radar detectors
 

any opinions on the reliability of radar detectors and the best ones for the money. I've seen them from 50 dollars up to 250 dollars so any info would be appreciated. thanks

Dont buy a cheap one. Either the escort or valentine.
Nothing will protect you against laser or instant on direct hit.
However, they will give you sufficient warning if you get a reflected beam, or KA radar.

My escort 8500 has paid for itself a few times over. I highly recommend it.

V-1 is the best I've ever used, but it's $400.
My arrows quit working after a few years, but the factory can fix it.
10 years old and still works great.

The Escort 9500i and Valentine are probably the two most popular here on the forum. Both are $400 (+). Think you need to start looking at a little higher quality detectors. I use the 9500i and love it.

Radar detector threads ALWAYS start a WAR of which is better!

Bel is made by the same people as Escort and their high end units are equivalent to the Passport. I have one of each and can't tell much difference.

Suggest trying the "search" feature with query for "Valentine", "Escort" or "V-1" . . . .the topic has been explored extensively in these pages and you'll find more information in archive than one post is likely to contain - - it's a very frequent (and emotional) topic . .

Lots of good reading that should help you make your decision

Valentine. pay the extra and get what you pay for. get the rearview mirror mount and invisicord and it looks like its a part of the car. and if you ever need to drive anything else, you can take it out and use it. mine has paid for itself dozens of times.

:iagree::thumbs:

after getting "caught from behind" and paying a $284.00 ticket, i got the V1 since it has the arrows to indicate where to watch out.

Don't wast your time. By the time it lights up your goose is cooked anaway.

V1.

End of discussion.

More discussion. My Cobra 9940 works fine. Alot less than a V1. End of discussion.

Escort 9500i is consistantly rated the best on the market now. Do a google search for best rated radar detectors.

Not really, the V1 is still rated #1 in the under $500 radar detector range.

http://guysoflidar.com/august-2007/r...ctor-test.html

I agree on both the V1 and the Escort. I like the ability to know direction with the V1 however we travel with friends with a V1 and consistantly we have received the alert on our Escort long before the V1 so I'll take the alert first and worry about where they are second. I just got the new Escort ix which has GPS, built in speed cameras, built in red light cameras, an audible alert (you not only get the tone but you get voice commands telling you what band it is etc) and the ability to learn. The head of our state patrol says
"he WILL stop speeding in washington" ... apparently he doesnt know I"m here yet. :D

Cobra makes some of this worst falsing radar detectors with the least detection range. Look how poorly a brand new "top of the line" Cobra did at the latest radar detector test.

http://guysoflidar.com/august-2007/r...ctor-test.html

+1 for V-1, Mirror mount, Invisicord!!!

-Ed

still got my first escort 30 years old. works!, now I have a new escort, vostech visor mount, invisa cord

Intersting comments about sensitivity. I have an Escort and V-1. The V-1 always announced first when I did side by side testing in the car. Recognize there are many variables that could account for that. The V-1 saved me last weekend in Washington State as I was getting hit by radar by an approaching stealthy WSP :toetap:. They both have adequate sensitivity to alert you to radar unless it's the instant on variety. In that case you hope they're shooting ahead of you and you catch a signal. Mine has paid for itself many times over.

More discussion.

If you speed, even a little bit, get a radar detector. I have used V-1, 8500, Solo, & 9500i. The Solo and 9500i had less false alerts in city; the V-1 has the most false alerts. The V-1, 8500, & 9500i have excellent long distance range. Around here, the LEO's have their Ka band detectors on full time nowadays so you get plenty of warning. Don't pay retail, there are plenty of high end RD's on eBay for good prices.