What is the best Radar/Laser Detector for the money???

[Stangman]

Soo... I got my third ticket this morning because I just cant seem to keep my freakin foot out of it...

I do NOT need any more damn tickets, so I think its high time to invest in a radar/laser detector

What are the brands to look for and stay away from?

I do not have a lot of money to spend but I would like some decent coverage (So I have time to yank the E-brake and slow the car down!!)

I thought I had 10 points on my license now, but thanks to PaulfiveOh for posting the link for the driving record site, I will only have 8 points, which is some releif.

Any input will be appreciated!

Thanks!

[YouGotJunk]

lol Whatever you find out, send my way! I got a 48 in a 35 Tuesday night. It sucks, luckily I seen him and got slowed down a little. Owell, it's life, you live and you learn!

[zlou363lx]

but thanks to PaulfiveOh for posting the link for the driving record site,

where is that? lol i need to check mine out.

so it'll be a little while longer on the clutch now?:lol:

[Stangman]

http://www.stangbangerz.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42926&highlight=driving+record

And yeah... it might be, I will see what my funds look like after I pay the $105

[zlou363lx]

that's cool. just let me know lol

[Stangman]

Will do man, I might be getting a few bucks for painting a bumper cover for a buddy of mine, so that will get me back on track from being behind.

[PONYGRL]

I got pulled over on 275 going 87 in a 65 and the cop let me go :rolleyes: I know I won't always get that lucky though.... plus I cant anyway because I'll be off my parents' car insurance if I get another tic.... and that would suck. I'm on my own anyway as soon as I graduate but still.

[5.0calypso93lx]

For the money, my first choice would be an Escort 8500 followed by the Valentine. Really the only "cheap" detectors worth buying.

[Stangman]

What do those go for James?

Are you familliar with each of them?

[5.0calypso93lx]

What do those go for James?

Are you familliar with each of them?

If you are buying used, you should be able to find an Escort 8500 for under $300 and a Valentine for under $400.

In fact, I believe fst 5pto has an Escort 8500 for sale on here.

Both are based out of Cincy, but the cooler thing about Valentine is that you can take it back to them and have them update the detector if the police were to ever upgrade their systems. And it's free to do so.

Obviously both are pretty worthless against laser.

[Stangman]

laser is a bitch... that is for sure, Sooo far I've never been tagged by laser yet, of course now that I've said that... :rolleyes:

What model of Valentine would I look for?

[5.0calypso93lx]

Here is a good link for comparison's of a bunch of detectors:

http://www.radarbusters.com/2006instantonalerttestingarticle.cfm

From that article, the Escort 8500 is the cheapest radar detector that picked up the radar from 2 miles.

Also, another cool feature of the Valentine is that it has arrows that actually point out where the radar is being detected.

My first choice is still the Escort though because of price and aesthetics.

[5.0calypso93lx]

laser is a bitch... that is for sure, Sooo far I've never been tagged by laser yet, of course now that I've said that... :rolleyes:

What model of Valentine would I look for?

You're pretty much only going to get tagged with laser on highways, unless there is a big clear open road.

The Valentine 1 would be the one you want.

[Stangman]

Cool deal, thanks for your help :bigthumb

I guess I will be Pm'ing Brandon here shortly and see what we can work out.

[Black Horse]

Valentine 1 hands down. Laser detection on any detector is more like "ticket detection", hopefully they shoot a car or two in front of you first.

[facemelter71]

Had a K-40 diffuser plus on my vert.Works like a champ.And it will keep you from getting the laser.It jams it,and gives you time to slow down before they get your speed.
Radar DETECTOR goes to Valentine 1.The best.

[Stangman]

Arent jammers illegal in Ohio?

[facemelter71]

Not that i know of.They cant tell anyway.Even if they do tell,they cant find it.

[Stangman]

where would one get a jammer?

[Paul408Notch]

I've had a V1 since 2000, and it hasn't let me down once. It'll annoy the shit out of you for a few weeks until you learn where all of the false alarms are, but it'll save your butt regularly. And just use the brakes, your e-brake isn't going to slow you down nearly quick enough.

[Stangman]

Dang, those V1's must be pretty badass. One day I will fork over the dough and pick one up.. I think that I will buy (funds providing) Brandons Escort 8500 for now, since the price is right on it.

[YouGotJunk]

The ticket I got tuesday was from being hit with the laser. Where can I get a jammer and about how much are they?

[cobrajoe]

From what I've been reading and hearing this one is the baddest MOFO on the market outside a jammer/diffuser. I'm seriously considering it. I had a Escort back in the day and it worked like a charm. I trust this brand.

http://www.escortradar.com/9500ix.htm

[5.0calypso93lx]

Here is another easier to read link:

http://www.007radardetectors.com/tests.htm

I will agree that the Valentine 1 is better, but I can't stand how the damn thing looks.

Also, you want the detector as high as possible on the windshield. I like to put mine above the rear view mirror, run the wire behind the headliner, and actually hardwire the detector into the fuse box. Looks clean and is as effective as it can be.

[5.0calypso93lx]

From what I've been reading and hearing this one is the baddest MOFO on the market outside a jammer/diffuser. I'm seriously considering it. I had a Escort back in the day and it worked like a charm. I trust this brand.

http://www.escortradar.com/9500ix.htm

That is a bad ass detector, but you pay for it lol :bigthumb

[5.0calypso93lx]

The ticket I got tuesday was from being hit with the laser. Where can I get a jammer and about how much are they?

The Blinder is one of the best jammers, but it's not cheap:

http://www.google.com/products?hl=en&resnum=0&q=the%20blinder%20laser%20jammer&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wf

You have to run this in addition to a radar detector btw.

[Mista Bone]

Arent jammers illegal in Ohio?

Radar Jammers, FCC no no, but LASER jammers are not illegal.

[facemelter71]

I bought my K-40 defuser plus from Craig at Cincy Speed.It gets hard wired to a ignition hot circuit and has its own audibal and visual signals.Its got a little red LED and a loud beeper that you mount in any place you want.When they hit you with the laser the LED blinks and the beeper goes off,it jams it for a couple seconds long enough for you to slow down before the cop gets your speed.They tested it in MM&FF a couple years ago.I have the article at home.

[cobrajoe]

Radar Jammers, FCC no no, but LASER jammers are not illegal.

Well speeding is illegal too but we do it anyway!:lol: Plus as sneaky as they can be I say jam away! (both) Of course the FCC would probably give you a damn fine if they found it out.:rolleyes:

[ADaughen]

Dang, those V1's must be pretty badass. One day I will fork over the dough and pick one up.. I think that I will buy (funds providing) Brandons Escort 8500 for now, since the price is right on it.


Funny how, if you didn't get caught speeding, you could have afforded the V1, but since you got caught speeding you want a V1. :(


I was in the same perdicament a while back. I spent ~$800 in one year on tickets/court. I stay out of the gas now. I had a decent (cheap) Cobra that saved me from plenty of tickets... but the Canadian Mounties destroyed it.

[bobtsgt]

The Escort 8500 X50 is a great unit. I have it and it picks up like no other plus you can find tune it. Plus they are local in Union Center and a great company to deal with. I got mine off Chris91 and took it to them to get revamped. I think it was $75 to have it basically rebuilt and re calibrated and they shipped it back to my house.

[beefcake]

v1 hands down

the 9500 is supposed to be all fancy with gps and stuff,

i read a good test a while back and on a complete straight the escort was close to as good as the v1, but on curved roads, the v1 crushed the escort

i have a v1 and have been yet to be nailed with it in 3 years

i kept spending money on cheaper detectors, then they'd break and not work that well

go with the v1

[IWRBB]

I've used Escort 8500 and the Escort cordless model in other people's cars. I own 2 Valentine 1s. V1 all the way, there is no doubt it's worth an extra $100 over the Escort.

For the record, they are not useless agaisnt laser, mine picked up the laser from a cop shooting a car in front of me- I slowed down, then it went off as he shot me about 3 seconds later. This was on 275E, where the cops sit just east of the 127/Hamilton Rd onramp. We were both in the left lane with about 5 lengths between us. So no, they are not worthless against laser.

[ponyboystroker]

I bought my K-40 defuser plus from Craig at Cincy Speed.It gets hard wired to a ignition hot circuit and has its own audibal and visual signals.Its got a little red LED and a loud beeper that you mount in any place you want.When they hit you with the laser the LED blinks and the beeper goes off,it jams it for a couple seconds long enough for you to slow down before the cop gets your speed.They tested it in MM&FF a couple years ago.I have the article at home.

How much does the K-40 cost?

[facemelter71]

To be honest,i cant remember.I think i bought Craigs personal one that he dug out of his garage for me.He might know the price.

[IWRBB]

The K40 is about $850 and goes up from there as you add more sensors. Tough to install. It's the best setup going though if you want to take it that far.

I wouldn't trust any of those online radar detector test sites, they rate the ones they sell and make the most money off the highest. Believe me, the Bel 980 is NOT better than the V1. No way, no how. None of those sites can sell the V1, so it gets ranked poorly. You can only get a V1 directly from Valentine.

[Goldenpony]

Escort 8500 x50. Best bang for the buck. Want the best? Escort 9500i.

[IWRBB]

Escort 8500 x50. Best bang for the buck. Want the best? Escort 9500i.

Have you used a V1? I've used both of the 2 you mentioned for thousands of miles of driving, and there's no way I'd ever buy those over a V1. The V1 is worth the extra $100, without a doubt.