I have been considering getting a Radar Detector (Valentine One) for the vette, as stated in the title do they really work? is this one of the best on the market.

thanks

 

If you don't speed, you don't need one.

I have the Valentine One. It has saved me a few times. One of the top ones out there.

 

I am using an 8500 x50.
A RADAR detector is only as good as the driver.

You can't haul azz everywhere you go.
But you can safely do five to ten over and just release the cruise control when it alerts.

Another good tool I use is WAZE.
Most of the time it will alert you where the cops are parked.

 

They work sometimes.....pretty much useless against instant on radar/laser.

 

I've had and still have 2 low end radar detectors (Cobra) in addition to my Passport 9500ix Race Edition in the Vette.

All three give good "early enough" warning and have reminded me to slow down on occasion. I even got pegged with Lazer on I440 but wasn't speeding. The officer was on an overpass looking down on the highway calling in speeders to the chase cars.

It's easy for me to recommend the Passport 9500IX because of one simple feature - it learns the false alerts and blocks them out after a few false alerts in the same location. The learning feature is pretty impressive because it locks in on specific frequency. If a new frequency is detected in a location that has already been blocked, it gives you an alert that there is a new frequency in the area.

My cobra's go off in the same locations every time, you learn to mentally tune it out.

I have never had a Valentine, but I wasn't interested in trying to figure out where the signal was coming from to make a determination of false alert or real threat.

Bottom line for me - if I hear any of my detectors, in any of my cars go off, I slow down if I am going over the limit. I could care less where the signal is coming from. Nothing wrong with doing the speed limit every now and then...

 

I have a 9500ix and highly recommend it due to the feature mentioned above.

Also, it has a database with red light cameras and speed cameras.

I upgrade the database every week and 9500ix alerts me to new red light cameras in my area that I otherwise wouldn't know they had just installed.

Bob

 

the Valentine is a good unit; so are the others. just remember a few things about the radar and laser. it's very good, too. and in many respects better than the detectors which are always playing catchup. another thing to remember is, a detector can help you, but if you are seriously over the limit, it will be difficult to bring it down to where the police won't stop you. just so you know...

 

Save your money

 

paid $20 for a cobra radar detector at a pawn shop in 2007, haven't had a ticket since.

 

For years and years on motorcycles (CBX Ducati Hayabusa) and my car, through all the western states, my V1 has saved me thousands. Running in full Logic mode it detects K, Ka and Laser far in advance of the actual threat. X band is nothing to fear IME. Thankfully, most cops have their units on constantly although I have seen M/C cops and cars stopped on the freeway or an overpass pointing their instant on gun. The V1 alerts every time one pulls the trigger and in all instances so far, has given me enough warning to scrub off some speed if he happens to point it at me. Keep in mind that all cops that write speeding tickets don't always use radar.....

 

Most people who buy the cheap ones eventually wish they had gotten the V1. I have 3 of them, one in each car. Paid for themselves many times over.

 

I have driven long distances for many years. A long time ago before cruise control I got my first radar detector and thought it was the best thing since sliced bread. I no longer had to spend all day watching for brake lights and antennas. CB was good but not as reliable as a radar detector. Then I got cruise control and that was the end of radar detectors for me. You learn what the limits are before getting stopped and then set your speed 1 mph less. I cut 30 minutes off of a 12 hour trip using cruise rather than a radar detector because I am always right at the limit without risking going a little too fast down hill or holding the pedal a little too long getting back up to speed. I haven't been stopped in over 20 years and I pass almost everyone out there while very rarely getting passed myself. And anyone who does manage to pass me has a high likelihood that I will see them down the road a bit. I have found I can run 9 mph over anywhere any time. 20 over is possible in areas where stopping someone would be dangerous as long as you are consistent.

Finally, if you do have a detector I would make sure it is hidden well. If you do get stopped and you are borderline the fact that you have a detector in sight would indicate that this wasn't an accidental oversight and you are more likely to get a ticket.

 

I have the Escort 9500ci - it's paid for itself many times over
Love it!!!!

IMO it's the best mod money can buy...

 

They do work and if you speed then they will save you a lot of money. The best one out there for the money is Beltronics check it out.

 

I can relate to this.

 

this^^ cruise control is better than any radar detector.

 

RADAR Detector needs to be judged as a tool to keep you alert.
Cruise is good and I use mine 90% of the time.
However, during long trips you need something to occupy your time or you end up dozing off.

The random chirps of the RADAR Detector allow you to look for the Law.
When WAZE tells you there is a cop or broken down vehicle, again it gives you something to be alerted to.

Anymore in todays economic society, it is not a good idea to speed.
The odds are always going to be against you. If the location which you are driving through needs money, they are going to take yours.

The new tool is a hand held speed camera.
It is two cameras and a sight with a small computer.
The officer points the camera at your car and camera 1 snaps a picture then camera 2 snaps a picture.
The device then calculates your speed by the time between the two pictures and the cop comes and prints you off a ticket.

No RADAR detector in the world will counter that technology. RADAR is more of a thing of the past.

Again, this is a good reason to use and participate with WAZE on your smart phone.

 

This is exactly what I have done too; no tickets 24 years. Although many of those years I didn't have a sports car, and now last couple years I do again - so far, so good. I just drive 8-9 over all the time (unless it's in a city with 25-35 limit - in that case I keep it to 4-5 over). Of course there is the occasional outburst of fun driving but try to be careful when/where I do it. I guess I've been kind of lucky on that count; eventually I'm going to get popped while playing and then I'll have to mellow out for a while to keep the points low. I've been thinking about a radar detector, but I think I will wait till after I get a warning. Like many say here, it seems you're less likely to get leniency when they see the unit in the car; and don't want the expense of a remote unit with sensors when it doesn't help against instant on, etc. anyway. Laser scramblers illegal in my state.

 

I've had the Beltronics 995 for 6 yrs & it works for me,why waste more $$ for the V1.

 

I wouldn't even consider driving my vehicles without one. 9500ix in the Vette and beltronics 955 in the Caddy.