What's your favorite radar detector?

[ZoomZoomZoom]

I did a search and its been a coupla years since radar detectors were discussed. I obviously need to invest in one, or plan on going to traffic school. So, what kind do you have and what do you like/dislike about it?

I noticed that some come with batteries so you don't have any cables running to the lighter. What other options are worth comparing?

Some say radar detectors are a waste of money, that you get scanned at the moment the radar catches your speed. I've never owned one, but I feel that if it saves you once, its well worth the money..

 

[SupraOfDoom]

My friend has a Valentine 1, works great.

 

[suprakid24]

if I could get anyone that I wanted, it would be a valentine1...

but right now I have a cobra radar detector that I got from bestbuy a while back, and the cord needed to be replaced after a while, and I emailed them and they did it for free. Now the speaker is blown and I don't know if it even works anymore because it hardly goes off anymore and when it does it won't make any sound.

 

[TRACKMKIII]

I had a Cobra and it save my butt numerous times. I can't remember the exact model number but it did just about everything it even warned you when emergency vehicles were getting close. It was great!! To bad some piece of shit broke into my car and stole it along with all of my CDs but luckily he left the cash!! Anyway I think the biggest thing to look for when buying a radar detector is to make sure it scans for mutiple kinds of radar and lasers plus make sure it scans far enough ahead to give you time to slow down.

 

[GotBoost?]

I recently (early Dec 07) got my Valentine 1. It's worth the money, as it has saved me a few times already. It picks radar signals from couple miles to 1/2 mile, depending on many conditions. But if radar is being used, it's going to pick it up. I don't mind that it has a power cord. It doesn't get in the way, and it's not like they're illegal here in my state. I really like the arrows that point in the direction of the signal, instead of having to guess. I recommend it. As for getting scanned immediately, I think you're refering to laser. By the time your detector alerted you to LASER, you're toast. Good news is LASER is seldom used, it's very uncommon. Is a detector going to save your butt from a ticket every time? No, but it's going to seriously reduce your chances of getting ticketed. People driving like a maniac everytime need to get a talking with the man.
While i was typing this somebody wrote about a car break in. Yeah, any radar detector, let alone a more expensive unit, it's going to temp many a lowlife to break into the car to get it.

 

[Mr. Sinister]

V1. There is no other.

 

[Push]

I have had good luck with my Cobra radar detectors... I know there poorly made, but they work and are super cheap, under $100 compared to $500 V1...

 

[MassSupra89]

My friend has a Valentine 1, works great.

+1

I had I think what was a Cobra for about a week, it was my friends he just gave me, and I figured out why real soon. It would only go off when I drove by stores with security scanners at the doors or at the most 2 seconds before I physically saw the cop. Couldnt see it really ever saving me, so it's been sitting on my floor since.

 

[Sawbladz]

The only one I have ever used (they are illegal here) was a Valentine 1. Worked well and you can mount it out of site.

 

[Fletch124]

Escort Passport 8500i X50.

 

[Justin]

Yep.

Cobra's suck pooper, V1's are really great but not worth the price over the passports.

I've owned three different passports. There's a reason I go back to them. This time I got the laser jammer too ffwall:

Escort Passport 8500i X50.

 

[MassSupra89]

I remember hearing Escort and Valentine were made or designed by the same company?

 

[brad92t]

I have had a Cobra for many years and I love it. However the newer cobras seem to be cheaper (made) and much poorer at doing their job IMO..

Where are you in KY?

 

[Poodles]

I remember hearing Escort and Valentine were made or designed by the same company?

nope, they are the 2 main high end detectors and are in direct competition...

V1 has the arrows, something the escort does not have. The escort's lights are a bit annoying as well IMHO.

I'd run a V1 with a seperate laser jammer (laser jammer gives you enough to to slow down)

 

[theKnifeArtist]

i got a x50 passport guy, but i don't even know why i bought it because i don't trust it to save me, so i barely use it.

 

[Quin]

A buddy of mine has an older one (his dad used it in his 300ZX 10+ years ago) and it picks up any emergency vehicle as far as ~2mi out. It's bad ass, I'll have to get the name of it.

Personally, I'm usually going too fast to slow down, or the speed limit, so I don't really need one.

 

[jtran8]

I've done alot of research about radar detector and still haven't got one yet , but if I ever going to get one ; Valentine 1 is the one i want .:love:

 

[MassSupra89]

I'd like a V1 eventually. But moderating my right foot and a keen pair of eyes works great for me now.

 

[wildfire0310]

My friend has a Valentine 1, works great.

I have only heard good thinks about the Valentine 1, the boss at the shop has one in his miata and he says it saved him over 10 times.

Well worth the $500, and on my lists of parts

 

[pb92supraturbo]

V1 and only V1! Once you use one, you'll feel in the dark using others without the directional arrows. I've owned one since 1997 and it has saved me countless times. Very nice quality as well - magnesium case(it should be for the price). Valentine Research does offer unit upgrades, so you do have the option to send it in for the latest software or hardware updates if you wish. No other brand offers this as far as I know.