Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General General Valentine 1 or Escort Passport 8500

Anybody no when the latest V1 model was made and when a new one will be made

I agree with the others. My Passport 8500 does a great job.

Besides the price...it sure does look a whole lot better! May not mean much to alot of ppl but it did to me. I think I would be much happier if the V1 was given a facelift.

Another deciding factor I found, after doing a bit of research, was that Escort actually makes all the radar equiptment that the police use.

And you can send it in for upgrades if needed, although I believe you can do that with the V1 as well.

I don't have a radar detector ($$$$) but I was looking into getting one last summer. From everything I've read about people's experience anybody who has used both recommend the V1.

Check out www.radartest.com They say that the Escort is the most effective, though really both seem to do the job well enough to keep you from having to pay the pigs your hard earned cash.

V1!!!

I've read reports on the validity of radartest.com.... 'nuff said.

I say V1.

-J

IIRC the "reports" and complaints were mainly from the makers of the V1...

However radartest.com's results directly contradict all other tests I've read, which leads me to believe the Valentine critiques.

We've gone over this topic ad nauseam, it's all in the archives...

there was a long drawn out battle between Mike Valentine and the people over at radartest.com. Butting heads and other crap, so both trashed each other, thefor radartest never really gave the V1 full respect, I dont know from experience, just from what I have read but I think I would lean more toward the V1.

I don't think there is any arguement that the V1 is a more functional radar detector.

I mean if Escort had wanted to make a radar detector which retails for $400 I'm sure it would be on par or possibly better than the V1.

And I really don't validate any of the results that radartest.com says, even though I own a Passport 8500 and I am more than happy with it, I would definatly think that the V1 is a better radar detector. But only by a hair, and mainly because of the features it offers over Escort.

I think the REAL question is is the Valentine 1 worth the extra $200 you'll have to pay! And that I would have to say no to.

Like I said previously it still needs some work IMO! My Escort does everything the V1 does (and even some things the V1 doesn't offer) minus the directional indicators. I know this because a good friend of mine loaned me his V1 for a couple weeks, so that I could measure the two agains each other. So I drove around with both detectors in my car to see which I liked better.

In the end I still love my Escort, you wouldn't belive how good it is about ignoring false alarms. Otherwise they were pretty much the same, there were a few instances where I was on the highway and the V1 would indicate a K band a smidge earlier (say 2seconds) but both were more than enough time.

I did get spoiled with the direction indicators but really as long as your paying attention to the type of signal your getting and the road they are somewhat redundant. Trust me you'll have plenty of time to react on all bands! (excluding Ka)

So in the end I think its up to you and what your looking for.

If your looking for a very solid and stylish radar detector w/ alot of doo-dads and comparable to the V1 for alot less money, then the Escort Passport 8500.

If your looking for a very solid and very bulky radar detector w/ some extras, direction indicators, great sensitivity, and don't mind spending $400 then the V1 is the one for you.

However if you do alot of city driving I would recommend the Escort over the V1.

Hope that helps!

PS: I'd say this is getting to be long and drawn out...sorry for the length