What radar detector is best value?

[m3f_rauer]

what radar detector is the best value? which one works best? how about in california? what should I look for in a detector?



what other types of devices seem to work well?

[m3f_orijinal_p_92d6bcd8a9]

i know alot of guys on here have had good experience with the Valentine 1. i have to say after i get rid of the radioshack one that's currently in my car or when i get enough money, i'm gonna get a V1 version 1.8? or 1.9? whichever is most current. if you didn't know the v1 is probably the only radar detector w/ arrows to show you which way the signal is coming from & it also has a bogey counter to check for false alarms. they also have a concealed unit for places that it is illegal to have one.



my friend has an escort passport x50 and he swears by it. i have heard different opinions from different places so it's hard to say which works best.



car & driver did a radar detector test a while back, and the V1 was the winner: http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=4&article_id=1993&page_numb er=1

[m3f_tmoeller_0b3bad0f4e]

You pretty much should limit yourself to the passport x-50 or the V-1. They are considerably better than the rest. The V-1 arrows are very nice, but it does false alarm more often than the passport. The passport is a little less tall, so it blocks less of your forward view. The passport and v-1 are both easy to hardwire. I have a passport, my best friend a v-1....they're about equal in range from me eyeballing it. I've had a couple of less expensive detectors before, and I'd avoid them were I you.

[m3f_KUpolo]

You pretty much should limit yourself to the passport x-50 or the V-1. They are considerably better than the rest. The V-1 arrows are very nice, but it does false alarm more often than the passport. The passport is a little less tall, so it blocks less of your forward view. The passport and v-1 are both easy to hardwire. I have a passport, my best friend a v-1....they're about equal in range from me eyeballing it. I've had a couple of less expensive detectors before, and I'd avoid them were I you.



You need to add the Pro Bel Rx65 to that list. It has beaten the V1 and Passport in a least two tests that I know of.









Really you can't go wrong buying one of the three. Don't waste money buying a cheap detector, you'll regret it.



Aslso run a search, there have been plenty of thread on this subject.

[m3f_SOURCE1064]

V-1 because it will never be out dated you can always update the software with them for a price. Plus it's awesome with steathone.

[m3f_00poop6x_6dca3456a4]

V-1 because it will never be out dated you can always update the software with them for a price. Plus it's awesome with steathone.





This person answered it correctly. V1 does keep its value very well due to its ability to upgrade. The others lack this ability and therefore leave you a choice of only to sell the radar at loss and to buy the current model which is the same or better. All of them being a good choice it's hard to know which is best without using them first.



What you should look for in a detector is range, types of band detection, ease of use, upgradeable features, how much information it tells you about the detection(s), and more importantly its locations. Remember that these are radar detectors and NOT police detectors....expect to detect radar signals. If you are annoyed of 'false alarms' which aren't false at all, you should not even have a detector at all. The detector is only as good as its user.



I would worry last about the price, unless it's over $600 and does not garauntee you over 90% success of not getting caught speeding. Remember, this is or should be a one time investment deal....worry about what you'll be getting instead of how much you're spending.



Also, do some homework on the radar companies. I know some allow you to try the radar detector for a certain amount of time for free, I would suggest doing that on a planned road trip of some sort. I know just yesterday that rear detection saved my arse, I got pulled over but no proof of my speed.

[m3f_Dakhar_517a2ad3bd]

Value?



Do you mean, getting your moneys worth. Well, to me the V1 is the winner hands down, no debate.



Yes, I know there have been sevearal suposed defeats over the years of the V1, but look at the reason why it was defeated.... One I can remember, is because the V1 does not give you a carrying case! Well BOO HOOO.... Like a carrying case is going to make a difference to the cop as he writes me a ticket. "Please don't write me a ticket, I have a fancy case for my radar detector."



I have the V1 and the Escort Z3 laser shifter(jammer) system in my car. It has only jammed laser one time since I have owned it for around 8 months now. But it was fun to watch it happen. It was an unmarked dodge stratus that hit me... no sweat, got the jammer!

[m3f_crullone]

Definitely the V1 for me, once you've had it in there you'll wonder how you lived without it and you'll feel naked if you're driving without it. It has easily paid for itself many times over in the 4 years that I've had it.

[m3f_95blkbimm3_9842002abc]

the v1, im with crullone on how you feel naked with driving w/o it, but lemme tell u if you do get pulled over, and the cop sees you got a radar detector, hes not going to be very forgiving, well at least none of them have been for me, they are all d!ckheads, i duno if its because its the car or what.. i think its just because they are just jealous they have to ride in a crown vic

[m3f_Dakhar_517a2ad3bd]

I doubt a cop would give me an ounce of mercy with or without a radar detector. Besides what are the odds a cop is going to give you mercy 3-4 times... Not unless you are a woman with 36 DD, I don't think you are going to have any luck.

[m3f_03E36M3_956a950a08]

I have only been pulled over a couple times, and they are always saying something along the lines of.... "you know what DOT requires, a spedo... so stop wasting so much damn time watching that radar detector, and spend more watching the spedo"...



not a big fan... you can do your job and be professional, there is no reason to lecture others like they are children.



Brandon

[m3f_Roguish Racing]

Valentine one has pretty much one price so there's not much of a deal on this one, but all the other vendors usually have deals.

[m3f_Brent_Vino]

Valentine One.

[m3f_bmw4life13_0098c1d2b1]

I doubt a cop would give me an ounce of mercy with or without a radar detector. Besides what are the odds a cop is going to give you mercy 3-4 times... Not unless you are a woman with 36 DD, I don't think you are going to have any luck.

LOL :rofl2:

[m3f_AMPowerJ_e8f979e5cd]

No doubt that the Valentine One is probably the best of the bunch but for the money, I believe the PassPort is better. It has everything except arrows. This is what I have. If money was no object then I would have the V1 but I would rather spend that extra money on more mods. :thumbsup: