Escort Solo 2
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,369
Likes: 73
From: The line waiting to see Santa Claus stretched all the way back to Terre Haute, and I was at the end, Indiana
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18
Love mine. Batteries last about two weeks of fairly constant use. I use rechargeables in mine. I also have a power cord in case the batteries quit while I'm on the road. The power cord also has a silence button which is handy if you are near an airport or other radar source and it keeps going off.
Advanced
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
From: LOS ANGELES CA
LOVE MY SOLO 2 NO MUSS NO FUSS ,I GET ABOUT A MONTH OUT OF THE BATTERIES AND DONT RUN RECHARGABLES ALKALINE TOP NOTCH BATTERIES ONLY . WORKS GREAT AND I EVEN OUT IT ON MY MOTORCYCLE WITH EAR PIECE . THE ONLY OTHER I WOULD CONSIDER BESIDES ANY ESCORT IS THE VALENTINE IT ADDS THE FEATURE OF THE ARROWS POINTING IN THE DIRECTION OF THE RADAR .. BOUGHT MINE ON E BAY FOR $269 THAT WAS A DEAL .. 
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 11,069
Likes: 1,289
From: Central Ma
Originally Posted by VET IT B
Wife wants to get me a dector for Xmas. Was thinking of the Solo 2, as it has no unsightly wires hanging all around. What do you guys think?
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,385
Likes: 24,790
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Escort Solo is a nice unit. Seems to work very well. As mentioned above, another option would be the Valentine 1.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,854
Likes: 8
From: Pearland, TX
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '20
I have the Solo and have been impressed with it. I have also run in groups where others have used the V1 ... the V1 had earlier warning than the solo.
I like the cordless feature but my next detector will probably be the V1.
Good luck.
I like the cordless feature but my next detector will probably be the V1.
Good luck.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,122
Likes: 2
From: MCO
I have 3 Solo IIs and am very satisfied. I use regular alkalines and usually get between 4 and 6 months on a set. The Solo II gets good battery life due to the LCD screen instead of the LEDs on Solo I, and because the electronics sense motion, or lack of it. After a period of no motion, it shuts down. The old Solo I, which had LEDs and got poor battery life, let the device operate much longer while the car was stopped (if left on). This ate up batteries with no useage.
The one thing I don't like about the Solo II is that the LCD screen is hard to read (for me), no matter how I adjust brightness and contrast. This may simply be my eyes.
The one thing I don't like about the Solo II is that the LCD screen is hard to read (for me), no matter how I adjust brightness and contrast. This may simply be my eyes.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 11,069
Likes: 1,289
From: Central Ma
Originally Posted by VET IT B
Steve, Do you have any pics of the install?
Pro
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 605
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by VET IT B
Wife wants to get me a dector for Xmas. Was thinking of the Solo 2, as it has no unsightly wires hanging all around. What do you guys think?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,734
Likes: 0
From: Vacaville California
i had the sII and i did not like it never seemed to go off even got pulled over and never went off
i got the escort 8500 and just last night it saved my butt i agree with the wiring but somethings are just worth it
btw i have the hard wire set up for the 8500 just need to install it!
i got the escort 8500 and just last night it saved my butt i agree with the wiring but somethings are just worth it
btw i have the hard wire set up for the 8500 just need to install it!
Advanced
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by VET IT B
Steve, Do you have any pics of the install?
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
From: Shanghai
Originally Posted by rmitchell242
i had the sII and i did not like it never seemed to go off even got pulled over and never went off
i got the escort 8500 and just last night it saved my butt i agree with the wiring but somethings are just worth it
btw i have the hard wire set up for the 8500 just need to install it!
i got the escort 8500 and just last night it saved my butt i agree with the wiring but somethings are just worth it
btw i have the hard wire set up for the 8500 just need to install it!
I have the SII but I am not very happy with it. It is too slow to alert. I plan to buy a V1 or 8500 soon.Jim
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,515
Likes: 17
From: Keller, TX
St. Jude Donor '07
I've had a SII for a little over a year. It works well for me... plenty of range. I'm sure it doesn't match the range of the 8500 or V1, but it's compact and easy to move from car to car (which I do a LOT). Also, since I have a vert, I don't like to leave the detector in it and easy to slip in a pocket while the car is parked. Of course I could disconnect an 8600 and do the same... just not as handy. I'd probably use a V1 if they were even reasonably compact.
To sum up, I'm willing to settle for slighlty less performance for convenience.
To sum up, I'm willing to settle for slighlty less performance for convenience.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,587
Likes: 0
From: Redding, CA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
Originally Posted by Allzwell
I have the Solo and have been impressed with it. I have also run in groups where others have used the V1 ... the V1 had earlier warning than the solo.
I like the cordless feature but my next detector will probably be the V1.
Good luck.
I like the cordless feature but my next detector will probably be the V1.
Good luck.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 605
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by CombatVette
Interesting personal account. I've heard that the V1 was more sensitive but only from salesmen.
Last year Motor Trend did a comparison of the available detectors. The V1 and 8500 haven't changed much in that time (V1 added POP, 8500 was upgraded to X50), so most of what they discovered still holds true.
You can see the article here .
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 11,069
Likes: 1,289
From: Central Ma
Originally Posted by VET IT B
Steve, Do you have any pics of the install?
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 242
Likes: 1
From: Boulder, CO
The escort is a great product. You also might want to look into the Phantom II from Rocky Mountain Radar. It's a detector/jammer and is on sale now for $199.95 and they pay for tickets if you get them.
They say ... "If you get a ticket with our Phantom II Radar/Laser Scrambler, the manufacturer will pay for it!"
Can;t get much better than that.
They say ... "If you get a ticket with our Phantom II Radar/Laser Scrambler, the manufacturer will pay for it!"
Can;t get much better than that.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
From: Peoria Arizona
if you hard wire the valentine, it has no wires exposed, and you can put the detector above and to the right of the rear view mirror, and put the remote indicator on top or to the left fo the driving console hump. i wish they had a way to put it on the HUD, or have a concersion from valentine so when it alarms the whole HUD flashes like when you start the car it al llights up to test the lights are working.