Greets:

First of all, let me go on record as being opposed to CF p*ssing contests. I am not interested in what you own, how it saved your life, or whether it raises your IQ. What I am interested in is this:

Are you convinced that there is a significant difference in the performance of radar detectors that the $100+ additional cost of the Valentine provides vastly improved performance?

What do I mean by "vastly improved?" Having between 5 and 10 seconds more time to respond to an-over-the hill or around-a-corner speed trap AND a huge reduction in annoying falses from Pic 'n' Pay, Piggly-Wiggly, and Waffle World. Shoney's is okay: one large sweet tea and I'm in the Land of Buzz for two hours ...(then it's the Land of Migraine for six ; worth the pain, though).

Thanks,
GB

PS If this thread goes nuclear, I will ask the Mods to squash it. My life does not need the conflict and acrimony...

 

In my opinion, you're paying $100 for the arrows on the V1. I don't think there's a significant difference in performance. Since I don't particularly care where the Bogie is, or how many there are (if the thing goes off I'm slowing down regardless) I opted for the better, more Italian looking, less expensive Escort 8500 X50.

Of course, if you prefer the "industrial" look....

 

Um, Well, since you asked......YES, I think the V1 is worth it.

 

I have one V1 and two 8500 X50's. The Vert gets the V1.... nuff said

 

Theres a radar detector web site somewhere that goes deep into the strengths and weaknesses of each detector. I was impressed with all of the information.

I was about to pull the trigger on one of the ones that the site said was the best and decided to do a Google search first. Come to find out, the one that I was going to purchased had been superseded by one that was better.

So,,,,,,,,,I'm still at odds over which one to get! I think I can do without the arrows but like the fact the V1 is upgradeable.
Hope this post pulls out some good objective info!!

I think that the anti false signal capability is more important than if one detector picks up x band 2 feer better tham the other.

BC

 

V1 owner here. Absolutely love it, has saved my a$$ numersous times, etc., etc. I researched rd's extensively before I bought it and the bogey counter and arrows really appealed to me so for me, the extra $100 was worth it. That said, if the V1 didn't have those two features, I probably would have had a hard time deciding and may have not paid an extra $100 since the 8500 appears to be extremely close in detection ability. Just my .02.

 

I said it once and Ill say it again, If you buy a Radar-Laser detector without the ability to jam or shift Laser you are buying an inferior product... sorry V1 time to bring your product to todays technology.
Oh yeah..Nuf sed

 

Just my $0.20 worth. I think actual performance of the 8500 and V1 are about equal. 8500 supposedly has better false alarm filtering. V1 has arrows and is upgradeable. My wife bought me an Escort 8500 X50 for Xmas. I think it's a great unit, but it's going in her car when my V1 gets here.

 

The X50 is also upgradeable...FWIW....only owned the Escort can't give you a comparison in real life.

What someone needs to do is strap a few of these bad boys in their car and go for a drive...a long drive and see what happens when and record the info. FWIW my Escort will pick up K/Ka-Band from 1 1/2 miles away over a hill (local as I leave my business they run a speed trap at least once a week)
and did even better last year in the mountains of W Va where they are illegal

 

The top three (Valentine, Escort and BEL) are ALL within a nat's hair of each other in performance, so go with price and features. I really like my BEL's voice announcement of band type and the price was well below that of the other two. Fortunately, its performance is not.

 

V1 in mine

 

Learning how to use this tool is much more important than choosing between the top models.

Leaning that running in front is a great way to get the first ticket. On the other hand spacing so that cars are within 1/2 mile or so is a comfortable place...but still not immune !

 

 

Bel is better or equal at worst, price for belltronics is always best.

 

if you read the material that came w/8500 its also upgradeable,noticed every time these posts start,the V-1 guys ALWAYS say they have a passport but use the V-1 B.S. psychology.

 

a radar detector will pick up doppler waves from any direction. And like any other receiver, it will pick up the strongest signal first, ie, the one coming at you. The smart radar user will not turn on the signal untill he sees you, then your caught because he will send a signal and get a return, long before you can react. It also has a wider screening view of signal. It sends out a wave and looks for what bounces back.

The laser is pointing a dirrect line at your car. Its tracking you and only you.

The best radar detector would have a illegal jamming system so the officer can not get a return signal from your car. Good luck filing for an FCC license on that.

All the detectors work off common systems, but the better ones will not pick up the motion detectors at your local bank. Radar is the same on your home security, bank security, office security, weather station and police speeder systems. Its doppler. Laser is better because it looks and locks on one item.

 

Okay,
I just got the V1 and have an Escort 8500 X50. Just for giggles I put both radar detectors on the windshield and went for the test drive. My observations:
1) Having experienced for several months hits at an intersection on K band for the Escort, I cruised there first. The V1 picked the hit earlier than the Escort, the V1 also identified which direction something which surprised me because I thought it was a Hardee's and it wasn't.
2) The V1 found a stationary radar before the Escort and identified it as a side shot, something not to worry about.
3) The V1 found radar over a little hill quicker than the Escort.
4) The V1 had two hits which appeared as false and the Escort had hits which were different than the V1.
Overall, both detectors worked well. I prefer the V1 and will keep it for the Vette.

Just my .02 cents worth.

 

IMHO this is an example of a well-considered response to my question (as were others above, BTW). Many of us realize that individuals have their favorites & it seems that performance is fairly close among the top contenders and features make a difference.

I'd also like to make a semi-political statement here about the ethics of using radar detectors, which came up a bit on Phil's post:

Where I live, in Maine, the traffic on the (only) highway generally runs between 75 and 85. I see no crazed behavior, people are wide awake, and the traffic runs smoothly. Occasionally there is someone in the left lane who blocks traffic with a much slower speed. That is the most dangerous situation I find. Frequently, I am passed by one of our troopers who is travelling in excess of 85 and not particularly worried about anyone's speed. At times, there are radar traps and people get pulled over. My assessment: the road(s) are built for speeds higher than 65; the cars are hugely safer than the 50's era cars that drove these roads at a legal 70 mph; deaths are way down from peaks 20 years ago; and the "average" driver feels that 75-85 is safe. Finally, the fact that officers, more often than not ignore speeds in the 75-85 mph range indicates to me that they're not too worried about traffic speed. My conclusion: radar traps are not traffic safety operations. Since getting stopped for travelling at safe and "normal" speeds is a crapshoot, I feel like using a radar detector protects me from capricious law enforcement.

Yes, I scoff at this particular law, which in itself is unethical, I suppose. But I scrupuluously follow the law in other regards.

GB

 

I love my V1 and feel the bogie counter and arrows are worth the extra money.

 

After further research, the Escort 8500 X50 has outgunned the V1 with back to back testing also with other leading radar detectors.

you can pick one up brand new on ebay for 280 shipped!

I tested it with a friends' model and we got a good 1/4 mile warning before we saw the cop. Now thats quality! Very very little to zero false alarms.