Radar Detector?

[dectk06]

I don't use one. I have not used one, ever.

I have had many tickets - 4 in the last 4 years. 3 in the last 2 years during which time I've owned the Speed3. Two were really unfair, but I did break the law; the cop was just being really quota-hungry if I'd venture to guess. Anyway, I do admit the fault, so, please, don't flame! (evil)

Do you guys use a radar detector? I've so far just been really careful and always check my mirrors like a paranoid freak ALL THE TIME. It helps. Also, I've gotten past the "speed-hungry" phase of my teenage years - I'm 20 now. I don't drive past 70 mph, hardly ever! I never go over 10 mph over the posted limit, ever! So I've grown up a lot...

Anyway, do you guys recommend a detector? I've heard a lot of Valentine 1 and Escort 8500 and its siblings, but I'm thinking about just getting a cheap $60 dollar cobra detector from Wal-Mart that my friend's been using for the last 5 months or so. It seems to pick up the radar gun EVERY TIME. He says it's worth the money... He trusts the gadget so much that he drives fast EVERYWHERE. I live in Birmingham, Alabama where nobody hardly ever uses laser, so I don't really need laser detector...

So.... what d'ya think? I'd appreciate your $.02!

 

[MaikuMS3]

i was thinking about getting a radar detector the other day too. i know Cobra one is good but dunno which one is better.

*waiting for a reply...*

 

[BillTheCat]

I have a Cobra, but the only reason I bought it was that I got it used & cheap. Frankly, I hardly ever take it out of the glove box any more, as I hate the clutter of the wires dangling down the dash, etc. and then having suction cup marks on the windshield.

I wouldn't mind havnig a radar detector in the car & running all the time, even if it is usually just a notification that you've been busted. But I'd want to get one built in, and if I was going to do that, I'd get the Valentine 1.

You'll hear varying opinions about almost every unit on the market except the Valentine 1. The only less than stellar opinion I tend to see on that is a question of "is it worth the price premium?" Well, it seems to be the most consistently accurate one, so if accuracy is worth it, then yes.

 

[///M Compact]

V1 owner here. Love it. The only other detector that's in the same class is the Passport 9500ix, which is GPS enabled and contains a database of the location of all known speed and red light cameras. Neither detector is cheap; the V1 is $400, the Passport is $500. That said, a radar detector is merely one tool to help you avoid tickets. Situational awareness, common sense, a basic knowledge of LEO strategy, and the strengths and weaknesses of the various speed measuring equipment/techniques are even more important factors.

 

[iredremix]

hey man, if it's costing you a lot of money on tickets so far, u might as well spend 400 or 500 on a radar detector that you know will work. at least you'll avoid future tickets and this time you'll see where you're money's going. save up little by little and buy that expensive piece of crap! that's what im doing

 

[GoFast]

non-speeder here. Love it. So far it hasn't let me down. I am working on a How-to for everyone too. I will post it when I am all finished

 

[iredremix]

oh yea, about the reviews on the 9500 and the v1, i haven't heard any cons about either those two. so they must be that damn good.

 

[Sport6]

non-speeder here. Love it. So far it hasn't let me down. I am working on a How-to for everyone too. I will post it when I am all finished

Subscribed

 

[CWPspeed3]

If you dont want to shell out the big bucks for the V1 or the 9500/8500 the Beltronics i940 is practically the exact same thing as the Escort 8500 but only $165 or so. I even used the 8500 hard wiring kit so I dont have cords in the way. Works fairly well but I dont speed all too much. Use it more for situation awareness.

 

[Mz3Hatch]

radar detectors are honestly feel good tools. i had one for 6 years .. still got pulled over for speeding via radar and laser. having law enforcement training myself and other police officers in my family, its easy to outsmart those with detectors. Police use what they call POP radar where they wont turn it on until a vehicle is in sight therefore eliminating the oppurtunity to be found by radar detectors.

radar technology is increasing rapidly for police officers. also, radar detectors povide another oppurtunity for tickets as well with obstruction of view.

but like i said before, i had one for a while so im not acting like im perfect with my driving or that they are pointless. i had cobras .. a little over 100 is all i spent .. 4-500 is ridiculous IMO. But its up to you one what you decide.

 

[Sport6]

I had a detector for a few years and those are where my 3 tickets have come from. To me it gave me a false sense of security and just got me in more trouble.

Now I am part of the "drive the limit club" and haven't gotten a ticket.

 

[GoFast]

I had a detector for a few years and those are where my 3 tickets have come from. To me it gave me a false sense of security and just got me in more trouble.

Now I am part of the "drive the limit club" and haven't gotten a ticket.

Absolutely

It is hard to beat that method....and if you are going to speed, then do it within reason. Most municipalities have a departmental policy on over the speed limit allowances. However, those are always up to the officers discretion and are evaluated on a case by case basis.

 

[ravi]

valentine1, end of story

 

[squidmotion]

V1 and passport/escorts are very good... the best.

i have a whistler XTR-695 that works just fine...


here in texas.. they will run lasers around houston sometimes, and not much you can do against those... those are 'stupid' tickets anyway...

in the smaller towns west, the DPS and county guys usually use k-band or some variation of ka.. i'm chronic about being 5-10 over... and those little small town speed traps are easily spotted with the whistler...

 

[joeym509]

I have run passports for over 15 years and not been pulled over for speeding one time when I had them. I currently have hard wired my 8500 and monuted it up above my rear view mirror so it is "hidden" and get the best coverage. As others have said you still must use common sense when going over the posted, but I love mine and it has saved me many times. That being said, I travel close to 35000 miles each year for my job and on the highway I put in cruise control at 9 mph over the limit. This way I can cut almost 1 hour off my drive time for each 8 hours driven and I always keep someone close to me so my detector can do its job and if a copper is using instant on radar i still have time to react. my .02

 

[mbanshchikov]

I have had the V1 for about 6 months and love it. It does catch the POP radar, but only if another car is targeted or your car is targeted, at which point it's too late. Here in MA, it catches State Police cars from a mile away and has saved me countless times. As far as all the cluttered wires, I have mine hard wired (20 min job on the MS3, explained in the how-to section of the forum) so its clean and looks amazing. If you have $400+ to spend, I definately recommend the V1!

 

[///M Compact]

I always try to be the second fastest car on the road.

 

[Nliiitend1]

If you aren't willing to spend at least ~$300-$400 on a radar detector, don't bother.

My experience with the "cheaper" ones is that they don't work consistently enough to be worth it.

I've been using a V1 for 3 or 4 years now and it's never let me down. Before I got the V1 I had used cheaper detectors from Cobra and Beltronics, and both of them ended up going in the garbage after I received radar-confirmed speeding tickets while using them (without them making a peep).

Go big or go home.

 

[Boosted03MSP]

I am currently trying to hard wire my V1 to my car. i have opened the case and i am trying to place the sensor in my grill and extend the wiring , placing the warning/notification screen somewhere discreet in the cabin

 

[judman13]

My take on this is that its stupid.

If you haven't ever though about it they are called speed "LIMITS".
"Not we suggest you drive this speed, but its ok to go over it if you want to"

These limits are set for a reason, however much you may dislike or hate the fact that they are the certain speed, thats the law.

A radar detector really isn't going to help that much anymore. Cops are not complete idiots as some may think. If they want to catch you speeding they will. So seriously just slow down and not even worry about.

As for it adding situational awareness...I don't really understand that...it detects radar and laser signitures not unseen road hazards or idiot drivers on the road. If anything it is more of a distraction when the thing beeps and you go looking for a cop nearby and not the road ahead.

Just my .02.