Uh oh! Someones Panties are in a bunch! I used the V1 for years. I loved it, but it does give a lot of false alarms. My buddy Joe (AlphaMotoring) has had both the V1 and currently has the 9500ix. He likes the Escort better and considering how he drives it must be a great detector!

 

Just one other thought -- I really think there is a market out there for someone who would make a high quality easily removable mounting device for either the Escort or the V1 line. One of the reasons that I seldom use the 8500 is that it just won't stay put and it bounces around whenever I hit any sort of bump. I just bought the new single suction cup mount, and while its a definite improvement over the normal mount, its still ugly and hard to use.

Just a thought --YMMV.

 

V1 is the reason I still have my DL today.

 

I use a Beltronics RX65 professional series,that Ive had for the last 5 yrs.

Has a great range incl. 360 degree.
Its the only one Ive ever used, so I cant tell one from another but it has never failed me, although once the Laser alert goes off, I think your pretty much busted anyway, if your the only vehicle around.

 

 

Happy VALENTINE'S DAY to those in the know; otherwise, I guess Happy Escort Day.

 

Very well put

 

This is true. Radar detectors are getting pretty good, but at about the same rate as radars are improving. It's a pretty close-to-the-vest game between the radar manufaturers and detector manufacturers (if you're a conspiracy theorist, you probably think they're all one and the same -- they might be ).

You can buy the most expensive detector you can find with all the bells and whistles imaginable, but if you go bombin' down an empty road, at 20-over... You are going to get nailed.

Remember, your radar detector is only one part of a defensive strategy in ticket avoidance.

There's a great story from the ol' "55 Saves Lives" days (the dark ages), where a motorist get's nabbed by a state trooper. After the speeder stops his vehicle on the shoulder, he gets out and proceeds to smash his new radar detector onto the ground and stomp on it. After letting the motorist rage on for a few minutes, the trooper informs him he was timed from an aircraft with a VASCAR.

 

+1 for Escort as well, I've been using a 8500 with the ZR4 (might have been ZR3?) since about 2004 and it has saved me many times. I now swap the x50 between cars because I can't live w/o it...

check ebay you can get a x50 (refurbished) for $149!!! I paid over $300 new...and the 9500 makes my mouth water, but too much $ for filtering false alarms (and more, I'm sure

I've heard Valentine is good too, but too many "saves" by Escort to count for me....keep up the good work Escort!

also, this site is a pretty good resource: http://www.radarbusters.com/

 

+1 for Escort for me too. I bought the V1 initially and it did an amazing job and I still miss the arrows but on my daily drive to work, it went off constantly by several strip malls. Too much for me so I sent it back and got the Escort 9500ix.

The Escort's GPS automatically locked out several of them and the others it never went off on. It seems to do a better job of filtering out false alarms even not using the GPS part. In my opinion, the Valentine probably did pick up LEO's a little sooner but not by much. Both of them pick them up way before anything else on the market I have tried did. Even some of the hardwired to the front/rear stuff.

The extra benefits like the cool display, audio alerts, red light cameras, etc. are cool on a geeky side too.

Kevin

 

My V1 went off all the time also until I told it to turn off "X" band now it is awesome

 

Valentine 1, although receiving great reviews, is out of my budget. I'll admit it freely. I am a cheapskate and can't justify $400 to buy one.

Having said that my budget to $150 and my two choices are the Beltronics V955 and the Escort 8500. You guys are a lot smarter than me and have real world experience. In your expert opinions, which would you choose for mostly highway driving?

 

V1 is the real deal. 9500ix overpriced, gimmicky, housing is plastic.

 

V1 for me. They have great support, fixed my unit outside of warranty for free. It has saved me many times. Direction arrows proved useful yet again this weekend when a cop passed by with the radar the arrow showed me his signal to the rear, but what it also showed me was the second cop ahead coming towards me. Totally worth the high price.

 

I still like my V1.

I don't trust having GPS anything on me, wouldn't it be possible for the law to track you? Rental car companies were/are sending customers tickets for speeding via the OnStar (or other?) GPS.

A sharp eye and smart driving is still the best defense.

 

Did my remote install of the V1 this weekend, came out great! We ran the power wire thru the headliner over to the main unit and mounted the remote display right next to the steering wheel. Works great! Haven't decide if I will need the remote sound unit yet as I can hear it just fine

 

Clean...but are you windows tinted dark or something? That looks like a smash-and-grab waiting to happen to me. I'd be nervous!

 

Interesting. Let us know whether you seem to get any degradation of front radar sensitivity with that location.

Personally, I'd want the remote audio with that install just to have the ability to adjust volume and turn the unit off. Of course, I have remote audio and my head unit is within arms reach.

Stop by Walmart and buy a pair of black women's nylon footies. Unplug the head unit and stretch one over it. Cut a little hole for the cord and plug back in. Voila. Stealth V1. Doesn't impact radar or laser detection in my experience.

 

Looking at his gallery shows that the tint looks limo in the back. Nice job Jiminni next is the gauges

 

Yea I have black windows in the back You cannot see it looking in.

 

I have drivin around with it for a couple weeks and it seems to be working very good. The V1 is very sensitive. Like you said, I will use it for awhile and then decide if I need the audio unit

 

All I need now is oil pressure

 

We did the clubman yesterday Oil Pressure, Water Temp and Voltage long day but it looked good and worked well when done Lets schedule a day and get it done..