I've never had a radar detector, but years ago wanted to buy a Valentine one, supposed to show where it's coming from, front and back.

I was at Walmart and stumbled on one for $150.00 that says it detects radar and Lazer, Cobra brand, didn't buy, doing some research.

Who all here has radar detectors, and have they helped you avoid getting a speeding ticket, or at least made you aware even if you are not speeding?

I see hidden police often lately, there is a curve where speed limit drops from 45 to 35, I was driving going with flow of traffic going about 50, 2 lanes in each direction, and some SUV cut around me probably going 60 or more, then they saw the cop car and hit brakes.

What radar detector do you have, is it good or bad?

I'm curious if some detectors don't warn driver's and they get a ticket, that would be a bummer.

Would like to hear any stories of how having one worked out, never known anyone that has one.

Also, I would hate to have car broken into to have it stolen.

 

I have a Escort 9500ix ($400) in all 3 of my cars, now no longer made. I think the 360 model replaced it. Now with all the safety features in cars, they set off false alarms to ALL radar detectors. Every different car makers have unique Signatures for these sensors. The high end radar detectors offer software updates that includes to cover these sensors. (PITA)!

That $150 radar detector most likely won't offer that feature and it will give you many false alarms. You will wind up not using it. In my case when I get an alert, I look around what types of cars are near me. If there's a high end car coming at me or from behind, I make a decision to slow down or ignore the alarm.

https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cul...more-accurate/

 

^^^^^^this exactly, it was great, never let me down but now many false alarms......

 

Here is a great deal at Costco for the Escort Max II. I recently picked one up and have been very happy with it, it has all the anti-falsing, gps and the defender database. I think for the money this is a pretty good deal, not the top of the line but I was not looking to spend $600.00 on a detector.

 

Uniden R3 is the best bang for the buck now. About $300.

 

I have the older model of the Escort (8500), it has worked great and has saved me several times. I'm using the setup under the mirror like mikeam posted and I love it. It's out of the way, but enough so I can see it. I really need to find a radar that bluetooths into the car speakers. There have been a couple of times were I didn't hear it go off because music was up and windows down.

 

Oooooh, that would be a cool feature!
I have four V1s and I speed 99% of the time. The other 1% is when my V1 says Ka ahead.

 

Check out Vortex Radar on youtube as well as on his website. I use a Uniden R3, but I'd like to try the R7 that they just came out with. The R7 has the arrows like the Valentine.

 

Another one here with the Escort 9500ix. I don't need to know where the cop is. When Ka hits my detector, I slow down.
Hope this helps.

 

I have an updated Valentine 1. It works as advertised and has saved me more than once.

 

The issue with alot of the dectectors on the market is that they will read K and KA band, but it's false. The blind spot warning on modern cars are using the same technology so it pegs detectors.

 

Every road side chat I've had with L.E. in the last few years has been laser sourced.

 

The R3 I mentioned earlier with power supplied by the rear view.

 

Maybe true with K band but not Ka band. They never "peg" my V1s

 

I've been using radar detectors since the 1970's. I remember having a FuzzBuster brand and it looked like a microwave sitting on the dash.
I've had just about every kind on the market. Right now I have one in my 03 Vert, my wife's Hyundai SUV and my 14 Silverado.
I don't speed anymore but I've become so used to them I have to have one. I like to know where the cops are.
I won't get into brands now but my experience tells just about any of them will work quite well. High dollar or low dollar.
I drive my 14 Silverado more than the other vehicles and my cheap (less than $60) detector will let me know any band of radar being used. It picks them all up 360 degrees and will make a certain noise for the systems the cop uses.
I love 'em!

 

Pretty sure they set off mine, lots of false alarms and it doesn’t have to be a a high end car anymore.

 

V1 did a software update a few years back that supposedly filtered out most of them. I sold my V1 prior to doing the update as it was a high percentage of the cost of a new one.

 

How do they work? Isn't too late if the police has his speed gun aimed at you?

 

I think it gives you a heads up, while other cars ahead of you are having radar aimed at them.

Maybe by even a half mile?

 

I have been reading on Valentine One website, reviews etc.

However there are no prices listed for the detector, says out of stock.

Someone on Amazon reviews said make sure to buy directly from Valentine, not Amazon or eBay, or anywhere else, because the warranty is gone, since you are not the "original owner".

My car is still stock, and I made a thread over a year ago asking about stock C5 being slow, as I kept reading on here.

I argued that at least mine with 6 speed isn't slow, to me anyways, but I don't take it to a track or any racing events, and I also mentioned how it seems pointless to do heavy mods like I have wanted to do, when you are only going to get speeding tickets.

I'm thinking a good radar detector is a excellent first mod, to be able to drive a little faster, come on it feels silly driving a Corvette and economy cars drive faster than you are, because you are trying to avoid tickets.

Since getting my new tires and alignment, the car feels totally different, and fun, I want a radar detector!

PS, I used Waze on my way to work to see if it would notify me off the cop hiding around the corner, where speed limit drops from 45 to 35, no warning, but no cop at that time.

I'm not sure I was using it right, typed in my address to work and hit go.

Maybe there is a mode to tell you alerts without having it give you driving directions?