Do I need a Radar Detector ?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 875
Likes: 1
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 7,215
Likes: 1
From: Orlando FL
My buddy with a '02 Z06 just had mods from A & A in Oxnard and now sports 535 BHP at the wheels, will not drive the Z06 or his Denali without the Valentine One. He thinks I am crazy for not having one myself. I am in outside sales and drive a company car. I have not been stopped in my C5 yet other than a drunk driving check when I was fumbling for a CD!
I am ordering my V1 as soon as my tax refund hits my bank. I am driving the C5 to Oregon for vacation Memorial weekend so I will try it then, consider it "insurance" if you will.
I am ordering my V1 as soon as my tax refund hits my bank. I am driving the C5 to Oregon for vacation Memorial weekend so I will try it then, consider it "insurance" if you will.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: Department H (U.S. Branch) Western MA
Now, if you're a young guy, and you get close enough for an officer to observe that, that's a whole different story; the age of the driver creates a totally different profile...
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 461
Likes: 0
Actually, I've found that the vette is LESS of a target than most other cars. I think most officers profile us, the same way they profile other cars, and figure we're doctors, lawyers or some other professional types, and don't bother. Let's face it, most officers are more apt to pull cars over when they believe they're going to find more than a speeding violation (i.e. drugs) and vettes don't fit that profile.
Now, if you're a young guy, and you get close enough for an officer to observe that, that's a whole different story; the age of the driver creates a totally different profile...
Now, if you're a young guy, and you get close enough for an officer to observe that, that's a whole different story; the age of the driver creates a totally different profile...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 753
Likes: 2
From: Denville NJ
I feel that it pays off after having one in my list of cars for years. I'm not a "speeder" but you have more exposure in the lower limit areas. The detector sounding off once in a while keeps you alert that there is an ever increasing amount of "over enforcement" and actually keeps you slower to some degree.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,443
Likes: 534
From: PNW Cougar Country WA
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
C6 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
If, or when i ever get stopped for going 5 or 10 over on the freeway I told the wife my only comment will be. "officer, did you see those 4 old ladies in the Buick that just went by me? Well, i just couldn't take it anymore." We have a lot of Good open roads up here in the PNW and if you go the speed limit every beater with a trailer on it goes by.
A radar detector and a laser shifter (jammer) keeps you alert, and i like gadgets.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,820
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
In my area they will focus on Corvettes more than other cars. I don't use a detector currently but several years ago I did. I was on a 30 mph road following an old pickup truck that was dropping rocks out of the back so I was hanging back a couple hundred feet going about 25. A local LEO comes the other way and waits until he passes the truck to trigger his radar on me. As he passed me I turned and gave him a big grin.
Bill
Bill
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 234
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco CA
I'd been driving nine years without ever getting pulled over. Then I got a radar detector and got pulled over three times in one year.
It gave me too much confidence and I drove faster than I should. Two of the three stops were clocked with pacing; one was radar from a cop in a perfect hiding place. That was actually the only time the radar detector could have saved me, and it didn't. (Escort 8500.)
The good news: only one of the three stops resulted in a ticket, and I got lucky and got it dismissed by the judge.
I don't see many speed traps here in the San Francisco area, and the last few I've seen have been laser.
I took the detector down and haven't been pulled over in four years since.
It gave me too much confidence and I drove faster than I should. Two of the three stops were clocked with pacing; one was radar from a cop in a perfect hiding place. That was actually the only time the radar detector could have saved me, and it didn't. (Escort 8500.)
The good news: only one of the three stops resulted in a ticket, and I got lucky and got it dismissed by the judge.
I don't see many speed traps here in the San Francisco area, and the last few I've seen have been laser.
I took the detector down and haven't been pulled over in four years since.
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I suspect I won't be needing a radar detector for a long time since gas shows no sign up getting cheaper
Pro
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 654
Likes: 1
From: Prescott Valley Arizona
My buddy with a '02 Z06 just had mods from A & A in Oxnard and now sports 535 BHP at the wheels, will not drive the Z06 or his Denali without the Valentine One. He thinks I am crazy for not having one myself. I am in outside sales and drive a company car. I have not been stopped in my C5 yet other than a drunk driving check when I was fumbling for a CD! I am ordering my V1 as soon as my tax refund hits my bank. I am driving the C5 to Oregon for vacation Memorial weekend so I will try it then, consider it "insurance" if you will.
I am ordering my V1 as soon as my tax refund hits my bank. I am driving the C5 to Oregon for vacation Memorial weekend so I will try it then, consider it "insurance" if you will.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 9,420
Likes: 8
From: Southern New Jersey, The wet part at the bottom
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
I don't think I need one. I think of it as a "tecno toy" that as a retired tractor trailer driver, an occupation where they originated in the first place, it's probably just a carry over from a time when I did need one.
