Radar Detectors

[adambodkins]

I asked my wife for a good radar detector for Christmas but not too expensive no more than 200.00 I was wondering what kind all of you are using, and how is the results. And if you don't mind how much did you spend, and where did you get it.

 

[Blacksheep Josh]

This is the one my Father uses in his Jaguar on his business trips. It's amazing. Picks up the cops at a VERY far distance. When I drove from Augusta to North Carolina, there was plenty of time to slow down when it started going off. I was doing at least 110 when I was speeding, and about 80 when it went off. Never got pulled, and the cops never moved either. Try to find it on ebay though, I'm sure you could get it for less then 200.

Both of these links are exactly the same, just the color difference for 40 dollars. But like I said, look around and you might be able to find it on ebay cheaper.

http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?g=252150&i=036P85X50R&tp=142

http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?g=252150&i=036P85X50B&tp=142

Yeah, here's one on ebay with free shipping for 149.95
http://cgi.ebay.com/Escort-PASSPORT...ryZ14935QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[KPT]

I know its way over budget but my valentine one has paid for itself in the two years I've had it.

Most people are apparently blind. Its mounted right under my rearview so I'm sure you can clearly see it behind me. It'll light up and I'll slow down. People will pass me and get pulled over. Its happened many many times.

 

[medicbro2000]

I would highly reccomend not spending a whole lot of money- or TIME on a radar detector. Regaurdless of the "technology" used in the device- Police use what is calle "pulse Radar" which is activated at the cops desire. Of course there is the option of leaving it on- which would set off your detectors from how ever far away. However, not every cop leaves their radar on all the time.

The other thing is, cops also use "Laser" technology- which would not be picked up on a radar detector. Detectors that sense lasers are only accurate if the beam is right on the sensor- however keep in mind that at a mile away the laser beam is only 3 inches wide. I know Officers who have hit targets at over 3000 feet away with a hand held laser.

Detectors are nice if you like to have a beeping blinking thing on your dash that tells you where the cops are. Chances are though, if you see it going off, they have already seen you... Luck would have the grace of saving your tail from a speeding ticket if you haven't been caught.

I would suggest you buy the cheaper one cause you can get the same amount of technology out of a less expensive model than the more expensive ones. They do the same thing only have cooler displays and alerts.
Otherwise, my advice- save your money. But that is just my opinion.

Godbless

 

[chad551]

I bought the Escort Passport 8500 X50. I bought mine with the red LED's it is cheaper. This thing is amazing, I bought right before I left for Moab last spring. I had my old Cobra mounted in the truck as well so I could test and see if it was worth the money.

I was amazed at how well the Escort worked, there was several occasions I thought it was a false alarm, but it picked up the police radar a couple miles down the road. I would highly recommend it to anyone, however in the city it goes off alot, but I also have not done the city programming either.

 

[corkey]

must be nice , they are illegal up here, if you get caught they take it away too,, but at our gas prices,, speeding is not an option,,

 

[aldive]

Save money and drive the speed limit

 

[chad551]

Driving the speed limit through Kansas and eastern Colorado is rather impossible. Nothing but flat ground and, well nothing. Which I why I try and time it so I am driving through at night.

 

[sjr033]

I have the Escort Passport 7500, it is 1 step below the 8500 recommended above. It retailed for $219 ish. I beleive it has been discontinued. I like it so much that I got one for my dad.

 

[97sprt4x4]

I have a cobra 12 band they retail for about $140 it's not as amazing as say the passport. but it does the job. around me, it's a bunch of local cops so they just sit with radar on. and this allows me to get the signal and slow down the 20 or 30 mph to the speed limit and not get nabbed.

it depends on your local cops. talk to other people around you that have them, and find out if the cops sit with them on, or if they use auto on, it may not help you as much when you're going on a long trip. but most of your driving will be local, and you probably shouldn't be speeding if you don't know where you're going.

Justin

 

[toypaseo]

I lucked out and scored a Valentine One 1.8 on Craigslist for $135. It was missing everything but the powercord and the visor mount. Seller thought the windhshield mount was included, could not find it, and knocked off $15 to compensate. It is in my g/f's car since her Accord is the main long distance vehicle.

In my Paseo and Explorer, I have Whistler radar detectors.

 

[JoeCool6972]

Escort Passport 8500 X50 is the best. Period. I love mine. Works flawlessly.

But I will make a recommendation AGAINST Cobra. Had one. Damn thing false alarm at every little thing from a mile away. Eventually after 3 years it false alarmed LITERALLY all the time. Constantly beeped. POS!!!

 

[Essex4x4]

Save money and drive the speed limit

X 2

i completely agree

 

[Maverick73]

I've recently been researching alot of different radar detectors. Basicly if you're going to buy one of the cheapest ones on the market. You would be better off to just keep your money. That being said, he's a list of the best radar detector makers.

1. Escort. Top of the line the best of the best. Minimal to no false alarms. Models 8500x50 New on ebay around $250-300. Newest model 9500i around $400-500.

2. Beltronics. Same company now owns Escort and Beltronics. Beltronics seems to be more tuned to European radar brands. Vector Series are the affordable models V955-V995. New on ebay around $200-250.

3. Whistler. Good entry to mid level radar detectors. Will have a number of false alarms. Best models PRO-78 and their newest model the XTR-695 which has alot of neat futures. Can be found on ebay brand new for around $130-160.

I hope this will help you in your radar detector search. In the words of Sammy Hagar "I Can't Drive 55"

 

[adambodkins]

X 2

i completely agree

Well I actually normally drive under the speed limit. I am used to low profile cars such as my camaro or my previous mazda. But Since getting the Explorer I have found myself to be on the interstate going to work and I look down and am only doing 65 in a 70. And around town I just put around. I guess that is why I only spend 20-30 a week in gas. But when we go out of town to her parents house or wherever I do about 75-85. But we also have towns that the posted speed limit in 1 is 31 mph and another is like 27 mph. So those are the speed traps I get concerned with.

 

[gijoecam]

Cheap, Effective, or accurate. Pick two.

For under $200, IMHO, you're better off with a CB for freeway travel. In the city, detectors are almost useless. Between the false readings generated by so many different possible sources, and constantly muting it, I gave up on them about 6 years ago. On the freeway, a CB will tell you where the cops are 20 miles before even the best radar detectors can pick up a reading... Plus it gives you someone to talk to (or be annoyed by depending on who's flappin' there gums).

As for specific models, Car and Driver does a test of them every couple of years. The V1 slipped the last time around, but IIRC, the Escort that did better was still way over your $200 budget.

-Joe

 

[EMG7895]

I have an escort 8500 x50 to, well worth what I spent on it.

 

[adambodkins]

I have used a cb before in my ranger and I think the 4 years I had that truck only one person ever talked back. And I know the cb worked and was tuned properly due to the fact that the ranger was an escort truck for oversized loads

 

[shadowless127]

I really want the escort, would make travelling on the parkway a lot more enjoyable without having to worry about ticket pigs.