Best Radar Out There
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
From: College Station TX
Basically the three benchmarks are the flagship detectors from Beltronics, Escort, and Valentine.
From most active, sensitive (or annoying)
- Valentine 1
- Beltronics STi Driver or Pro RX65
- Escort 8500 X50
Either one has proven performance, just depends on how active you wish to be in interpretation of what is or isn't a threat. I personally have a Bel RX65 and take it everywhere I go.
From most active, sensitive (or annoying)
- Valentine 1
- Beltronics STi Driver or Pro RX65
- Escort 8500 X50
Either one has proven performance, just depends on how active you wish to be in interpretation of what is or isn't a threat. I personally have a Bel RX65 and take it everywhere I go.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: Austin, Texas
Another vote for the V1. But to be fair, I've never used the other two... I just know that the arrows are invaluable to me. Can't figure out how I ever used any detector that did NOT have the arrows... Love the V1.
Last edited by darb21; Jan 14, 2007 at 04:44 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Russellville KY
I have the Escort and friends have the V1.... Both WILL save your butt... Price it out.... Humm Ticket $300.00+ and dink on ins 
.... or the same $$$ for a good unit
... and a little piece of mind when you might have a little fun.....
.... or the same $$$ for a good unit ... and a little piece of mind when you might have a little fun.....
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 28,747
Likes: 41
From: Frankenstein never scared me. Marsupials do, because they're fassst…and they DART, THAT'S crazy!
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
I have the Valintine 1 (V1) and the Escort and I will recomend the V1 over the Escort every time. The Escort is a good dectector but the V1 just has more features that make it so much more usefull. The V1 is $400 but worth every penny of it. Oh, and you can program the V1 to be less sensitive if you wish.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 7,981
Likes: 37
From: Piedmont, SC Currently Own: 99 Nassau blue FRC. Previously Owned: 84,95,98 Indy Pace,01 Z06
The detectors themselves are decent, but are cheaply made. The scrambling part of them is a hype. I have had experience with the phantom 1&2 and was not happy. Save your money and go with a V1.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 110
Likes: 2
From: SnoCo, WA
Another Nod to V1
I have used a V1 for almost 9 years now, and while I think you can't go wrong with either the Escort or V1 there are two key points that I feel make the V1 superior:
1) The arrows.
2) No planned obsolescence
After 8 years I was able to trade up my V1 for less than 1/2 the cost of a new one. Once your in, you're family.
I don't believe the Escort Company does that - and let's face it, the cops aren't dumb and neither are the speed detection companies. Technologies will upgrade, and if I can get the newer guts for a lot less than my initial cost of investment, that just makes $$$$ sense to me.
1) The arrows.
2) No planned obsolescence
After 8 years I was able to trade up my V1 for less than 1/2 the cost of a new one. Once your in, you're family.
I don't believe the Escort Company does that - and let's face it, the cops aren't dumb and neither are the speed detection companies. Technologies will upgrade, and if I can get the newer guts for a lot less than my initial cost of investment, that just makes $$$$ sense to me.