Coolieman1220

Yes the only province in Canada they are legal is Alberta Calgary.

ERPGURU

Thought everyone would get a laugh out of this as I do now - could have turned out a lot worse..

I used to drive a lot faster when I was younger, and used to have a radar detector but gave up on it years ago because it was always going off, regardless. So fast forward twenty years and I saw the Escort 9500Xi. I thought it sounded great with the GPS and ability to lock out bogus false reports, as well as alerting to red-light cameras etc. So I read and read, and thought, well..I will give it another try.

About six hundred dollars dropped at Escort..I just got it, had the box in the front seat, on the way home from work and had the detector mounted on the front window..

got tagged at 105 on a 70 (Dallas tollroad), first time I had been pulled over in ten+ years. The detector didn't go off until I was on top of him - and it was a straight line, no obstructions...

The good part is that I was let off with a warning. Once the DPS officer saw the radar detector (and am sure he ran plates and saw I had no tickets in 10+ years) he was pretty cool..

Basically we talked for a short time and he said - at least in texas with the DPS officers, a radar detector will be of no value. They all use an instant-on Ka radar. It is almost as fast as laser and you have no time to react at all. The 'old days' of a trooper having a gun on pointed toward cars is over, so the value is detectors in many jurisdictions is null..

I boxed up the detector and sent it back for a refund with a whole day of ownership..my opinion, they are a great way to keep you alert, but in no way will they really prevent a ticket. The technology is too fast to get your speed now - plus other methods like aircraft, etc..

Oh, and a put a photocopy of the warning that was given to me in the box with the detector as for the 'reason of return'...

John

billypete

this is true, however I have been saved numerous time in as many years by picking up the instant on radar hitting the car ahead of me, just enough time to grab a fistfull of brakes...
I dont go anywhere without radar detection active.

Coolieman1220

you've got to be smart with radar. a lot of cars up here in northeast you constant on although you do get some sneaky bastards with instant. im glad you got away with it though. its nice to have

yob2kanobe

cops in the Northwest are still dumb, I pick them up a mile away noproblem with the Escort.

Joe Hamel

I talked with escort not ten minutes ago. I called with a question about the new active radar systems used on the q5's for the audi side assist system and was informed it should be disabled. So the led's in your side view mirrors will no longer indicate if someone is flying up beside you while traveling down 91. This feature is supposedly user controlled and can be deactivated and reactivated at will, so no permanent mods are required.
The 9500 does come with a flush mount bezel (just found this out as well) but I dont know where in the q5 it could be mounted and not look out of the ordinary. I was also told that the controller can be hidden but that you will more than likely want it accessible so you can at least mute the system (besides utilizing all the other features of the 9500). The ashtray should be a suitable location, as it can be removed and a trim piece can be fabbed easily enough. The speaker and led indicator are easy enough to mount so that they are out of the way. These custom installed pieces are by far the best solution for an all around radar/laser detector system but by throwing in the laser shifters you really are putting together a sweet anti-ticket system. The k40 is great for certain vehicles (cadillacs, mercedes) but the 9500ci is my preference for most other vehicles. Just a heads up the shifters need to be "activated" before they will actually jam laser signals. They are shipped in a recieve-only mode.

Oh and by the way if Sam05 is Brian with the 2010 q5, forward me your phone number so we can chat about the info i just got.

Joe Hamel

Another awesome feature about the 9500 is the ability to "tag" htospots. Whether it be known speedtraps or known falsing locations (ie atms, grocery stores, walmart), with the push of a button you have basically eliminated an annoying false alarm or set a reminder about those sneaky pigs that hide behind construction barrels or bridges (ie 91 southbound through deerfield).

Coolieman1220

so how much is this gonna set you back? K40 gives you a year of ticket free.

once you have the arrows you don't want useless beeping.

rehajm

+1 - There's plenty of low hanging fruit for Northeast cops to pick, so basic detection can be valuable. My old Passport catches most interstate speed traps, though I am careful if there's nobody else on the road in front of me, as the instant on can pose a problem. And I use my detector with the side detection system- never been an issue as far as I can see. No false positives, or setting off of the detector.

billypete

just a note, as reported in other forums, turning off active side assist will NOt keep the detector from registering false positives. I assume the sensors are active even tho the led's are off.