Radar Detector shoot - out...
06-24-2005, 05:38 AM
#1
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Radar Detector shoot - out...
Help me out folks,
Valentine, Bell or Escort?
I've been under the impression that the Valentine was the way to go and now a friend has found some reviews stating that its no longer the champ.
Valentine, Bell or Escort?
I've been under the impression that the Valentine was the way to go and now a friend has found some reviews stating that its no longer the champ.
06-24-2005, 06:04 AM
#4
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Depends...
I was torn between the Passport 8500 X50 and the Valentine V1. In the end, I decided on the Passport because of many reviews of the V1 giving off more many false alerts in urban areas than the Passport. I was thining that the directions are a good thing, but an alert is an alert, and no matter if the threat is from front, side, or rear, I would slow down anyway.
There was another review from an AWer that he was running with the Passport, following his wife with her V1. He got a signal before his wife got a signal and reacted. He had already slowed down before his wife reacted to an alert. Might have been a city/highway setting however. Not scientific proof of anything.
You cannot go wrong with either choice. They are both top notch.
FYI - There is a pretty sleek install for the B6 in the Tech section, I did a variation of that install, also in the Tech section.
Here they are:
<a href="https://www.audiworld.com/tech/elec102.shtml">A4 B6 install</a>
<a href="https://www.audiworld.com/tech/elec104.shtml">A6 C5 install</a>
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/77169/radar_final.jpg">
There was another review from an AWer that he was running with the Passport, following his wife with her V1. He got a signal before his wife got a signal and reacted. He had already slowed down before his wife reacted to an alert. Might have been a city/highway setting however. Not scientific proof of anything.
You cannot go wrong with either choice. They are both top notch.
FYI - There is a pretty sleek install for the B6 in the Tech section, I did a variation of that install, also in the Tech section.
Here they are:
<a href="https://www.audiworld.com/tech/elec102.shtml">A4 B6 install</a>
<a href="https://www.audiworld.com/tech/elec104.shtml">A6 C5 install</a>
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/77169/radar_final.jpg">
06-24-2005, 06:44 AM
#6
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My opinion
First let me say that Valentine is the best. Period.
But...
After having owned several different brands/models, I feel very strongly that although the V1 is the best, it may not be worth the higher cost for the following reasons:
1) I have found that other brands give very ample warning under normal (non-laser, non-instant-on)speedtrap conditions. I have owned Escorts, Passports, Unidens, and now a Bel (I have usually opted for the then-top-of the-model-line which still saved me over $200 vs the V1). In my 15+ years of using radar detectors, I have NEVER encountered a standard speedtrap that the detector could not pick up with more than ample warning to slow down.
2) Most police, however, now use the radar or laser instant-on feature, in which case you're vulnerable no matter which detector you're using. The best defense against this type of trap is to always have someone going as fast as you in front of you! In other words, you would be mistaken to think that a V1 (or any detector) would save you if you're bombing down an empty highway at 90mph. The excellent range of the V1 may help in that it could pick up the residual instant-on radar targeted at a vehicle way in front of you.
The multiple bogey feature and directional arrows are cool and unique to the V1. But given the adequate performance of some of the other manufacturers products, I have chosen to use the extra money on beer ;-P.
With that said, if the $200 isn't a big deal for you and you don't mind the bulkiness, get a V1.
But...
After having owned several different brands/models, I feel very strongly that although the V1 is the best, it may not be worth the higher cost for the following reasons:
1) I have found that other brands give very ample warning under normal (non-laser, non-instant-on)speedtrap conditions. I have owned Escorts, Passports, Unidens, and now a Bel (I have usually opted for the then-top-of the-model-line which still saved me over $200 vs the V1). In my 15+ years of using radar detectors, I have NEVER encountered a standard speedtrap that the detector could not pick up with more than ample warning to slow down.
2) Most police, however, now use the radar or laser instant-on feature, in which case you're vulnerable no matter which detector you're using. The best defense against this type of trap is to always have someone going as fast as you in front of you! In other words, you would be mistaken to think that a V1 (or any detector) would save you if you're bombing down an empty highway at 90mph. The excellent range of the V1 may help in that it could pick up the residual instant-on radar targeted at a vehicle way in front of you.
The multiple bogey feature and directional arrows are cool and unique to the V1. But given the adequate performance of some of the other manufacturers products, I have chosen to use the extra money on beer ;-P.
With that said, if the $200 isn't a big deal for you and you don't mind the bulkiness, get a V1.
06-24-2005, 06:52 AM
#7
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V1
Remember Nick on the way down to the BBQ, I was leading the pack. At around Exit 2 on the PIP there was a cop sitting on teh side and I picked it up just about a mile before we passed him. Zerbst almost flew by me but managed to get her to slow down.
Mica was asking how early I picked that up and I told him a little before the Exit 2 sign. He had said his detector went off AFTER he saw the cop lol.
Mica was asking how early I picked that up and I told him a little before the Exit 2 sign. He had said his detector went off AFTER he saw the cop lol.
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06-24-2005, 06:54 AM
#8
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yep, no doubt
I remember that clearly!
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06-24-2005, 06:54 AM
#9
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it depends.
As Clues implied, it is a money question. I've had an 8500 for nearly two years now and it was definitely worth the money. I've only been tagged by one speed trap, and it was laser. The range of the Passport is about as good as the V1 (testing depends on a bunch of variables - practically speaking neither is going to sniff out a target significantly before the other). The V1 does excel in its directional indication, however. I've had quite a few instances where I'd have dearly liked to know where the signal was coming from. If money is an object (I was in college at the time), buy the Passport knowing you're getting a fully capable detector. If you can afford it, get the V1.
06-24-2005, 06:57 AM
#10
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He was using instant-on
I was near the rear of the pack and about 15 seconds after everyone hit their brakes, I got intermitent warnings on my BEL 980 all the way until we passed him - which tells me that he was targeting specific cars. Mica was behind me - I don't know what's up with his detector....