Recommend a good Radar / Laser Detector!

Analog

Lifer
Jan 7, 2002
12,755
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I am gravitating toward a remote mount sensor - I was told the windshield of my van has a thin coating of metal sandwiched between the glass to reflect heat, which interferes with the effectiveness of the detector.

Any thoughts on this, or a recommended model?


Thanks.
 

Ime

Diamond Member
May 3, 2001
3,661
0
76
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't a laser detector simply tell you that you are about to get a ticket? It won't be able to detect a laser unless it's pointing at you, in which case it's too late, right?
 

Colt45

Lifer
Apr 18, 2001
19,720
1
0
since somebody is going to say it, I will

slow the fvck down you crazy bastard
 

Analog

Lifer
Jan 7, 2002
12,755
3
0
Originally posted by: Colt45
since somebody is going to say it, I will

slow the fvck down you crazy bastard

Who says I'm speeding....


I just want to know where the smokies are hiding... :)
 

Ime

Diamond Member
May 3, 2001
3,661
0
76
I've never bought nor used a detector, but here's one a friend of mine swears by.
 

Ime

Diamond Member
May 3, 2001
3,661
0
76
Originally posted by: rayray2
Ime beat me to it. Valentine1 blows everybody else out of the water.

Yep, that's exactly what my friend says. He claims it's saved him thousands in speeding tickets. Given the way he drives, I believe him. :)
 

Merlyn3D

Platinum Member
Sep 15, 2001
2,148
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Costco has the silver bullet one for like $80 (which is half the price you'll find it for elsewhere) and the thing has pretty good ratings.
 

Maximus96

Diamond Member
Nov 9, 2000
5,388
1
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i have this, i recommend it. bought this unit for the new car after using a bel 980 for years and still using it in my old car.
 

Dulanic

Diamond Member
Oct 27, 2000
9,967
591
136
That Valentine was is supposed to be very good. I have a Beltronics myself, I got the 945 and it works fantastic. I just couldnt drop $399 on that Valentine one, and the Beltronics has yet to fail me, usually picks up cops a good half mile or more on the highway.
 

GeekDrew

Diamond Member
Jun 7, 2000
9,099
19
81
The Valentine 1 is just about the same quality as the high end Escort Passport... I'm trying to remember the model # for the Escort. I know a lot of people that swear by it.

<edit>

The Passport SR1 is the really high end custom-installed radar detector that I was thinking about, and the Passport 8500 X50 is the one I was thinking is comparable to the Valentine 1.
 

Shawn

Lifer
Apr 20, 2003
32,236
53
91
My $80 Whistler from Best Buy has saved me from countless tickets. It's also a talking radar detector and tells me what band it picked up. Believe it or not it's actually much less annoying than my dad's $200 radar detector and works just as well.
 

EGGO

Diamond Member
Jul 29, 2004
5,504
1
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Originally posted by: yellowfiero
Who says I'm speeding....


I just want to know where the smokies are hiding... :)

I actually have fun looking for them in the night. I caught 2 state police hiding behind trees in the dead of night, facing the same way less than a mile apart. I was able to spot them with the reflections of their license plate by the small amount of moonlight we had.
 

bolido2000

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2001
3,720
1
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I use a cheapo $40 dollar whistler radar. It absolutely blows in the city going off every 5 secs. Nevertheless, it works pretty well when I'm driving in the middle of nowhere.
 

spacejamz

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
10,945
1,622
126

love my escort 8500...especially since the cord has been hardwired up the front pillar and underneath the headliner so you can't see it...solves the problem of people tailing me for having a radar detector...

I did get a ticket last Dec because I had my stereo louder than the detector...once I saw it going off, I turned down the radio, but the DPS officer circled around and pulled me over...was doing 82 in a 70...just finished that defensive driving from Blockbuster last weekend...
 

destined

Senior member
Apr 17, 2004
490
0
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i have the escort x50. i haven't had any tickets yet. and i've caught a lot of cops in upstate ny. they always have their radars running. but i've heard from some other forums, that radar detectors are useless... are there any cops, pros can comment on this?
 

labgeek

Platinum Member
Jan 20, 2002
2,163
0
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BEL Pro Remote RX75 Plus! Text
-- Front and Rear receivers!

but expect to pay out the wazoo...

Oh, and if you install it yourself, Bel won't support it.
 

Apathetic

Platinum Member
Dec 23, 2002
2,587
6
81
The word's best radar detector is another car about 100 yards in front of you going the same speed you are. It helps if it's red too.

Dave
 

Insane3D

Elite Member
May 24, 2000
19,446
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Escort 8500 or the high end Bel's are your best bet. Valentine one is outdated, and overpriced.
 
Aug 27, 2002
10,043
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Originally posted by: Apathetic
The word's best radar detector is another car about 100 yards in front of you going the same speed you are. It helps if it's red too.

Dave

Stop driving behind me ;)
 

ericb

Senior member
Nov 11, 1999
898
0
0
Forget the Escort 8500 and go with the Escort X50. It's not a lot more and has more range and better sensitivity. It's comparable to the Valentine 1, costs less and uses newer technology. The V1 and X50 are basically the 2 highest rated radar detectors out there and while owners of one like to piss on the other you won't go wrong with either one. The cheap radar detectors do nothing except give you a false sense of security and a beeping noise after you've already been tagged.