This question rates the effectiveness of any radar detector in use. I have been told to forget their use because most detector equipment use an "instant on" feature that only bleeds energy when the unit is triggered and that is to late to avoid the speed trap. Its not that I drive with speed as my only enjoyment, but on the major roads I would like to blow off some carbon.

 

When used in conjunction with a solid dose of common sense they can be very effective.

 

I have the Passport 8500 X50 and love it. The only time I have gotten a ticket is when 1. I didnt have it on 2. Was driving without it Ka and Laser bands work great, one thing I wish it could detect laser a little further. Valentine 1 is awesome as well, my friend has this one. There is a Passport 8500 X50 for sale in the c5 parts right now. I would invest some money into a radar dector and read up on the reviews because they help!

 

You need to buy one of those Colorado Radar Jammers! Plug it in and drive as fast as you want. Police radar can't even see you.

 

Sorry, I just had to....

I use the escort soloII, and find it works very well. I have it direct wired to the mirror. Common sense along with a good detector is the best way to drive.

 

My Escort 8500 X50 works great....people on here say it has no rear detection but that is .....I get hits approaching and after passing the source.....I cna get early K and Ka hits up to 3 miles out with a rise on the roadway...and around corners it works well also..

 

Escort 8500 X50.

THEY WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Enough said

 

it doesn't matter what detector you use, you still need to drive "defensively".
that means not being the first car in the left lane, etc....
hence the "common sense" statements

 

The jammers they have out now actually work pretty well. as long as your not flying by at the speed of light.

 

My Escort and Solo have saved me many a time. I you use one, get one you can trust and heed it's warning.
I say this because my Escort has gone off miles before I get to the police car.
If your the only car in sight it may not help at all , thats because your depending on the cop to radar another car before you get to him.

 

VAlentine 1 with laser here. I follow all the common sense rules also. Let a rabbit go in front of you. If you have a car between you and the radar/laser gun they can't nail you.

xcaliber is a great machine also if you can afford it. Get at least a front plate jammer for the laser cops. I dont think they even use laser in connecticut here. I have been amazed at how effective they are. one evening I was blasting around the back roads over the border in NY and the radar went off. 2 hills and 10 seconds later and there was a sherriff just out for a ride.

 

My Escort has paid for itself many times over!!

Get one. You won't regret it!

 

I think he was asking about radar detectors, not laser.

I like V1. As the others have said, common sense and paying attention help a great deal too.

 

It has some rear detection but it loses to the V1 by over 2 miles in rear Ka band detection.

 

Its true that if an officer pops you with an instant on gun you don't have time to react, however he is also popping other drivers and those signals will warn you if you have your detector on. I have had my 8500 for a while and I like it. The first trip from Flagstaff to Colorado it saved me two tickets.

 

Valentine 1 = American Express. Never leave home without it.

 

I bought my 8500 X50 about an hour after I picked my car up in Chicago before making the trip back home to SoFla. It saved me twice on that trip, and has numerous times since.

I have gotten one ticket with it, which was a case of "instant on" Ka band by a trooper in a Z28 in the Keys. I was coming around a curve with no blockers and he lit me up. As others have said, you have to learn to read the short bursts of scatter you pick up from cars ahead of you. If you're the lead car, no detector will save you from that.

I beleive the tests have shown that the X50 has the best Ka range, which I consider the most important feature. My dad runs V1 in his Vette, and they're great. I wish I had the arrows. I went with the X50 because it's 25% cheaper, more compact and better looking, IMO.

BTW, laser is very tough to overcome with a detector, but I've only seen it used in residential areas around here. LEOs have to be stationary to use it and it doesn't work through glass orat night. The beam is IIRC about 18" in diameter @ 500' and 36" @ 1000', so the further you are away (to a certain point) the easier it is to detect. LEOs are taught to point it at a flat surface-the fron license plate if you have one, or the headlight of you don't. White cars are easiest to target and black the hardest. So, black C5 (headlights closed) in FL (no front licesne plate) is about the toughest car to get with laser.

I would recommend a X50 or V1 to anyone who drives 10+ over. But you need to spend some time and learn to read it, or the false sense of security will make you more vulnerable, not less.

 

Like above mentioned comments of common sense, I apply this to every day driving as well. Many teens and 20 yr olds think the detector is a license to speed, but eventually u get caught due to the instant on/laser deal. My 8500 works fine, but mostly I'll tend to drive 7 plus the speed limit everywhere w/ cruise control to keep me from going over by accident. Seems a little over kill for many, but most C5 drivers will admit it's quite easy to start thinking about something and then look down to find you are going a lot faster than you thought! My detector comes in handy for those times when you want to air out your ride and have a little fun w/ the security of narrowing down the odds an officer isn't waiting for you around the corner/bend etc. Odds are still not zero for a bust, but much more in your favor. If it's a side road scenario I'll often times do a recon mission to check it out before doing a high speed run/launch. Have fun and be safe!

 

My 8500 has done really great in the few years I have owned it. The only thing is, I never seem to get laser type WARNINGS from activity ahead (even when there are quite a few cars ahead of me) When that laser alarm goes off, it screams and makes me think that by that time the detector didn't warn me at all.

 

Once you have one you will feel naked without it. I have had detectors in my last several vehicles and been saved many times. It's also a good reminder when even a false hit comes bye to remind you to be careful. Sure they may get you with something new or instant on, but your chances are positively increased many times over, a very worthy investment.