Knowing that i'll be driving 2500+ miles cross country in my brand new mini, it'll be almost impossible not to go really fast (especially across montana!)

So i'm considering a new radar detector to replace my 7 year old, broken/crappy beltronics detector.

I'm looking for suggestions. Obviously the V1 is great, but also $400!

Suggestions?

 

Here's our 2005 tests
http://www.motortrend.com/features/m...r_buyersguide/


We are curently working on the 2006 test.


I have the BEL Vector 965, and its awsome.. saved my *** a few times

Bel is actualy one of the best ones to get for the money. The Valentine One is good also, but the Vector is very comparible to it and cheaper.

 

I hate to say do a search but .. there are several long, extensive discussions this. They call in the passport vs V1 camps.

Bottom line seems to be Passport of V1. Dont get the low-end models, only the high. You can read what every else has extensively discussed in the area threads here are a few

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ighlight=radar
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ighlight=radar
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ighlight=radar

 

What I'd like to see is: Which is the best value, as well as, Which is the best if money is no object.

For some reason, these reviews have a tough time saying which is the top rated item. The reviewer always wants to interject their 'value' of certain components or features to then say which is the best buy whereas I would like to not be worried about the reviewers priorities for the features that a product has.

 

To a certain degree it will always be subjective and hard to assign absolute value. For example we use and value the arrows that the V1 has - no other detector offers them, so that makes it hard to compare. That, along with the fact that it works well and is upgradable, has made it our choice more then once

 

Makes it hard to compare? Not at all. But you've hit on my point and perhaps missed my point as well.

The fact that the V1 has the arrows is a fact. It should be stated and left at that. The reader should be the only one to put a value on the existance of the arrows. But instead, the reviews like to say Product A is the best value for the cost. Those statements can only be made IF the reviewer's priorities on each feature exactly match mine.

The review should stick to the facts instead of assigning value to each item.

 

The arrows are priceless... What good is a dectector with out knowing the location of the radar source ?

A beep says yes, police are close but where?
What good is that? Slow down every time you hear beep?

Arrows, allow you to understand the "threat" and that is the key..

 

But it has a value, it is the very interface of the unit and bears on how it is used and what information is provided. So I'm confused by your statement since you cannot divorce the assessment of the value of the V1 from its interface and features.

IMHO the fact of the arrows is something that should be accounted for and reviewed since it bears on how the unit is used (and the reader can't really understand how it bears on actual usage until they use it or read a review). Its like any interface, its part of the product and can effect an opinion of how effective or pleasant something is to use and that has a direct connection to how good or bad something is deemed to be as compared to others. I suppose if you just want to know how well the detector detects you can determine that from the stats, compare prices and have your answer w/o interface usefullness factoring in.

 

Passat774 and eVal are both in agreement with the simple fact that I happen to feel that the arrows are priceless. But what I am trying to get at is that it seems that the Valentine 1 is the top unit given all of its features and specs, yet most every review hesitates to say that it is the best because the review most always says Valentine is the most expensive and Product B is the best product for your dollar.

My sensitivity to the dollar may not be the same as the reviewer and I am trying to say that the reviewer should not be making that subjective statement as to which unit is the best value, but instead only be speaking to which units performed the best and which had unique features that may not show in the tables of specs.

 

I have a Passport, the arrows weren't worth $100 imo, if I hear a signal, I'll slow down because there is radar in the area, I'm not going to look for the police first then slow down. The Passport is very sensitive and works very well, the laser function even saved me[laser bounced off another car that got stopped ]. Make sure you choose a higher quality model and stay away from Rocky Mountain products.

 

Thank you jon.k for speaking up. We now have an example of someone who doesn't see a whole lot of value in arrows.

It is for this reason, that I'm not wanting a reviewer to say Product A is a better value for your money. If jon.k was writing the review, he would have misled me as he and I disagree on the subjective value of a feature.

 

Do a search here on NAM for Radar, there are many many threads about this, some live by the arrows others couldn't care less, but radar detectors, which one to buy , where and how to install it have all been beaten to death.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ighlight=Radar

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ighlight=Radar

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ighlight=Radar

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ighlight=Radar

And thats just the ones with Radar in a the thread title that explain choosing a radar detector.

Hope the info helps.

 

Here's my experience. Driving along I65 just north of Louisville the V1 picks up radar ahead, as indicated by the directional arrow. I slow down and pass an unmarked on the shoulder servicing a "client." But now I note the V1 shows one radar behind and another ahead. I come up over the brow of a hill about a mile further on and there's the second cop car waiting for anyone who had sped up after passing the first one.

Value of the V1 arrows? Priceless and still counting after all these years...

Yes the V1 is expensive, but the difference between it and any other high performance detector is less than the cost of even one speeding ticket.

Neil
05 MCS
96 M3

 

A combination of a radar detector and a laser jammer is the best defense.
I have a talking radar detector cause I don't like trying to ientify beeps. Usually Ka band is the main one to look out for. That's the most widly used radar. X band laser is mostly useless especially since it false alerts a lot.
The laser jammers are legal in all but a few states and work by blocking the return of a reading to the laser gun. Two jammers are stealthly mounted in the grill of the cooper and constantly send out a jamming signal when activated. They do not false alert! An audible warning and a light that goes from green to red lets you know that you are jamming a laser gun. When that happens I immediatly slow down and then switch off the jammer so the cop can get a reading and smile as I pass by.

 

Even thou, we are beating a dead horse here

Almost everyone I know that owns a V1 has owned another detector of some sort before that.. I have owned a few. I loved the first detector I owned, it saved me many, many tickets..

Then I realized I wanted the best, the V1 back in 1998....
The V1 was information overload at first with the arrows.. But now I have come to live with them and love them..

So a better question to ask yourself is, put together all the current owners of a V1 that had something else in the past... And ask them would you ever live without the arrows again?? I would have to say all would say nope, can not live without the arrows anymore, it's a must..!!!!

 

Doesn't Valentine also have a policy of upgrading the units that they have previously sold? With changing technology out there, that makes the price seem much more reasonable than buying a new unit to keep current with your defenses !!

I am now saving for a V1 - my SA said that it is the only one owned by everyone at the dealership and that he would be happy to wire the power lines for it through the dash when I am ready.

Bill

 

Having owned multiple detectors over the years, I reccomend the V1 hands down in my humble opinion.

First-- The arrows. No you don't keep speeding until you find the cop. What it does do though is give you confidence that you've FOUND the cop after you've slowed down. ie Count of 1 - arrow to the front, See a Cop delivering customer Service on the opposite side of the road, arrow flips to side and then back as you pass by. I'm confident he was the radar offender. No arrows, no confidence... Keep real slow until the signal dies completely.

Scenario 2 -- Arrow to the front, Single count and find a cop on the side of the road. Old detector assume its him. V1, i notice that he's NOT running radar, but his buddy 3/4 mile up the road is (and waiting for me and the other guy that sped up once we passed the cop - even though i could see his detector going off).

The Count -- Knowing the number of point sources is great or maybe just cool. having more information gives me more confidence in my driving strategy.

Of course it's not a pancea for speeding. The detector is just one of many tools that can be employed in your spirited driving.

My complaints - I find the band differentiator hard to see at night in my car. i.e., is that a k or a KA going off. I wish they lit the character and not just the little LED next to the character.

upgrades - The serial numbers are tracked and you can upgrade the unit if something new comes out. The age of the unit, determines the cost. From what I understand they actually just send you a new detector.

cost - Yes it's a higher cost, but you don't have to pay full price. I've bought 2 off of ebay for about $275-300 each. Just ask for the serial number if its not posted and then confirm the release version. You can also potentially buy an older model and then just send it in for the upgrade. If you go to the V1 website you can enter the serial number to find out the upgrade cost.

Accessories - you can also get a remote mount display. This display can be mounted somewhere convienent. If you have factory NAV you can also get a 3rd party adapter that integrates the display into the Nav screen...


So for the value, i think its worth it. The technical reviews will bounce back and forth between which one is best. But in my real world driving, I truly find the arrows and counts to be the standout difference for me.

 

Just to contest this one poinst, I have tried several times to save money by getting one on ebay. But in almost every case, the upgrade cost puts you at the price of a new one, if not more. Yes they do send you a new detector, and at minimun I believe it is $150. But you can always find a deal.

To add, The Count is important. In many areas you are familiar with that have a bogey that sets your detector off every day and you ignore it, one day a cop can be sitting in the same area, and without a count you would just ignore it. With the V1 you will see that today the count shows 2 instead of 1, and you know not to ignore it.

 

Where might these be found? Any particular places to monitor? I thought all sales were direct.

 

I was referring specifically to his comment on ebay. Normally they are not really a deal after upgrade, but you can watch and wait, you never know what will come along.

 

Mac,

My V-1 makes different chirping sounds depending upon the type of radar it encounters. This lets me know what band I have detected, day or night.

 

Yeah mine does too -- It just never fails on a long night drive, that I catch myself going, is that the K or the KA going off??? At least in my state, KA absolutely means Police, but I see more and more doors using K. So depending on the strength and pattern of the K, I change my driving pattern.
Too many sirens in my ears over the last decade for me to hear well!

JWARDELL - I completely agree with you. You have to be patient or just keep trying to get a true deal. The cheapest upgrade I've seen was $75. I find that the V1's in particular are high demand on ebay. So you just have to decide what it's worth with the shipping cost and not bid yourself into or over a new price. I think I realistically only saved $50 on each of the ones I got. I've not upgraded them as they are only missing the POP warning from the new fangled guns, that isn't even legally defensible.

 

with some of these bels and escorts, they have a "voice" alert? I agree that the "chirping" is somewhat annoying as it freaks me out at night and i'm always trying to remember "which alert is that again..??"

is it an actual human voice saying "Ka alert" or something?

 

There's no law saying what is and isn't legally defensible. The officer can have no evidence, no radar data, and just say he saw you doing a speed, and you can still get the full charge. Our ticketing court system is more dependent on the judge's mood than law or reason.

So personally I'd rather have as much warning as possible so as not to even get into that situation.

..just 2 more cents..

 

Soooo true... I hate traffic court judges... Biased @$$hats.