really, really, really wants to know what issue the last comparison was in, I can check my C/D library, but you'll have to ask nice.

Anyway, I've been impressed with those test results every time I see them. I don't use a detector myself, so I'm not plugging my personal choice. I figure if I get pulled over, I have a fair chance of getting out of the ticket without a detector on the dash, but I am DEFINITELY getting one if I have any kind of detector running. But my recent rash of tickets this year may just change my mind.

As for laser detection, I wouldn't choose based on that. The differences in quality of laser detection are infinitesimal compared to the fact that if the unit is detecting the laser, it's probably too late for you anyway.

[Jolly Roger VX'er]

I've been happy with my Bell 985 which saved my arse quite a few times now. I bought it when the Bell 990 came out because the price dropped on the 985 since it was no longer the newest model...and the only difference between them is the 990 has international radar frequencies installed while the 985 is purely for domestic use.

[autox-racer]

V1 has my vote.

knowing which direction the radar is coming from is important so you can resume your speed once you have passed the source. or telling you if you should not jump on your brakes if behind you.

The laser going off with tail lights usually happens when you are pulling up behind a stopped car... About 20 feet away for my radar height. Is annoying in Detroit were there are a lot of trailblazers, avalanches. however, if you are brave you can program the V1 so the laser is off.

I have programmed mine to have boggy counter on mute volume VS regular volume... Beeps too much in city driving.

My 2 cents.

[VCAMILO]

The Valentine V1 has my Vote. Especially when it can tell where the signals are coming from (front, sides, rear) I have not been stopped onmy 350z yet. It has saved me about 8 times. HATE THE COPS IN AZ! They have nothing better else to do than to set speeding traps. My sportbike its another deal. 5 tickets in 3 years. ARG!

[shoota77]

Vcamilo...for your bike you may want to look into the Solo by escort. It's cordless and has headphone plugs. I'm thinking about getting it for when i ride (which i unfortunately now have to wait for next season to do, lucky arizonians).

http://www.escortradar.com/solo.htm

[AlaskaVX]

HATE THE COPS IN AZ! They have nothing better else to do than to set speeding traps. My sportbike its another deal. 5 tickets in 3 years. ARG!

HA!! Yeah I lived there for a year, and those cops suck there is SOOOOOOOOOO much else for them to be doing instead of watching traffic. Hell, I had an 11 year old kid pull a gun on me....... but being the Alaskan I am I laughed in his face and kept walking.

Ohhh the good ol days of 24th St. and Indian School