Best Radar Detector???

I know this may not help much, but the passport (escort) and the valentine 1 are regarded as the top of the heap. in terms of under $300 I am not aware other than you could likely look at other passport products, such as previous year models, etc. You may also consider ebay, craigslist, etc.

my bottom line opinion is, the v1 (which I have had for 4+ years and love) and the passport are worth the $100 extra.

 

I have the V1 and it's been rock solid

 

V 1 has saved me many many tickets.

 

I love my V1 for radar, but against laser it is really worthless. Only laser jammers have 1/2 a chance. Note that in most Urban areas you will get false alarms, but in rural areas every beep is a smoky nearby!

 

I wouldn't waste money on anything other than a V1. I had another brand previously and it was a glorified paperweight. If price really is an obstacle then I would recommend looking on ebay for a used V1. I got my first V1 on ebay for just over $200, used it for 4 years until all the bulbs burned out and sent it in to upgrade to a brand new one for $200. The technology is tops and you can't beat their program which allows you to upgrade whenever something new is released.

 

Uh, nope, don't think that's the case...

 

Good one.


I didn't get that until I looked at the OP's profile.

"Let's see, will I need to sell the Enzo to get this Valentine 1 or go with the Bell for $200 less?"

 

Didn't think it would be but I didn't want to make any assumptions.

 

I have an old Beltronics on my motorcycle.... its saved me from so many tickets, it used to be in my car... I bought it after I got my first speeding ticket ever... probably 7 years ago.

It still saves me almost every time I go for a ride and cover more than 30 miles in south florida.

But.... If I were going to get another radar detector.... Itd be a v1.

I put one in my g/fs car, and its saved me numerous times when driving her car.

 

I've been using the V1 for many years and up until now, it has been fine. However, now, in my area, traffic monitoring devices have been installed everywhere up and down the highways. They trip the V1 constantly, rendering it basically useless. My brother tells me that the Passport 9500 is the answer. It's GPS based and learns the false alerts as you drive. I am probably going to turn my V1 into them for credit and get the Passport. I'm interested in hearing if anyone else has experienced this. I don't think Valentine has any kind of GPS technology and hasn't offered anything really new in years.

 

Are you running Advanced Logic mode?

also.... V1 does not have any gps technology out that i'm aware of.

 

I've got both the Escort and the V1. The V1 is smaller and easier to fit. The Escort is so large that I find it hard to keep it on the window. Had to dash mount it.

Both do a good job of detection. A big consideration for me is that the Escort has a mute switch on the cigarette lighter connector. Makes it easy to mute false signals especially when you are stuck at a light. The V1 has no such feature. You've got to mute the V1 by pushing the volume knob. And then it does not mute - just lowers the volume. The Escort mute automatically disengages when a new signal is detected.

I had the Escort with the GPS. I thought it was a PITA. Stupid thing was constantly talking about setting and retrieving alerts in its memory.

 

.

 

I agree with cob, but you can get a concealed display with a mute button on it, also, it can mute the volume if u set the first knob all the way to the left.

(which disengages at the newest signal too)


Side note, I have a 10 year old beltronics detector on my bike...

that thing has saved me equally if not more times than my v1. (Bel makes a good unit too)


shy away from cobra, whistler, etc.

 

Did a comparison with V1 and the Passport 9500i today. The V1 was in advanced logic mode. The number of false alerts on the highway using the V1 with the new traffic monitoring devices was ridiculous. The Passport had none of these and only alerted when there was a POP threat. I checked and Valentine has nothing new. My V1 is the latest they have, and it's like 8 years old. Guess I'm getting a Passport.

 

I'm glad i dont live in Ohio....

and sounds like you did your homework..... I hope you didnt have them going at the same time though...

Many times... one will offset the other.

 

So we all know that Valentine and Escort make the best radar detectors out there, but those are $400+ units. As per the OP, what's the best radar detector that costs less than $300? Of course you'll get what you pay for, but I can't imagine they'd all be completely useless.

 

my old bel out performs my buddies whistler and my ex g/fs cobra..... not to mention its annoying when they have alerts that are a ladies voice.


kinda like this
http://cgi.ebay.com/Bel-Radar-Detector-850-STi-/180605690116?pt=Car_Audio_Video&hash=item2a0cf02104

you can get the new bel for 220 shipped on ebay.

 

I am late to the thread as usual, but i just bought a Bel 995. They have merged with Escort, and are the same under the skin. The bel 995 is $194.00 on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/Beltronics-Vector-Radar-Detector-Silver/dp/B000246USU

I am super happy with mine, and i still have my Escort 8500 also, though its several years old now. The Bel has been consistently better on the same roads, than the escort, as i have 5 cars, and switch the 2 between the different cars.

I turned off the voice alert on the Bel, and X band, and turned on POP detection. The bel will also show the frequency of the radar , if you choose to program it to show that, as well as the cars voltages, which I really like, in a nerdy way !

Not sure if we will see KU band here or not, but the Bel 995 already detects that band too.

FWIW.


ps, my Bel 995 came with the exact same "mute" power cord my Escort 8500 came with, plus, you can buy those cords and they will work with any detector that has that phone style plug connector.

 

I bought the V1 and have not been impressed. Including the above, it will also alert on the bumper distance sensors from other vehicles. I was in traffic recently and the Nissan behind me kept the V1 beeping/flashing for miles until I turned it off.

Plus, it weights a ton and the suction cups suck... I mean, they don't suck... you know, it keeps falling off the windshield (sports car suspension).