I have had my MCS for a week now and have come dangerously close on 3 occasions to tickets. I am keeping it under 4000, well maybe 4250, and still find that it like to cruise about 75-80 on the highway. What radar detectors would you folks recommend? I will definately be purchasing one before next weekend.

 

My choice is Cobra. The make several different model withthe same basic styling. The model I have in both my ACURA and MINI is a voice response model. They perfore exceptionally well and blend perfectly with the interior of the MINI.

WHat makes the particulary good are the voice warning that tell you what type of radar is looking at you. It has automatic VG detecting and will continue to monitor signals without "giving you away.BBCode "

Available at your local BEST BUY.

 

>What radar detectors would you folks recommend?

There is only one radar detector worth getting - Valentine 1.

Other lists I'm on this topic is always debated ad nauseum (Ferrari List has debated this at least once a year for the past 5 years) and in the end the Valentine 1 is the choice everyone eems to pick as long as cost isn't an issue. It's no compromise solution but weighs in on your pocketbook at about $400.

I've had one since 1996 and it's saved me a lot of money - well more than the $400 invested. The directional display with bogey counter rocks.

Others that typically come up are the "stealth" K-40 install at $1k+ with front/rear laser jamming. I've never had this system but I know a few folks with the K-40 and V1.

I have no relation to Valentine One the company other than being a satisfied customer.

Send me a private note if you want links to pages and pages of comparisons and discussions on this topic - it tends to sound like a religious debate until you get to the core of the objection to a V1 which always seems to come down to budget.

 

I second Dave's post.
I've had my V1 now for about 5 years. I can't tell tou how many times it's saved me. It's worth the one time investment! And if ten years from now you want to upgrade..... You can get the latest and greatest V1 for 125.00 + your old V1.
Happy Motoring,
SW

 

The MCS is a awsome little car.. perfromance is Killer!! and the brakes work Fast hard and straight!!

It is a trip to blast by a big sedan at 100MPH and watch them try to figure out what that grey thing was... LOL

 

I have been using a Passport Solo for the past 10 years and I love it. It's small, have been well rated it tests and most of all, its cordless. If you do get pulled over the first thing you want to try and do is hide the detector before the officer gets close to you. The cordless makes this very easy and its easy to hide (just don't forget to turn it off). If an officer sees you with a detector all bets are off on trying to talk your way out tof the ticket. The Solo uses 2 AA batteries and they last 4-5 weeks depending on how much you drive and the settings you use.

 

Car and Driver every so often runs a comparo - Valentine wins hands down by a factor of two or more every time. I owned a Valentine for years - once you've had a true directional fuzzbuster you'll wonder why you ever considered anything else. The K band range has to be experienced to be believed, and it'll even pick out laser before you are the target if traffic is fairly dense and the cop ain't being real smart about his targets (checking everyone). A few times I made 4-6 laps past a laser trap to test the V1 - finally they started looking at me funny...

I gave it away since: Speed limits returned to more reasonable values, I grew older and slower, and there's this little thing called "professional courtesy..." (note username)

I actually haven't been stopped in 5+ years, ironic since I could now kinda "get away with it..."

Seriously, pony up the $400 and be done with it. Additionally, Valentines are NEVER obsolete - if radar freqs or whatever change, Valentine will retrofit newer electronics into your older box for a fee, said fee depending on the complexity / extent of the retrofit.

And, for Pete's sake, drive carefully - some speed limits are a bit low, but most aren't off by too much- open road is one thing - you risk only yourself, but keep it cool near the rest of us...

 

Here is a good non-bias test I found:

Radar 2002 test

 

Oh yeah, here is a link to a previous post I did with PICTURES.



Radar detector setup

 

I just purchased a Bel(Vector)940 for $201.39, tax included. It plugs conveniently into the trunk electrical outlet....has a brace with changeable angle and suctions perfectly onto the rear window......lays flat on the convenience cover just to the passenger side of center. The alert display can be set to bright, dim or dark....also
has voice warnings. Can be updated to accomodate new radar frequencies. Never used one before. I'll be doing 400 round trip highway miles this weekend and will see how it works.

 

valentine if money isn't an issue. otherwise escort 8500. FYI they don't work if unplugged and in the glove box!! :evil:

 

"Officer, what was I doing?", "95 in a 65 sir, one more and it would be a automatic 15 day suspension" Some Radar guns operate
when you pull the trigger, and all your detector will tell you is your clocked & caught. Also dont forget the Vascar units dont transmitt any radio signals, and
how about the aircraft with their stopwatches and the white lines - sorry I got carried away.. I drove my friends Mini S and let me tell you
it will be hard for even the most lawful to keep your speed down, 110 in fifth gear at 5000 rpm and climbing. (gave myself a verbal warning) Good luck all.

 

Something about the Cooper S and 110mph...it just really seems to like it.

 

>>"Officer, what was I doing?", "95 in a 65 sir, one more and it would be a automatic 15 day suspension" Some Radar guns operate
>>when you pull the trigger, and all your detector will tell you is your clocked & caught. Also dont forget the Vascar units dont transmitt any radio signals, and
>>how about the aircraft with their stopwatches and the white lines - sorry I got carried away.. I drove my friends Mini S and let me tell you
>>it will be hard for even the most lawful to keep your speed down, 110 in fifth gear at 5000 rpm and climbing. (gave myself a verbal warning) Good luck all.

I WONDER WHEN YOUR MCS WILL COME HOME ? YOU HAVE TASTED THE FUN NOW GO FOR IT - GLAD YOU ENJOYED OUR RIDE !!!

 

Wow! I tried the velcro attachment for my Bel v940 and it works better than the window/brace/suction method.....more solid, less vibration, less visible. I'm assuming that since it's a 360 degree detector it doesn't matter whether the display faces front or back. Confirmation?

 

As a motorcycle cop, I'll echo the posts by my campadres above. If the officer is using the radar or laser properly, the detector won't matter...

Although if I stopped an MCS they might get a warning...

 

Kinda off topic here but.....

Out of curiousity.... beaugeste93, I'm aware that with laser you don't have any warning and no detector will save you if shot... but.... With Radar (Instant on or Pulse) I can generally get warnings. ie..... If there are ten cars in front of me going over the top of a hill and I get a quick KA pulse (my detector will pick up deflected radar signals) .... then the odds are there is an officer over the hill shooting KA with Pulse/Instant on. (This theory has proved it's self many a time for me)
My question is .... you said that if used properly the Radar detector won't help..... How would it be used other than what I just mentioned.
To my knowledge Instant on is the best weapon so far for a "Radar" signal..... am I wrong?

Just to clear up before you reply.... I know if There are no other cars on the road ahead of me making me the lead car..... Going over a hill or any typical radar trap puts me at risk of Instant On. No way around that..... That's when you must use your head and anticipate what's around the bend or over the hill....

OK... sorry for the length here.... Just curious that's all...

Happy Motoring.
SW

 

Valentine 1 !

Atlanta to Tampa in 6:15 minutes total, including stops. This run is 500 miles and I had to stop once for gas in Valdosta. Averaged 95+ entire way.

Valentine 1 ---- 4
Hwy Patrol ------0

 

Herby74,
Actually....
Most Radar tests have shown that most if not all Detectors on the market have less range from the rear signal.

But.

With My V1 I've found that no matter where it is I still get good range. I've actaully found that I can sit it on the passenger floor board and still pick up good signals.

Happy Motoring,
SW


>>Wow! I tried the velcro attachment for my Bel v940 and it works better than the window/brace/suction method.....more solid, less vibration, less visible. I'm assuming that since it's a 360 degree detector it doesn't matter whether the display faces front or back. Confirmation?

 

>>Wow! I tried the velcro attachment for my Bel v940 and it works better than the window/brace/suction method.....more solid, less vibration, less visible. I'm assuming that since it's a 360 degree detector it doesn't matter whether the display faces front or back. Confirmation?


Herby74,

You still want to have it facing forward.

Look at the sensor array (darkened plastic window). It is basically forward facing with two areas on the sides for 180 degrees of what I would consider pure reception area. Then there is a small laser receptor pointing in the rear direction.

If you go to my Speedzones link originally listed in this post you will see detection is more sensitive from the front/side for Ka, K, X.

If you are being scanned from behind, the radar signal in most cases will be reflected off a portion of your car and back into the forward pointing detector.

In the tests the v940 was picking up Ka from behind at about 1/2 mile away and that was on a barren raod without objects to reflect the signal. The V1 is the only detector with actual rear detectors. That said a v940 does have a rear laser detector because the whole reflection principle with a laser goes out the window.

If you cover the v940 like I did the rear laser detection is nullified. But again, if you get a laser signal most likely you have a ticket.






_________________
Chili Red/white Cooper S

 

I am a confirmed V1 user/believer. I've had mine for over 5 years now. I drive an average of 55,000 miles a year. BV (before Valentine) I averaged 1 ticket every 12-18 mo's. AV (knock on wood here) NONE :smile: I drive fast all over So. Cal. For the last three years, I have been driving a 5 series. Serveral trips up north and at least 5 trips a year to Mammoth (ski/ticket season for Inyo county).

The usual range for the V1 is 2-3 miles on open road though I have had as much as 7 miles of warning in specific situations. That's slmost too much warning!

Good luck with your purchase. Like anything else a little protection is better than none.