Passport 9500ix

[Peter B]

Hey everyone, been a long time since I last logged in. Like 6 months or so. Hope everyone is doing well.

So I got my first ticket in my MS3 a couple of weeks ago. A total BS situation if you ask me (i'll post my sad story later)... at 6:20 am ta boot! I have decided I have had enough. The only times I get pulled over are when I space out for that brief moment, and miss a speed limit drop, or something to that extent. I really don't drive that fast. On my way to work I usually just CC between 65 and 70 on the highway. I do most foot-to-floor driving on on ramps.

Anyhow the only two speeding tickets I have ever received were both when something got my attention. Once it was a customer screaming at me on the phone, and the other time it was a horrible horrible ex girlfriend. ...combined with dickhead cops.

My thought is if there was a little something that went "beep" in the car ahead of time, I would probably look down and realize my mistake. I know it might not save me EVERY time, but hell with insurance the way it is if it saves me one ticket it will be well worth it.

So im just curious what you guys think of the 9500ix. I want the GPS feature so I have opted for it over the V1.

Do they actually work? If you do get pulled over are cops more likely to write you a ticket if they see it?

I cant afford one of the installed systems with sensors in my grill so something on the dash will have to do.

Aslo, after reading about them, it seems getting caught by laser is worst case scenario. I don't know what the cops here in MA use, I assume both. I can't afford a laser jammer either at the moment, but I was thinking of getting a can of that veil product. It doesn't block lasers, just gives you a few seconds to react to them. Anyone use this?

Let me know what you guys think.

-Pete

 

[MikeHTally]

My Bel radar detectors have saved my bacon many times. Whatever you get, don't put it on the dash. Attach it higher. All mine are next to the rear view mirror. They spot Smokey's radar before it spots me.

I'd guess if you get stopped anyway AND the cop spots it, you're done. I will say this: I got nailed by laser once - the detector went off 'bout the same time his gun did. I suspect he didn't see the detector, 'cause he wrote me for 38 in a 30 instead of 48 in a 30 (which is what I was doing).

You can probably forget any of those "laser blockers". Mostly snake oil, I'd say. Just hope that the laser it detects is the bounce off another vehicle.

Why do you need GPS?

 

[Peter B]

The 9500ix knows the locations of speed cams, red light cams and speed traps. It uses GPS to warn you when you are approaching one of these things. Also if you find one that it doesn't know about, you can mark it, and it will remember that location. You can also update it via the good old interweb and a usb cable.

 

[block8head]

passport does work pretty well..
i have one and it's an older model 8500 and it saved me more than 20 times with both laser and radar...
i lived in the southshore area and route 24 and 459 is well known staties territory....

 

[79535]

I have heard the whole GPS thing is overrated and for me, it definitely would be.

If you buy a detector that has a decent sensitivity, it will pick up photo traps before you get to them.

I run a Valentine 1 and I pick up photo buggies before I am in front of them (and in time to slow down for the trap). I also pick up cops radar ~1 minute before I see a cop on the highway.

To get back on topic, I have heard great things about the Passport line of radar detectors.

 

[Peter B]

My biggest fear would be the lasers...

 

[gonerogue]

I've heard staying within reasonable range of the speed limit is a good deterrent

 

[79535]

I've heard staying within reasonable range of the speed limit is a good deterrent

I heard this person should not own a Mazda... Maybe a Mazda 5.

 

[Peter B]

I usually do, I really don't speed much. Like I mentioned the only time I have ever been pulled over for it was when something else really had my attention and I spaced out for a moment. If I had a radar detector it probably would have gone off and i would have slowed down before gettin nailed.

 

[///M Compact]

It doesn't help that your MS3 is red. I've only been stopped twice in the past 20 years(79 in a 65 and 92 in a 65), and both times I was driving a red car(and not paying attention). The police don't give my CBM MS3 a second glance. As for detectors, I love my V1 but the Passport is also excellent.

 

[MikeHTally]

I heard this person should not own a Mazda... Maybe a Mazda 5.

Or a Segway? (drive2)

 

[MikeHTally]

I've heard staying within reasonable range of the speed limit is a good deterrent

Eeewwwww! Yuch! I'd break out in a rash! (wow)

 

[79535]

or a segway? (drive2)

rofl

 

[gonerogue]

I heard this person should not own a Mazda... Maybe a Mazda 5.

Tracks do wonders to keep your inner speed demon in check. Don't get me wrong, I get on it on the highway and/or on-ramps sometimes, but I don't cruise at really high speed because I don't see the need. There's nothing exciting about cruising at 20-30 over the speed limit.

 

[blh_wakeboard]

passport does work pretty well..
i have one and it's an older model 8500 and it saved me more than 20 times with both laser and radar...
i lived in the southshore area and route 24 and 459 is well known staties territory....

^+1 I have the older 8500 model and it has saved my ass many many times. I am not a crazy driver just usually going 5-10 over etc and the tickets I've gotten were from when I wasn't paying attention or a passenger distracted me like you were saying. Buying the passport was one of my best investments ever! I would highly suggest getting a passport or valentine detector... Just my $.02

 

[Biggu]

I have a Passport 9500ix and it was the best investment ive ever purchased. it has saved me many a time and i very rarely get false alerts.

If you have the money to spend and are considering a detector this is one of the best ones to get.

 

[SBSPEED3]

i have been wanting a that detector for a while too. for me, it sounds better than a V1 because of the false alert prevention. my buddy had a V1 and it was so annoying that it was either always off, or it just got tuned out. though i have not owned the passport, that would be the one i would recommend because it is the one i would buy. one thing to keep in mind if you have a mac, the software is PC based, so you would have to get a windows emulator for the software updates.
laser and POP laser are indeed the ones to worry about, because they are so much more precise than radar. in the case of POP you are screwed if your the only one on the road, because by the time the detector goes off smokey already has your speed. this is where the GPS memory and speed trap knowledge will come into play.
obviously the biggest protection against speeding tickets is situational awareness, knowing the speed limit and where cops hide. that being said, a radar detector can be a good tool in ticket prevention, because it can help with that situational awareness.
the photo blocker stuff is a stupid gimmick that will not prevent tickets, and in most states is more illegal/frowned upon than a detector. altering a license plate in any way is a big no no.

 

[Biggu]

BTW, if you get a radar detector its not a means to just go out have fun, you still need to watch the road for cops because they must be clocking in order for it to go off.

 

[Peter B]

BTW, if you get a radar detector its not a means to just go out have fun, you still need to watch the road for cops because they must be clocking in order for it to go off.

No not at all. Someday I would love to do a high speed run with my car... really go for it, but I would rather do it at a track.

I want something that will keep me from making those stupid absent minded mistakes that get me tickets. I am a pretty careful driver 95% of the time.

-Pete

 

[Texaco]

The 9500ix GPS does help with "false" alarms. However the radar speed signs are really cheap and their transmit frequency varies greatly with outside temperature. If you lockout a speed sign and the temp drops 30 degrees you may still get the alarm. Overall though the GPS versus false lockout works well.

The biggest problem with the 9500 is that it has a VERY narrow front radar view. I suspect they made this trade to increase sensitivity. Over time with the 9500 you will be very surprised at the short warning time..in particular coming around corners. It goes from no warning to full bars as the radar comes into its narrow view.

I have both the latest 9500 and the V1. In a strait line comparison they both work great, but around corners and picking up distant reflections the V1 totally dominates the 9500.

Bottom line if you want the absolute best protection in all situations go with the V1....but be prepared to hit the mute button a lot around town. Don't forget though that the V1 does have some Logic modes that do filter out some of the false signals. I use L mode around town and it filters a lot of the motion door transitters. Then go back to A (All) mode when on the highway or away from town.

The 9500 will give you less warning time in certain situations but is very quiet when dealing with all the radar doors and speed signs.

Oh, and the stock 9500 windshield mount totally sucks compared to the V1.