I got the Passport 8500. Why?:

1-It won the Motor Trend 2001 detector shootout.

2-It has VG2 "detector-detector" masking.

3-Unlike Valentine I could crossshop for the best price (paid $259+no tax+free shipping from soundgood.com).

The Valentine is a nice unit because it has the locating arrows BUT it does not have VG2 sensitivity. In Europe or in many states where a detector is illegal the VG2 sensitive detectors will prevent smokey bear from knowing you have a detector.

Do not get a detector that does not have VG2....trust me on this one!

 

Hey Vallini, where do you (and others) have your dector mounted? Are you using the smart cord? I'm probably going to purchase the 8500 this week... shopping around for the best price now.

 

There is a whole bunch of crap that gets posted on a forum, you know that. All I'm saying is that I have seen web pages and magazines of people who test radar detectors and the Valentine scores last. Like I also said I I've never used one, but I tend to believe numbers and scientific testing rather than what people think. Believe me, I heard enough good about the Valentine to consider it, but then I started looking at the cost, it's bulk, and then finally the reviews. That pretty much put an end to it.

 

Radar detectors are illegal in Ontario and most of Canada even though they manufacture Bel units outside of Toronto. That being said I run an ol' Cobra with VG2 stealth and detection. So far the past few years I've been okay.

The only trick I can suggest is don't depend solely on the Radar, use some judgement. Lasar traps are located in large cities because of the cost of the units. And don't use the detector near the border as the Radar detector detectors are mostly trying to stop these devices from crossing the border.

The Valentine One is my favourite and I will pick one up as soon as I can. I'm thinking of keeping two detectors in the car when I pick up the V1. Have both the V1 and a cheapy unit, that way if the OPP catch me I'll hand over the cheapy and hid the V1. Do you think this will work?

 

I can personally attest to the value of the V1.

I live in Orlando, but for going on 4 years I have worked In Ft Lauderdale FL so twice a week i make the trip from one to the other (about 225 milles each way). Every time I do I set my cruise control at 95mph and I HAVE NEVER BEEN TAGGED by RADAR. That's over 360 trips. I was caught once on VASCAR (Palm Beach County), but no detector will help you there. On average I get at least one confirmed contact, where i acually see the officer, and sometimes as many as five on each trip. So for all thoses supposed impartial tests that discredit or imply the V1 is not a quality detector, well it simply is not true. I have owned several detectors this past decade, but V1 is the only detector I will ever own again. It gets my highest recomendation.

Also, regarding the statment that troopers will confisgate detectors if found in FL. I don't think that is true either. I was pulled over about 1 1/2 years ago on a non-speed related occasion and the officer made a coment about my "fuzz-buster", but took no action about it. He just told me to be careful and sent me on my way.


[Modified by Mark Leiter, 10:48 AM 12/17/2001]

 

I have mine in my cars mounted using the hardwire kit ($10 for non smartcord & $29.50 for the smartcord hardwire) & use the visor clip ($4).

I am not too hot about using suction cups & having some ugly cord draped across my dash. You can order the hardwire accessories from Escort's website. The best price for the 8500 I was able to find was http://www.soundgood.com between the money saved from no taxes,free shipping & their awesome discount I had an extra $65 in my pocket from the next best price.

 

There is a lot of bad info in this thread that I would like to dispell with the truth. Three provinces in Canada allow radar detectors, BC,Alb, Sasq, they are illegal in all other provinces. The VG-2 is a receiver used by the police to detect 11.5 Ghz local oscillators radiated by radar detectors using the lowest cost frequency scheme (most of them). The V1 has never used this scheme and is undetectable by the VG2. Radar detectors are not illegal in Fla, and will not be confiscated by the police. The V1 is shorter than Escort, same height, slightly wider, therefore claims that it is bulky are unfounded. Car and Driver tested several years ago all of the jammers against 3 radar and laser gun manufacturers and found the K40 did absolutely nothing. Valentine has never come in last in any radar test but was scored low by Craig Peterson and Carl Fors, both who offer their consulting services and both have been turned down by Valentine. Peterson owns radartest.com and Fors owns speedzone.com, also both consult for radar gun mfgs AND radar warning mfgs, so I wouldn't trust anything that they write. Car and Driver has the most fair radar receiver tests and Valentine has always been #1 in their tests. Car and Driver will publish in Jan or Feb their latest radar tests. I personally know Michael Valentine and we are both EE's and I am aware of the circuits the V1 uses and I am aware of the circuits of most of his competitors, and I can tell you that the reason the V1 beats all of the others is because of better microwave design in the front end of the V1 receiver. The V1 is more expensive than other radar detectors due to the fact that the V1 has 2 receivers, front and rear facing, and has more expensive microwave devices and a higher parts count in the front end of the receiver.

 

Don't forget: YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.

I've owned a variety of detectors.
I now own the best.
V1 is the ONLY detector to put your money in.

This subject has been discussed over and over on this forum and the results are always the same.

You've got a Vette. Get the V1 to go with it.

Treat yourself to the best. Anything else is second or third or fourth . . .best.

I do not work with or have any affiliation with Valentine Radar Detector.
I'm just a well satisfied V1 owner whose purchase has more than paid for itself.

 

Had a Valentine One for over 7 years...NEVER lied to me. Never got nailed by a bogey hiding within another signal.

In NJ where the Radar/Lidar runs free.

V1 HAS NOT LET ME DONE

did I just jinx myself?

 

You see this is odd. I work with a company that works with the onyl ferrari dealer in the province (as far as I know) and a few other high high end car shops and we do almost exclusively passport SR1 units, or a high end k40 detector with a laser diffuzer. I've never heard of any complaints from them. just my .02 cents :)

 

Chief, did you hear about the two flies trapped in a vinegar bottle? They thought it was the sweetest place on earth. Course, they've never been anywhere else.

 

Let me get this right. I see people saying that they don't believe what one person publishes because of his relationship with the manufacturer, then the same person says that a certain dectector is better, more or less because of his personal relationship with the manufacturer.

Nice logic, I'll be sure and fall for it.

All in all nobody will win this argument, it's just like spark plugs and plug wires. Everybody has their opinion and nobody has any facts to back it up. So in the end we have a bunch of people saying well I've never had this happen and such. In the end there is no way to believe any of it. Trust me, I'm a firm believer in the you get what you pay for attitude but occasionally a company can get a good reputation early, but then continue only on their fame and never improve their products.

Say what you will about it, flame me all to hell, you guys like to do that. Regardless I will admit that I have a $100 Cobra radar detector that I only paid $50 for. Is it the best out there, of course not, but the fact is I don't even need it. It's cool to look at and on the open highway it might just let me know something is going on up ahead. I don't drive that fast, hmm a 65 mph speed limit I might go 70 and I am usually getting passed doing that. In town detection? Well if you're speeding in town you don't deserve to get out of it. There are far too many people to endanger and it shows a complete lack of respect for the lives of other people. It's no wonder corvette insurance rates are so high, just because the power is there doesn't mean you have to use it all the time. You drive a corvette, what do you have to prove? We have a bad enough image among the public, speeding constantly only serves to worsen that image.

So why do I have my radar dectector?
I got it cheap
It has an emergency vehicle warning
It looks cool
To keep me from speeding because I know if I get caught I won't talk my way out of it with that in the car.
If I happen to be cruising with my friend, they will try everything stupid while I sit back and observe, it's nice to know they are toast before they know it. It's fun to watch somebody barrel at like 20 over right into a speed trap.

Flame all you want but that's the truth of it, I honestly think if you speed you should be caught. I honestly think that when I speed I should be caught. That's why when I got my speeding ticket in my old car, I thanked the officer. Oh I was pissed because I know he didn't clock me for what he said he did, but at least he was doing something. In BG especially we need a police presence, we are the accident capital of KY.

 

Yep, a fifty buck radar detector is a LOT better than the one I got.
A better paperweight.
But yep, that sure is a lot less than I paid. I'm just stupid.
I could have gotten EIGHT of those fifty buck wonders and put them all over my car. Sure wish I was a wise shopper and had gotten some of those things.

But here's the "real deal".

It's for those times I WANT to "Use The Force" that I have a radar detector.
If I didn't ocassionally want to "Use The Force" then I'd not have a Corvette.
When I "Use The Force" I want as much "Force" as I can get and I want to use it as liberally as I desire. I trust my judgement completely to "Use The Force" at the appropriate time and place.

If I didn't trust my judgement then I'd not have a Corvette.

Here's the old "I walked three miles to school" statement:
I've been driving for 36 years (I'm 52 now) with not an accident or incident.
Except one time I bumped into my wife's car....with my lawn tractor.

The ONLY traffic violation I've EVER received was back in '85.
Nabbed by an unmarked car doing 86mph in a 50mph zone.
Open road , dry weather, could see for miles, two cars.... me and the GSP. (Georgia State Patrol)

Ok, here's the rest of this post:
When I "Use The Force" I want as much control over the situation as I can possibly get. That includes detecting other "Forces" and threats that may be out there, hiding in the bushes, over hills and around curves.
To help acheive this maximum "Situational Awareness" I employ the best radar detector on the market for folks like me that want to "Use The Force".

If I had no situational awareness I'd not have a Corvette.
And I'd NEVER drive over the speed limit.

Would you believe me if I said I never drive more than 5/10mph over the limit?
It's like someone saying "We've been married for 50 years and never had a cross word between us". Either someone isn't talking or someone is lying.
Drive a Corvette and never driven more than 5/10mph over the limit?
That's like the one I heard about Osama Bin Laden accepting Jesus Christ as his saviour.

This is no flame, just a curious observation similar to the last post.

Here's another one.

How many of us here drive over in the "SLOW" lane with all those "SAFE" drivers?
That's about the best way to get yourself run over as I can come up with.
They aren't exceeding the speed limit , nope, most are driving UNDER the limit.
You know what I've found out?
They are over there because they can't keep up with the position of cars around them. The can't look before they change lanes. They are erratic drivers that speed up/slow down and can't drive a constant speed.
They are the WORST drivers on the road.
But they AREN'T EXCEEDING that speed limit, no sir.
What makes them the worst drivers is a lack of situational awareness.

But I will say MOST folks that drive Corvettes are good drivers with great situational awareness and are safer at 50/60mph over the speed limit than all those "safe" drivers who only have that false sense of safety when they are driving the speed limit.

But hey, radar detectors are like religion, I ain't gonna have to answer for what YOU do. Do as you please. Believe what you want.
And I won't be there when your fity-buck detector betrays you. Do as you please. Believe what you want.

It's a free country, do as you please. But if you want to do liberally what the Corvette was built for, do yourself a favor and get a V1.
Don't YOU deserve the BEST?

the fine print:
i am in no way associated with valentine one radar detectors. other than i own one and am saving my pennies for another.
(but if they want to pay me to write them a commercial or advertisement, i will)

One last thing: When I "barrel into a speed trap", I hope it's not for a measly 20mph over the speed limit.
Anybody want to comment on the "SCS" around Atlanta? SCS-Standard Cruise Speed
I will. 90mph is not uncommon around I-285.
And 100mph prevalent down I-185. Drive the speed limit out there on 185 and I guarantee you some semi-truck will flatten you AND your plastic-fantastic.

Man, that was a lot more than 2 cents worth. $5.00 maybe.
Ok,off my soap box again.





[Modified by VetNutJim, 12:36 PM 12/18/2001]

 

Vetnutjim, you said it better than I ever could have.

 

BUY THE BEST MONEY CAN BUY ESCORT 8500!!!!!!!!! :yesnod: :yesnod: Will reach out there and get 'em plus is very good at not picking up false signals>>>>>just the real mccoy....have had damn near all the detectors and this one is the best ........ :D :yesnod: :D :yesnod: :D :yesnod:

 

man Jim.....that was a very emotional post........... and stop acting like luke skywalker about the radar detectors alright? :) .... anyone in a vette is a sith lord so talk like vader :jester

 

I love stuff like that, I don't know where you get bulky from It tucks right up in the crook of my windshield and rearview mirror. Not noticeable till it lights up and alerts me of a presence.

Here are some photos of this bulky :rolleyes: detector http://www.corvetteforum.net/c4/jeffvette//im001085.jpg
http://www.corvetteforum.net/c4/jeffvette//im001086.jpg
http://www.corvetteforum.net/c4/jeffvette//im001087.jpg
http://www.corvetteforum.net/c4/jeffvette//im001088.jpg

The great thing about hte design being ten years old, it's the case, the internals are upgraded as needed.......AND if you happen to have one of these old untis, instead of buying a new one you can pay for just the upgrade.

 

WOW :eek: Yall are some serious people when it comes to Radar Detectors !! :lol:

 

Damn, I wish the deer and o'possums up here in N. Carolina would emit radar energy like the ones down there in Georgia, I'd feel safe driving 50-60 MPH above the limit!
-Matt

 

I'm sorry to bother you Mr. Skywalker, but the fact remains that exceeding the speed limit is illegal with good cause. All your situational awareness won't stop your tire from blowing out or some other unknown to enter the equation that is far more dangerous at great speed.

Of course I drive over the speed limit in my corvette, OCASSIONALLY. Every time I do it I make the judgement over how dangerous it is to do so, however if something goes wrong I know I'll have to pay for it.

:bs

That's just lovely. There are a good deal of drivers on the road who shouldn't be out there, but what is this? That's just exactly what's wrong with the corvette image, people who think they have some kind of divine right just because of what they drive. Fact is a lot of corvettes are owned by people who have too much money and don't know what to do with it.

Not that it matters but I never once said my $50 detector was BETTER than anything. In fact I dare say it's CRAP, but that's just fine. You shouldn't even need one because you should be mature enough to handle your car appropriately and be ready to accept some responsibility when you get caught doing something stupid.

You won't have to be there when my $50 detector betrays me because I don't rely on it. There are also plenty of corvette drivers on this forum in particular who look down with disgust over your argument. They drive their car because they like the image, and they like the power. Power doesn't always mean speeding, power can mean being able to ADJUST speed quickly, like say merge into a highway with a very short ramp. That can be done VERY quickly and not exceed the speed limit at all.

Whichever radar detector is the best doesn't really matter, I just know one thing, I'd feel a lot safer with all of my 20 year old friends driving our sports cars than with a pack of people who feel they are superior to everybody on the road.