13-Mustang-GT/CS Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 I am looking to purchase my first radar detector. I know nothing about them, which ones are good and which ones suck. Price is no issue. I do a ton of highway driving. I see a lot of New Jersey State Troopers parked on the side of the roads all the time. I heard some detectors work for radar and lasers and some dont. Does anyone here have experience with them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAYBEN Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 I've heard good things about the Valentine One Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
07RS4 Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Can't help you Joseph....my Honda floored can't speed if it wanted too, haha. MAYBEN 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norton Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 I've heard good things about the Valentine, but have no experience with them. I've used Bel detectors for many years, and been pleased with them. They are made by Escort, which also produces very good detectors. I know you say price is no object, but it varies WIDELY. One of the first things I recommend you do is decide how much you're willing to spend... Good windshield-mounted detectors start around $200, but climb to over $500. Custom-installed versions start around $500 and quickly climb to over $1500, with varying installation costs on top of that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBlack151 Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 I fear for myself when I'm on the Garden State Parkway. Those troopers come out of nowhere! MAYBEN 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chewy Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Check Consumer Reports and see if they have tested them. That'd be a great place to start. I find driving the speed limit or just over, works well for me. Cheaper all around! Golf for Life and LFairbanks 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YIMBROKE Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 I have had my passport for over 4 years now and with regular updates it still works great. Was a bit over $400 when i originally purchased it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHTEVO Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 I heavily rely on my Valentine One and it is the best one out there IMO. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandman370 Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 I have heard great things about Valentine One, but have never used one. I have Escort Passport 8500 and it works great. ExpressThis13 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCMatt Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Wish I could be more help but I don't use one anymore. I find them to be a false sense of security and snake oil. I'd much rather rely on my knowlege of the roads where they like to sit, where they can't sit, etc. I figure if I'm speeding and it goes off they got me already especially with laser. And especially now how they can click on and click off their radar with a remote in their cars, like the instant on guns, I don't see much use for detectors. Might be useful for those officers that just leave it on while driving or something, but otherwise I find them useless. rwisejr 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 I have this one from Early Warning. You can set it for city or highway driving and so far it's caught every kind of signal for me. EW-404 Works for radar and laser. I use it when I travel...........and want to get there a little quicker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marylander Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Wish I could be more help but I don't use one anymore. I find them to be a false sense of security and snake oil. I'd much rather rely on my knowlege of the roads where they like to sit, where they can't sit, etc. I figure if I'm speeding and it goes off they got me already especially with laser. And especially now how they can click on and click off their radar with a remote in their cars, like the instant on guns, I don't see much use for detectors. Might be useful for those officers that just leave it on while driving or something, but otherwise I find them useless. I agree-- these days you can cruise pretty fast just about anywhere, and as long as you drive smart it's fairly easy to avoid getting nailed. Having a detector on the dash pretty much eliminates the chance that an officer's going to give you a break. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SS LeadFoot Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 I have used the V1 and loved it but technology has come a long way. I think it is an escort 8500 that has GPS capabilities and learns where cops sit and warns you that its a place that can have a cop. I THINK it also can tell by the GPS signal from really far. Not sure. I know some people have had radar/laser blockers installed but still have received tickets. Id say bottom line is you get what you pay for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schwag one Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Here's the golden rule of driving - 5 your fine, 9 you're mine. I had a Valentine One and loved and never had any issues with false alarms. I loved it up to the point when it was stolen from my car.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feets31 Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 I use my daughter. Have been stopped twice with her in the car and no ticket yet. Now with her twin bother in the car I got a ticket in the one time we got stopped. No I do not have a speeding problem. I just keep repeating that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golf for Life Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Thought that radar detectors went out with CB radios. I drive the speed limit most of the time. Drive the speed limit or a little above and drive on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExpressThis13 Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 I got 2 tickets with ss silverado in 1 month went out and bought a escort 8500 and haven't had a ticket since and were talking 6 years ago. It has more than paid for itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCMatt Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 I guess its just dependent on where you live and what local department policies are/what equipment they are using. Thought that radar detectors went out with CB radios. I drive the speed limit most of the time. Drive the speed limit or a little above and drive on. Whats crazy is I used to have a CB in my Jeep, just a matter of a few years ago, and it proved more useful than a radar detector as the truckers voiced exactly where they were sitting before I came up on them. I think I have it a little easier than most. Here in SC there is a severe shortage of highway patrol troopers and no money to hire many more (I'm one of them trying to get hired lol), and usually counties or cities leave the interstate to the troopers. Most you see are working accidents and don't have time to sit on the side of the road waiting. You can go 200+ miles without seeing a single one. I think I'm more scared of running up on a small town local cop with nothing better to do than a trooper on the highway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichiganSRT8 Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 I went out and picked one up last year after many close calls. Valentine one and beltronics are highly touted but my escort 9500ix has saved me many of times (knock on wood). My favorite part of it is how it learns signals from stores security systems and stuff as you drive in the same area and saves them so they dont come up and eliminates the false signal, dont need to even press anything. Not that any cops notice my big black brick anyways ; ), perks of a fast SUV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LFairbanks Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 I got 2 tickets with ss silverado in 1 month went out and bought a escort 8500 and haven't had a ticket since and were talking 6 years ago. It has more than paid for itself. Reminds of the story my wife tells me about the time she got a ticket, going to the courthouse to pay for a previous ticket. I just laugh and she tells me to "shut up".....lol. In regards to detectors, for me I find that the speed limits around here are already plenty high. 75-80 in the less populated areas. As others have mentioned, I'am sure they have the ability to turn them on and off and by the time you see them, especially on a straightaway, they already have tagged you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scociny Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 Thought that radar detectors went out with CB radios. I drive the speed limit most of the time. Drive the speed limit or a little above and drive on. +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
13-Mustang-GT/CS Posted June 22, 2013 Author Share Posted June 22, 2013 thanks a lot guys. your input got me some info. I have had some close calls on the highways with troopers. got nailed once but got a warning cause i have a gold card. I just want that extra piece of insurance when im on the highway. Those long trips down to atlantic city they always get people on the parkway. Plus my mustang is my DD, so with 400+ HP at all times, its kindof hard to do the limit on open highway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b_pappy Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 I use a Valentine One and really like it. You get used to the arrows, different tones and bogey counter pretty quick. Hypothtically speaking, if I got pulled over I would have unplugged it and moved it from the dash. Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randyfox Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 I have had my Escort Passport 8500 for about seven years and it has never let me down. All this time and still works flawlessly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 I have an awesome Cobra (circa 1984) somewhere. I've only had one ticket since I've had it and that was back in 1999. I haven't used it since around 1987, but still... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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