Who has a pretty new radar detector?

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

My Escort 9500ix is getting pretty long in the tooth and it's time for an upgrade. I'm leaning heavily toward a Uniden R7 or R8. Not sure the upgrade is worth the price delta between the two. They both appear to alert far faster than the Escort 360c. What do you guys think?

flatbutt · 10-08-2022, 06:20 PM

I'm still using my Valentine.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Thanks, but that's not a new one. Looking for latest and greatest.

flatbutt · 10-08-2022, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Thanks, but that's not a new one. Looking for latest and greatest.

Ooops, I should read more carefully.

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

The V2 is the latest from them. It connects to your phone and does pretty good at finding radar. There are a lot of false alarms from new car cruise control.

masraum · 10-08-2022, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flatbutt

I'm still using my Valentine.

Me too, although I did get the new model two years ago.

unclebilly · unclebilly's Garage

I have a V1 and sent it in 2 years ago and had it all updated to the latest.

My Cayenne Turbo S came with a built in Passport SR7. It’s old school but appears to work.

pavulon · 10-09-2022, 04:16 AM

Have had a 2nd generation V1 for over a year now. I respect laser and instant on guns but the rest are seen a long way in advance. Not sure how many detectors are equipped with technology which prevents their own signal from being detected but g2 V1 claims it has it.

Either way, patrol cars sitting in the median facing traffic but not triggering an alert still occasionally happens. I have to assume they are not gunning but it's not the best 30 seconds of life and always makes me worry about the "arms race".

Almost any ticket avoided would pay for the OP's upgrade.

blucille · 10-09-2022, 06:22 AM

I’ve used V1 since about 1996. Nothing but. Upgraded every 3-4-5 years. Happy.

Earlier this year I bought at R7 based on reviews and it certainly exceeded my expectations.

And then when they came back in stock I bought an R8. My wife drives quickly too.

Honestly. The range is phenomenal. The R7 is quieter day to day, less falses from blind spot detection systems. I drive in NJ which is one of few states that still use X band a lot. So I can’t filter all c bands alerts. My R8 and 7 are setup with very similar filters enabled. It’s amazing how much quieter the 7 is.

But the 8 is incredible too. I’d buy a 7 before buying another 8 but your mileage may vary based on you local radar usage.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

That's what I was looking for - whether the R8 is worth the extra money over the R7. Escort no longer supports updating my old 9500ix, so that's not an option.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Grabbed a new Uniden R7 off Amazon for $449. I wonder my two old 9500ix's will bring anything on eBay.

cassisrot · 10-09-2022, 12:44 PM

I’ve used the V1 since the 70’s and 2 V2’s for a while now. They work.

ramonesfreak · ramonesfreak's Garage

I have a uniden R3. Pretty powerful. Maybe too powerful. Required careful adjustment of the filters to make it usable and not irritating. Thought about the R7 but didn’t want to spend the extra $. Would be nice to have the direction arrows. If I did it over, ide go for one with direction arrows

Been using detectors since 88. These days, it feels vulnerable to not have a laser jammer installed also

Solamar · 10-09-2022, 01:35 PM

I also have the R3 and am very happy with it. Has saved my bacon many times.

One thing it's lacking is the direction of the radar signal (in front of you or behind). Not sure how useful that info is, and wouldn't pay much of a premium for it, but something I've thought about.

RANDY P · RANDY P's Garage

Valentine V2 with an app. Call it a day.

tdw28210 · tdw28210's Garage

Is this pretty enough?

David · David's Garage

I bought an Escort 360C last year before heading out for a road trip since I couldn't find my Valentine. Then I realized... I really don't like using a radar detector. Anyone want to buy it?

masraum · 10-10-2022, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ramonesfreak

I have a uniden R3. Pretty powerful. Maybe too powerful. Required careful adjustment of the filters to make it usable and not irritating. Thought about the R7 but didn’t want to spend the extra $. Would be nice to have the direction arrows. If I did it over, ide go for one with direction arrows

Been using detectors since 88. These days, it feels vulnerable to not have a laser jammer installed also

Hasn't the V1 patent on the arrows expired so someone else has something similar now? I feel like I've seen an escort or something with similar functionality.

I've been using a V1 for probably 15-20 years now. The arrows are definitely useful. I've gotten laser warnings that have saved my bacon as well. I've never had a laser jammer. Laser is used in/around Houston a fair amount.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solamar

I also have the R3 and am very happy with it. Has saved my bacon many times.

One thing it's lacking is the direction of the radar signal (in front of you or behind). Not sure how useful that info is, and wouldn't pay much of a premium for it, but something I've thought about.

Yes, the directional arrows and counters are very nice to have. I like them.

rfuerst911sc · 10-10-2022, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdw28210

Is this pretty enough?

Not sure why but I find this pic disturbing 😯

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Sorry I missed this thread earlier. I bought an Escort Max3. It is basically the same as the MAX360, but only in the forward direction. It is far better than my 9500ix

I couldn't find any discounts, so it was $399.

I like the cellphone integration. I have it turned on and use WAZE at the same time.

The only issue, the cellphone application does not like to actually shutdown. I have to knock it out with Forced Shutdown or it can suck down a lot of battery life.