[lil'stink]

Does anybody ever use these anymore? Just curious if anybody has any experience with radar/laser detectors. Going on a road trip with miles of open highway, thought it might be nice to have one along.

 

[truble911]

I use a Valentine 1. Once you have the 'arrows' you will never go back.

 

[CarolinaLL6]

+1 on the Valentine. The arrows really make the difference. In use since '01, which was coincidently my last ticket, too.

Here's a two pager about the same subject.

 

[canonshooter]

Valentine 1 FTW. I have one in my EVO and it has saved my ass several times.

 

[Fattirewilly]

Valentine 1...unless you travel in Virginia or Canada, then its Beltronics Sti Driver because it is cloaked and simply undetectable.

 

[milehi]

Passport 9500ix is fine for me. My only complaint is that it's too sensitive.

 

[jummo]

The jummo mobile runs a hardwired Valentine.

 

[Ricko]

I've been using a Beltronics RX65, it's saved me a lot of tickets in the last few years.

Just today I was following along with a babe in a Passat cruising at about 90. I alerted to a weak KA signal and went for the brakes while the Passat pulled away...and got nailed by the State Cop hiding under an underpass. Better her then me:thumbsup: .

 

[BruceBrown]

I've been using a Beltronics RX65, it's saved me a lot of tickets in the last few years.

Just today I was following along with a babe in a Passat cruising at about 90. I alerted to a weak KA signal and went for the brakes while the Passat pulled away...and got nailed by the State Cop hiding under an underpass. Better her then me:thumbsup: .

Cool. At that speed your fuel costs are $1.44 per gallon more than me. So in essence - you are always paying a fine for speeding.

 

[p nut]

Been using a Valentine 1 for about a decade. Highly recommended.

 

[bad mechanic]

The Valentine was a really nice detector, but it hasn't really kept up, and I feel the top line offerings from Bel and Escort are better in virtually every way. I always felt the arrows were gimmicky and not needed.

 

[CarolinaLL6]

The Valentine was a really nice detector, but it hasn't really kept up, and I feel the top line offerings from Bel and Escort are better in virtually every way. I always felt the arrows were gimmicky and not needed.

Having an idea where the signal emanates is "gimmicky?" puh-leez

Often times the direction it comes from tells me to not give a hooey. I like that.
Then combine the direction arrows with the number of signals, too and it's a match made in heaven. :thumbsup:

 

[dblvanos]

Valentine 1 hands down.

 

[p nut]

Seriously. Gimmicky is Escort's GPS bogey eliminator crap.

And how has V1 not kept up? Because it's not dressed all pretty like Bel and Escort? I actually like that they've kept the design exactly the same, enabling upgrades to both hardware and software now and in the future. Function > Form.

 

[bad mechanic]

Yes, the arrows simply aren't needed.

Escort's GPS is quite nice, and very similar to Trapster, which I use on my Garmin GPS. It works very, very well.

 

[kapusta]

Does anybody ever use these anymore? Just curious if anybody has any experience with radar/laser detectors. Going on a road trip with miles of open highway, thought it might be nice to have one along.

The best way I found to stop getting tickets was just not driving stupid fast, regardless of the radar detector I had. Guess it was just part of growing out of my early-mid 20's. I just try to keep within 9 mph over the speed limit, unless traffic is generally moving faster. Seeing as highway speed limits are 65-75 mph these days, that means going 74-84 mph, depending on the state.

I still have the detector in my basement somewhere, but have not used it in years. If you drive faster as a result of having one, you are likely going to get more tickets, and for higher penalties. I have been driving now for about 26 years. I got more speeding tickets in the 5 years I used one than in the other 21 combined.

I realized I was just not gaining much by going 85 instead of 75. Just wasting gas and getting running a better chance of getting tickets and (worse) points on my license.

The reason I say 10 mph over the speed limit it that in my state (VA) if you are less than 10mph over the limit it is a fine, but no points on the license, which is what can really get you with insurance rates. Plus, most cops are not going to bother with a smaller infraction like that.

Anyway, I guess they can't hurt, as long as you don't drive faster as a result of having it.

 

[intoflatlines]

Higher end Beltronics/Escort radar detectors are the best, in my opinion.

 

[bloodyknee]

What the most cost effective one out there? Valentine looks nice, but $400 is pretty expensive for me.

 

[p nut]

bloodyknee - yes, it is maybe a little more, but you also have to look at resale value. I can sell mine for $250-300 easy that I bought years ago, while Escorts/Belsen from that era are going for 20-30% of their original value. This is why I also buy Honda/Toyota.

 

[PMC]

I've had an Escort 8500 for years and it's saved my bacon more times than I can count. I'm not big on high speeds but if conditions are right I've been known to run 15 over. The new stuff is probably way better but I'll hang onto my old stuff as it still works.

I also have a Adaptiv TPX on my bike and while it doesn't have the greatest range its waterproof and has also saved me a few times. Same story as above, I rarely travel at seriously high speeds but will hover at that 15-20 over under the right conditions.