Radar Detectors?
 

I am going to buy a radar detector. I know some brands suck while others are great and it is not price that makes the differnce. What do you guys recommend? Under $300 would be good. Alex

Here we go again ...

Vic
88 Carrera
98 Valentine One

Let the debate begin....... again..... and again.....

If click on the search button, you'll find more than you bargained for. This was discussed at length a couple of weeks ago.

I just got a Passport 8500 and love it so far. I always assumed I'd get a V1 at upgrade time, but it seems dated now, and the 8500 is $100 cheaper.

Olivier
82 SC

Valentine One & a .357 Magnum protect my '98 911 Carrera S.

This is a topic that is frequently debated and arouses fierce passions. I think I can summarize the next twenty or thirty posts by saying that the Pasport 8500 and the Valentine 1 are the competing radar detectors of choice. Nothing else will compare to these choices and both have their followers. The Pasport recently got good press but the author of the article may have a connection with Passport. The Valentine has a long history and loyal following. I'm not sure which is better, but one of the two is clearly the best choice available. Here on this board the Valentine crowd seems to be a little larger. Chose either one with as much confidence as a radar detector can offer. Good luck and be safe.



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MRM 1984 Carrera Cab Eurospec

An amazingly succinct summation! Now, we wait for the inevitable question of laser detectors vs jammers and Ka vs X band. . .

I recently bought an Escort 8500. I haven't used it a lot, yet, but it's already saved me from one ticket that I know of.

There is a lot of debate about detectors...but it really boils down to three choices...the 8500, the V-1, or the comparable model by Bel. Beyond that, I think there is mostly a lot of voodoo to be had.

The 8500 model is $300, and includes a smart cord (used to be an option)comes in a cool leather box, it's able to be upgraded in the future, and it doesn't make the inside of my 911 glow at night.

I think I am ready to get an 8500, but I want to make sure of one thing- I read a while ago that the cigarette lighter in my SC is not a standard size, and so cell phone charges and the like won't fit. Is this true or have I been inhaling too much brake cleaner? Will this power supply for the 8500 work, or will I need to hard wire it? How would I do that?

Thanks,
Magilla

Magilla - My mobile phone cord fits fine in my SC cigarette lighter.

Magilla,

I've got a '78 SC, and it's true that my phone charger fits kind of loose in it. I have to jiggle it around to make it work. But the cord from the 8500 seems to fit tight in it...I haven't had any problems at all.

Since my O2 sensor is disconnected now, I just wired the smart cord LED for my new 8500 to another LED behind the OXS light on the dash. Since the 8500 is high on the windshield above the rear view mirror, it's nice to have a light on the dash during alerts. The 8500 is very loud, but so is an SC going 130 with the sunroof open and the windows down.

Olivier
82 SC

most of the time, when you hear it on a nice straight road, he's got you already. it does give you time to hide the contraband and buckle up though. what we really need are laser guided smart bombs.

I've got the 8500, I like the built-in voltmeter display when in normal mode. Didn't help me last week when a copper clocked me by driving behind (at night, didn't notice). He we cool though, I explained I was working on my suspension and he wrote me up with a $10 ticket for not having my license.

Cheers,
jc

Are you saying that you got nailed speeding by a cop from behind? If that's the case it seems like the V1 would be a far better choice....

still on the fence,
Ian

I think what JC was saying was that he got clocked from behind. Radar didn't play a part.

However, you are correct that the 8500 isn't worth a hill of beans if some cop has radar from behind. The V1 has the rear detector which is one reason I'm going to get the V1 over the 8500.

Well if he was clocked from behind without radar, then it was either laser or speedo. If it was just a speedo clock, then I think (at least in the states that I've lived in) that it is inadmissable in courd. That's probably why he let you go easy *grin*

Brad

Hmmm... Forget the jammers then... Laser and radar homing smart missles integrated behind the headlights!!! Yeahhh, that's the (no) ticket!

I thought the SC's had a cigar lighter. Hence the larger port. Will the class of the SC never stop!

On a related note, are you guys with radar detectors haviung success in city-like conditions? Or is the success claimed to be in rural-no-building-open field areas? I've never been able to get any radar detector to work in built up areas, but I'm willing to shell out a few bucks if one does.
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Paul
78SC Targa

I'm pretty sure he just used his speedo to clock me. The 8500 definitely didn't go off, though it does have a rear looking detector as well as on the front.

I verified this morning that the rear detector does work. I was heading toward a speed trap very very close to my house then had to make a U-turn and go back the other way. K band detection was going off, both while driving towards and away from Constable Bob.

P.S. I gave him a friendly wave as I did my U-ey. My wife was following right behind me in her Boxter, I'm sure he was thinking he'd get us sooner or later.

Cheers,
jc