Question for all the speeders here

Veri · 05-25-03, 04:23

Alrighty, the age old question.

Escort Passport 8500 or Valentine 1?

I've been a user of the Bel 985 for about a year, and it is a decent piece. I recently got a V1 to try it out, and have just borrowed a friend's 8500 for comparison. So far, with repeated attempts, it seems that the V is slightly ahead of the Escort on K band. As for Ka, well... on a rural road the other day, I didn't get the alert w/ the V until the cop was right there heading for me, but I was on a straight far away, and he was rounding a curve. I didn't have the Passport, but I don't really think it could have done much better.

Anyway, back to what I was saying: Escort or Valentine?

aiiee · 05-25-03, 05:27

Huy · 05-25-03, 06:02

You'll always get responses from both sides of the fence touting why one is better than the other. If you care to read up on Car and Driver's radar detector test that they do every year, the V1 always wins and the 2nd place finisher is always about 20 points behind. My vote goes for the V1. My only an last radar detector.

2500Hemi · 05-25-03, 06:03

I have a pasport 8500 and love it. Most radar here is K or Ka the Ka I always get a warning at least 1 1/2 mile ahead. The K is pretty close to the same for me. I haven't run up on any speed traps without plenty of warning but most cops around here leave them on all the time.

thevolvoguy · 05-25-03, 06:59

You will be happy with either one. If it were my choice, I would take the V1. The 8500 is a nice detector too though.

My Phantom III is a good product as well.

Scottwax · 05-25-03, 08:32

CB radio. You get the exact location of the cop...unless you are the first one to see him!

Veri · 05-25-03, 08:52

CB radio huh... do the handhelds have a decent range? Because I don't want some long antenna on the 'Vette.

Scottwax · 05-25-03, 08:59

Quote:

Originally posted by Polaris
CB radio huh... do the handhelds have a decent range? Because I don't want some long antenna on the 'Vette.

I don't know how good the range is. Probably 2-3 miles. I had a CB with a magnetic mount antenna so I could take it off after trips. I never got a ticket when I use it. The truckers let you know exactly where the cops are. The downside is not being able to listen to your stereo on long trips without turning off the CB and slowing down a bit.

kempie · 05-25-03, 09:13

http://www.speedzones.com/
The above link has good testing info.
I have a Bel 985 and last summer I followed a Vette that had a Valentine. Saw it when he passed me just outside Cincinatti. I followed him 3/4 of the way through Ohio on I-75. His detector went off a little before mine. We are talking 1/8 of a mile or less difference. Still plenty of time to slow down. His was on the dash & mine is mounted at the top of the w/s so that might account for some difference. But for the difference in price I'll stick to the Bel.

Accumulator · 05-26-03, 09:19

Polaris- Detector huh? Heh heh, remember my long-ago C5-as-ticket-magnet post

Another vote for the V1 here. My wife and I never drive without them. Once we lend one to friends, THEY won't drive without one. I'm a little surprised you aren't already won over, seeing as how you've tried one. BTW, as a C5 pilot you might be interested to hear that Chuck Mallett swears by the V1, and he and his crew have a LOT of over-the-road C5 miles behind them (One-laps, etc.). He even offers a V1 connection (that plugs into the rearview mirror) as part of his package.

Valentine's customer service is great, too.

And note that with K/KA, if you get instant-on'ed, you're toast, same with laser. Won't matter WHAT detector you're using. Even in just around-the-bend situations like you mentioned (real world applications), the range differences between GOOD detectors aren't all that great.

I too have wondered about hand-held CB's. The XJS had one in the factory radio (now replaced), and it saved us MANY times. Like you, I can't bring myself to mount an antenna on any of my cars. FWIW, the little Bearcat scanner receives OK with just its little built-in antenna. But it won't really protect you from tickets.

Veri · 05-26-03, 06:26

Yeah... I think I'm just gonna go ahead and hardwire the V to the 'Vette. It picks up stuff like door openers so much more often than either the Bel or the Escort, but even so, I think I'm gonna keep it. To those of you that use the Valentine, what have been some of the more amazing experiences you've had, particularly on Ka?

PrinzII · 05-26-03, 08:45

Another thing to think about with the V1 that other detectors are not able to offer. The V1 can be upgraded to accomodate the latest speed enforcement threats.

As far as Accumulator's statements are concerned, he is correct in saying that if you are nailed by laser, you are toast. You are in an even worse predicament if the cop is holding a LTI-2020 Laser gun (Gets readings faster than the Kustom Laser gun). Years ago, Instant On Ka was still detectable due to residual signal after the initial pulse. Nowadays, it is a little tougher because cops have figured that out and zap you when you are too close to react. Also, many of the newer units don't have that "leakage" and might even use a higher frequency than Ka (I think it is Superwide Ka).

BTW, I am also looking for a CB to carry in the Maxima. I am going to use the magnetic mount K40 for the antenna.