Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General General Radar Detectors

Who here has one and would you recommend it. I'm looking at a few on ebay and I see that I can get away with a good one for about $100. Let me know. I need one with 9 band because I need laser detection. I'm in Virginia so that is what the state pigs oooppss, cops, use here.

Thanks

Detectors are illegal in VA. Don't get caught with it (which means make sure you are getting one with good VG2 detection or is difficult to detect with VG2). I have a Valentine 1 and love it, but if I am driving through VA I take it down. Don't want the local law to step on it or give me a huge ticket or whatever they do if I got caught with it.

What brands do you think you can get off eBay for $100? That doesn't sound like much for a good detector, so either its a real steal or you're getting what you paid for.

Valentine 1

Yeah, it's $400. But the difference between that and anything else is tremendous. I have had one now for years. The fact that it points to the signal (Ahead, beside, behind) is worth the added price alone. Not to mention that I can pick up signals over a mile down the road, or around corners. Save your money until you can buy one. Ya figure you'll spend that much in tickets that the other one doesn't save you from.

Note: There's not a whole lot you can do about instant-on and Laser traps. All they do at that point is just to let you know you've been tagged. However, my V1 will pick up the laser spread which means that although I'm reading signal, I'm getting it from the vehicle in front me that's just been marked. As far as instant-on goes, it's nice because it'll blip, then turn off, in tandem with the radar, so you know when you're coming into an instant-on trap.

Oh yeah, the other benefit...it displays the number of signals it picks up. This is also critical (meaning I couldn't live without it now). Exmaple: you are going through a speed trap and they have multiple traps set within a given area, you'll know how many and from where. Also, I use it as the bogey counter. I know that everytime I go through a certain curve, I'll always pick up 2 signals. But, there is a spot where cops sometime hide out. Then my V1 blips 3 signals at me. I know there's a CU hanging out there. Most radar detectors would beep as usual, and you'd think it's just the regular false alarms that you normally pick up. The V1 lets you know that there's another signal hanging out waiting for you.

Also, think in these terms...how long would you need to save up for another 3 bones? 3 months? I'd wait the three months and just be cool during those three months of non-radar driving. Of course, to hold in line with the forum rules, I need to add that you always should drive cool and within the limits of the law...

Yeah, be careful where you use it. Make sure it is acceptable in your state.

I have a Bel 980. The only ones I would consider are Bel 980 (now 985), Escort (Passport) 8500, or a Valentine 1. These are all the top of the lines from each manufacturer and you can check online and in mags and find stuff saying each one is the best. In general I believe the V1 is the best but also the most expensive. These are all good units though. I definitely believe (in the case of radar detectors) that you get what you pay for.

There is nothing more useless than a radar detector that you can't trust.

what about the k40 undetectable?

evolution, thats the best description of the v1 that i've read. just solidifies my wanting for a v1.

Escort Passport 7500 has served me well in and out of VA for a few years now...

There is an excellent article on radar detectors in one of the current enthusiast magazines. I don't remember if it was Road and Track or Car and Driver. Valentine came out way above any other unit. Look for it, very useful information.

If you don't feel like spending $400, just get a lower-end Escort or Cobra or Bel one. They all use the same internals, just not as many fancy features and displays.

What about the good old Wal-Mart brand for 100 bucks

Sure, use the Walmart brand if you never ever speed or do anything else that might be considdered wrong :rolleyes: -Nick