OK, I have my V1 installed in my cabrio in the same way Blimey Cabrio did his. This is what I did:

I removed the metal clip from the visor mount to straighten the end a bit first. To straighten the end I put the metal clip on the floor of my garage with a block of wood over the end. I then gave the wood a few whacks with a hammer. The end of the clip flattened out nicely. This made it much easier to slip it under the plastic headliner.

I used a wood shim to gently pry the edge of the plastic headliner away from the glass. With the metal clip still detached from the plastic part of the visor mount, I then inserted the clip under the headliner (it went in easily). Then I reattached the plastic part of the visor mount and attached the V1 to the mount. A small square of velcro is attached to the front, left corner of the V1 and the plastic headliner to keep the V1 from sliding around. Thanks to Blimey Cabrio for the idea and advice on this. Photos:





I did the hardwire using an add-a-circuit in the fuse box. The connection for the V1 remote display is under the dash and I plan to add the remote display and install it near my speedo/tach on the steering column.

 

Well done!

Glad the clip straightening worked well for you - I was literally seconds away from doing that, then brute force prevailed in my case.

 

Good news! I have a first generation Valentine One detector. I did an on-line upgrade request. They will send me a whole new, current, Valentine One, with all the wires, mounts, etc. it comes with, for a savings of $120 over the price of the new one. I've had my current one since 1992 and it has never failed me.

I also saw someone post a comparison test in which the testor claimed the Valentine did not even warn on Ka band. I spoke with Valentine, which was aware of the test and they said neither they or anyone else was able to replicate such a failure, ever.

 

You can't trust every radar comparison test you read. Often they are swayed because they have ties with a company (as radartest.com is with escort), others may be a reseller whose personal interest is to favor their products (and no one can sell the V1 so they short-change it), or even a magazine may be provided "samples" from the manufacturers which they don't realize are tweaked to be more sensitive.

These guys are a great independent group of guys that pool their personal resources for more fair tests. They just performed a new test including the 9500, and the results should be posted in another week. However they have tests from october which are still fairly current:
http://www.guysoflidar.net/

 

Yeah, you are right. Basically, you can't trust reviews from a retailer, because Valentine One is sold direct, not through vendors. I just read a lot of reviews but actual users, posted to actual review sites that don't sell detectors. Countless ones praised the V1. Two reviewer hated it. One because it falsed too much in a city setting (I have used mine in NYC and never had an undue amount of falses) and the other because it didn't have enough bling. That reviewed alleged to have received numerous tickets because the arrows didn't work as advertised. If you are stupid enough to get "numerous tickets" you are also probably stupid enough to not understand how to use the arrows.

 

my 7500 in my MCS with no arrows is driving me nuts when it goes off
cause i want to know where the signal is coming from....especially after
driving around my G with a V1...

 

Exactamundo.

 

i should get another one, huh?

 

I have to stop tuning out the bleeps at the usual places, or I will blow it! It's becoming just another noise... not good.

 

I move ours from the MCS to the van for long trips - but I find myself getting "nervous" without it when driving the van around town...

 

Those two post seemed out of order before
Counter!

V1 is preforming wonderfully picking up radar with plenty of time to prepare myself. However the LAser warning is well not much of a warning and there is not much to do about that cept live with it. But the V1 is Serving its purpose easing my mind everyday. Even took the time to lower the profile of the install al littleso you really have to be close to know that its there

 

motoron- i didn't see this post until today. that's pretty funny.

im looking at my budget right now to determine wat i want to do...but
i know having another V1 is going to be a very nice thing.

 

No detector's laser warning serves much purpose. Unlike other radar, laser has a very narrow beam. If your detector picks up laser, it means the laser picked up you. Best you can hope for is to slow down and not be the one that gets nabbed.

 

If you can't drive within the speed limit at all times, next best thing to a radar detector is a CHP 11-99 Foundation License Frame or CHP decal.

My friend has the CHP license frame on his Porsche. We got pulled over for speeding awhile back and this is what the CHP said, drivers license and reg. please. After checking ID, he said thanks for your support. I know you were just letting her out on the freeway, but try to stay within the speed limit next time, have a nice day!"

 

Doubt that the Maryland cops would care.

 

Those things are nothing more than pull-me-over badges.
If you're truly concerned with laser, get a jammer.

 

or slow down... it's free.

 

Not the accidents and road rage it will cause when everyone is buzzing by you 20mph faster...

 

so you're saying that if everyone ran 65mph in a 45mph construction
zone it is okay.

 

Can't remember the last time I've ever seen nonimpeded traffic go the speed limit, even in a construction zone. Are you willing to bet $3000+ to drive the same speed as traffic, blind? That's why some of us invest the money on a detector.

I gave you that comment because you're crashing a radar detector thread telling people to slow down.
What if I came into one of your Hydro-jacked threads and told you to just keep your car inside and don't get it dirty?
Keep discussion constructive...

 

so you're still implying that illegal driving is okay if you have a detector?
how is that constructive? i bought my V1 as an accessory (a conversation
piece, a toy, a vanity thing), not a free ticket to speed illegally.

you need some vanilla icecream.

 

I said nothing of the sort. You're the one who brought up speed. I AM arguing against illegal speed limits while you mention it, though.
Vanilla ice cream is only good with apple pie. Stick with chocolate. :p

 

ok, cool. as long as no on here thinks that we support speeding just
because we have a V1 then that is okay.

you put vanilla icecream on an applie pie? dang, i thought putting it
in coke classic was sweet.

 

So we both drive normal speeds, both have V1..what the heck are we arguing about??

P.S....as I followed traffic through a construction zone this weekend at 25 over the advisory speed I thought of your post!

 

For how often it falses LASER I expected it to pick up laser at least as well as the Cobra I had that picked up laser a good 300yrds sooner, I watched a WSP Trooper clock me then clock a car in the other direction turn around and get me again before the V1 laser warning went off. I know that it only means "you're ****ed" when it goes off but I don't even get that FYI in a response to another one of your posts I DID mention I have seen how it works from both sides of the LIDAR gun, I'm quite familar with the system thank you.

Just finished further stealthification of install