Mattsam

I have a Passport 9500ix in my A6 but the wire I had audi install shorted and now I need to remove the dash to replace it. Just using the cig cable until my S6 arrives.

Has anyone integrated a Radar to the car, or anything new out there? I just saw the Escort Live feature. I'm researching that now.

I run my radar whenever I drive, what is my best option?

hl229

I have been researching installed detectors myself (my S6 is due in a week...), I think the K40 RL360i and the Escort 9500ci are the top two choices from most sources. Audi dealers in my area partner up to offer the K40, the benefit being that it doesn't void your warranty if they install it. But either is big bucks, about $2k.

HyperS4

Still using my almost 10 year old V1. If you drive smart you dont even need a radar detector.

edporsche

I'm using a V1 in all 3 of my cars and 1 out of 2 of my bikes There is no substitute for early detection. It is missing things like GPS aware points, previous known false hits, etc., but I don't really care. I drive it with the volume turned all the way off. If I'm driving aggressive, I keep my eyes on it. Autoweek just recently did a review, and they still think the V1 is a reference point.

subterFUSE

I've been using Valentine 1 for the past 15 years, and won't really consider anything else. Once you get used to the arrows, it's hard to live without.

I live in Florida and the police here only use Ka band radar in their cars, and handheld laser. So it's very easy to tell falses from real threats. In fact, I might even just go into the firmware settings one of these days and disable X and K bands entirely.

The only addition I plan to make when my new car arrives is to add a laser jammer. In my research thus far, the best jammers appear to be the LaserStar and the LaserInterceptor. Both of these have been independently tested and jammed all the way to the gun in the tests I've seen.

hl229

I think Mattsam was asking about integrated detectors, not windshield mounted? - however - I spoke to a professional installer, apparently there is a version of the V1 that can be integrated into the glass of the rear view mirror with the box hidden in the headliner.

Harsany

Passport 8500 X50 and Blinder m27 laser jammer

subterFUSE

Oh.. I misunderstod the question.

From what I understand, there is no permanently installed radar detector that does as good a job as a Valentine 1.

And yes, you can do a stealth install with a V1. The V1 actually ships with a remote display, so you just have to run your wires and plug it in. Some people place the remote display in the instrument cluster. There is also a cigarette adapter which the remote display can clip onto.
I have also seen pro installers put the remote display inside the rearview mirror with the mirror-glass modified to show the display. They then hide the V1 unit inside a back seat headrest, or somewhere else high up in the car.

s5blitzer

10 year old V1 (firmware upgraded once) for my Q7 and a 2 month old V1 for my S6.

Nothing beats using your senses together with the V1.

RandyChicago

We had an Escort Solo until the mid 90s, then switched to a Valentine One, and haven't looked back. We now have five vehicles in the family, all running hardwired Valentine One units (firmware updated on all five just last month). They have all paid for themselves several times over, especially when we live in an area that has over zealous local police (our neighbor just got a ticket for 27 in a 25).

I like the programmability of the V1; we have two Audis (S7, A7) and an Acura MDX that use blind-spot monitoring radar, and the V1's adaptability makes it possible to eliminate the false alerts from the in-car systems. Also, the higher-up your detector's receiving antenna is mounted, the better it can detect signals, even in traffic. With the V1, the unit is mounted at rear view mirror level or higher, which is quite effective. The built-in systems, usually integrated into the front grill/bumper and/or lower bumper, are more susceptible to having their range limited by traffic directly ahead or behind you. In the A7/S7, the V1 fits with suction cups to the windshield just to the upper left of the rear view mirror, with still enough room to fold down the sunglasses holder (if you use it - none of my sunglasses will fit).

Obviously, to each their own, but for $400, I think the V1 is the best bargain in detectors, and can still be popped out and taken in a friend's car or rental car if need be.

Randy