When we bought our 04 last Friday, my wife had to tell all her co-workers about it. Interesting, though, was that her female co-workers all knew the car but the males didn't.

One guy who did, though, offered to lend us his radar detector. Obviously, he thinks that we'll need it. Does anybody here use one? If I need one, I should obviously but one but I know nothing about them.

I don't.

Sometimes though I get a feeling that a cop is around and I slow down a little.

uh, yea. What do you want to know? Maybe you could Google on radar detectors and learn a bit that way.

I use one. has saved my A$$. Do a search as there have been many threads. The reason you need one is the 8 wants to do 88 mph.

yea...i have one..i have an escort(which i gave to my BF) that i LOVED and i have my new one which my friend gave me, but i don't know what it is called:( it's really expensive though...the funny thing, i almost think my older escort works newer than the new expenisve one...oh well...they both catch just about everything!!!

OH! And don't count on it alwasys catching Laser...It will catch it alright...when you're already pulled over (damn bike cops)


also, sometimes x bands are ignored, but if you're on the highway no place near a city, x is usually a dying ka band which CAN BE a dying laser or just plain ka....so be careful if you do get it as well, but it DEF. makes it a lot easier to speed and not get caught :D

I have a Passport 7500 that's half paid for itself. That is, it saved me from one ticket that would have cost about half of what the Passport cost. One more like that and it's paid for!

I use a passport 8500 X50 and I suggest getting the lidar jammers, they will aid in blocking the laser that those pesky bike cops have.

Most police around here will just follow you till you speed or do something wrong. A radar detector will help you spot speed traps though. I'd say anything that can help you to know where cops are is a good thing. I had a Highway Patrol pick me out of a group of speeding cars, and come up behind a speeding car I moved over to the right to let pass, and the cop pulls ME over and gives me a ticket. ...So I ask him, why did you pull me over and not that speeding car in the fast lane that you were behind? ...He says "'Cuz I was focused on you. ...It's nothing personal". ...I'm thinking, YOU HATER!!!! ...You pulled me over 'cuz my car looks amazing in YELLOW with the appearance package and strakes!!! :D I installed my radar detector that weekend - though it may not have helped in this case.

Passport 8500 X50...don't leave home without it!!!
:D

Passport 8500 X50...don't leave home without it!!!
:D
same here.

Passport 8500 X50...don't leave home without it!!!
:D

Isn't it annoying when u are passing around the market place?

Does it have an arrow feature like valentine 1?

Yeah, the x band can drive you nuts, but it has a built in quiet mode. No arrows like on the Valentine.

I have both: an 8500 and a couple of V1s and the V1 rules! The 8500 is a lot less money, but once you have used the arrows nothing else will do. Avoid cheap detectors - either go slow or get the 8500 or the V1 (and maybe the top of the line Bel). With instant on the key is having enough range to hopefully detect when the cop is zapping someone else way ahead. Otherwise, it does not matter what detector you have they will get you. Works the same for laser except you can't detect it unless it is too late. The detector goes off and you are going to fast - you get a ticket.

Then there is the new thing they are doing locally. Got them some non-cop-looking unmarked cars and they just drive behind you while you speed - then turn on the hidden lights and pull you over. Nothing works for this :(

Dennis

Another Passport 8500 X50 user here. It has saved me a few times. It was $300 when I got it last August. The V1 was 400. You still have to trust your gut though too. Instant on radar sucks. Not much laser around here that I know of.

Pacing is definetly getting to be more common place, as well as the unmarked.

As long as were talkin' speeding etc.. I found this site a few days ago. Kinda interesting.

http://www.speedtrap.org/

I think the POP feature is the best part of the X50 (I know V1 has it too). Not much laser in the Seattle area. Most police use the K and Ka band.

Then there is the new thing they are doing locally. Got them some non-cop-looking unmarked cars and they just drive behind you while you speed - then turn on the hidden lights and pull you over. Nothing works for this :(


Well that's interesting to know. Here in Hawaii, lots of cops like to run around without their lights on at night...it's just their own personal cars with a blue light mounted on the roof, so cops can be pretty hard to spot if they have their lights off. People were arguing whether it was legal or not for a cop to be able to nail you with their lights off, as the light off can be taken as the cop being "off duty". A lame excuse for speeders, but one that sort of makes sense.

Yeah, the x band can drive you nuts, but it has a built in quiet mode. No arrows like on the Valentine.

Can't you selectively turn off X-Band reception? That's the first thing I did with mine... it's not like I plan on going back to 1985 any time soon, although it is helpful in finding 7-11's :)

every minute of every day.

AND, the Buffalo Grove cops STILL use x-band radar, so ... it's useful.

x band can be turned off, but knowing my luck as soon as I do I'll get nailed by a x band gun.

every minute of every day.

AND, the Buffalo Grove cops STILL use x-band radar, so ... it's useful.

Man, that's some old stuff... I haven't seen it used by an actual cop for over 10 years, and I go cross country a couple times a year. All the cops between my house and Schaumburg use K or Ka, and just leave it on constantly like a homing beacon... and for that I thank them :).

i use a whistler radar detector everyday.

I have a radar detector. It's not a super-expensive one, but it detects stuff, I guess. I've gotten pulled over twice for speeding, if that tells you anything. Plus, cops aren't stupid--they can either gun you at the last minute, rendering your detector virtually useless, or judge your speed on their line of sight and still slap you a ticket. Perhaps police34 could shed more light...

I think a better investment than an expensive radar detector would be an expensive radar jammer/scrambler + cheap radar detector. It might've helped me in my two situations :(

i use a bel rx75 everyday

bad thing about radar dectectors is it only works when police use theirs. So your still not in the clear...

I've heard that jammers/scramblers aren't actually a good investment because they can't actually mess with the signal. They have some loophole they use to disrupt it a bit, but it's effectively useless...I would have to say the best way to avoid tickets is to stay 5 over or less WITH a detector. That way you can behave extra nice when they're around.

I have an Escort Passport 8500 X50 in Red to match the rest of the instrumentation. The thing has paid for itself 10X over because I travel highways that constantly have state troopers gunning. Disable X band and the thing will be a joy. Highly recommended.

I've heard that jammers/scramblers aren't actually a good investment because they can't actually mess with the signal. They have some loophole they use to disrupt it a bit, but it's effectively useless...I would have to say the best way to avoid tickets is to stay 5 over or less WITH a detector. That way you can behave extra nice when they're around.I heard the same thing, but I read a comparison posted here a long time ago of 3 different models actually worked, in varying degrees. I'll see if I can find it.

i plzn on buying a radar detector monday or tuesday. i think i am going with the escort.

Oops, it was an article on laser jammers, not radar jammers: http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleID=8502

Here's an informative thread on this topic: http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=31767

I don't use my detector any more. When I bought it in 2000, cops in my area still used always-on radar and the detector was good. It certainly saved me 3 or 4 tickets - each time where I was the only car around and I very very likely would've been ticketed. So the money was well invested.

Now they have instant-on lasar guns, which will set off the detector only briefly - when it is too late.

In familiar territory I know whery their hiding spots are. Otherwise I try to obey the speed limit.

Mounted Escort Solo S2 Battery Powered No Wires :)

Instant-on doesn't render a lot of radar detectors worthless. If the cop is using instant-on with the person in front of you, usually your detector can pick it up. It is helpful though in a more heavily traveled area. However if you are by yourself-yes it doesn't help to own one.

Instant-on doesn't render a lot of radar detectors worthless. If the cop is using instant-on with the person in front of you, usually your detector can pick it up. It is helpful though in a more heavily traveled area. However if you are by yourself-yes it doesn't help to own one.

Yes, if it's just you and the cop, all your radar detector is going to tell you is "congrats, you have a ticket" ... :mad:

The trick is to combine good driving sense with radar detector use. Even though I never drive without my Escort Cordless on the windshield, there's places I will never speed because there is always a cop there - or at least more often than not.

Where it's most useful is on the open highway - I can run moderately faster than the flow on the interstate (so, say 80 to 82 mph), and not worry about getting busted.

On rural 2 lanes, the risk of greatly exceeding the speed limit is too much in terms of both safety and tickets, so I rarely do it unless I can clearly see at least a mile or two ahead.

Man, that's some old stuff... I haven't seen it used by an actual cop for over 10 years, and I go cross country a couple times a year. All the cops between my house and Schaumburg use K or Ka, and just leave it on constantly like a homing beacon... and for that I thank them :).

There's four "community service" SUV's in BG that they press into the neighborhoods for 25 mph speed trap duty, and one of those traps is right by my house in the spot where there are few houses, so everyone wants to go 40 mph. They use several old Kustom Systems X-band "always on" guns there and get speeders like fish in a barrel.

CHP officer told me yesterday, as he was writting me a ticket, for 78 mph- on the 210!! off the record- they are actually hunting RX8's to give tickets to-I asked why, he said it's the people who drive them-they do not like--Offended I said that's pretty darn stupid- he said- it's attiitude thing-I,m not sure what this meant-- He said -How many times do see Harleys or corvettes pulled over for tickets, I said never- He said you got that right- what's up with this?

Damn where do you live? I don't want to get pulled over... my roommate got pulled over the first week he had his '05 Mustang, the cop was just jealous and kind of wanted to see it, gave him a ticket for 5 over still, even though he was going like 12 over. Damn cops.

I use a Beltronics 995...paid an arm and a leg for it, but it's worth it to get one that works. Plus it's upgradable. http://www.beltronics.com/vector995.html

Works like a charm...unless the cop waits until the last second to turn on the gun. But that's why you have eyes.

Mounted Escort Solo S2 Battery Powered No Wires :)
Same here. I love mine, and it's paid for itself several times over. The nicest thing (to me) about the cordless is that I can swap it into my wife's vehicle in a matter of seconds if I happen to be driving it.

Best,
Bill

whats the best one out ther that works?

I went with the Escort 8500....

Check out this website is was pretty helpful in making my decision....

http://www.radarbusters.com/

In CA our new gov./actor, is balancing the budget by giving hard working people tickets- it not fair- people should start fighting these in the courts/

Escort Blue 8500 X50 - i usually stay 5 - 7 MPH over the speed limit but like having the detector to let me know when there is trouble lurking. No radar detector is perfect, but I think it's paid for itself. Paid $280 new.

Def better when movingin traffic than when alone on the road - will often be too late in the latter situation...

Bel (Beltronics) Express - love it. I use it in the 8 and my work vehicle. All of my business travels take me through Arkansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana; I live in Tennessee. It has saved my wallet many, many times!

Can't you selectively turn off X-Band reception? That's the first thing I did with mine... it's not like I plan on going back to 1985 any time soon, although it is helpful in finding 7-11's :)


cool, I had a 'hankerin' for a slurpee!!!

DO NOT turn off X-band in eastern North Carolina!! All the State troopers use it and some of the locals also.

Awesome info, went to meijers to buy my detector :p learned the hardway that what u pay for is what u get, got caught doin 102 in a 55 detector only gave a weak x band signal so didnt really worry bout it...I should of worried bout it :D

I paid a lot for the detector but the "70's like" 4 directional arrow system is priceless. Like I said I have the concealed display so nothing lights up except the display which is near my steering wheel. Do a search on this sight and you'll know what I am talking about.

I have had it about 4 months now and not more than 2 or 3 false warnings. Some cars like the fx-45 infiniti have radar type, lasar type navigation systems which emitt signals picked up by the laser portion of the detector, they bug the shit out of me.

I use the Escort Solo S2, works awesome and its cordles so I can use it in my wife's car also. Saved me a couple of times

Passport 8500 X50 Red. Has saved my butt on many occasions :cool:

http://www.rx8club.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=43409&stc=1

Passport 8500 X50 Red. Has saved my butt on many occasions :cool:



cool.... where did u run the wires through?

My $.02...

if you do get pulled over and you have a radar detector, forget about talking down the ticket. Just something to keep in mind because I have been pulled over in the past and when I had my radar detector the damage was done. Without, I always managed to have them drop the infraction.

Oranje -- how do you have the unit mounted? I was working on this over the weekend (I have very similar unit, not exactly the same) and thought that is would bounce around a lot if mounted high. Looks like you clipped it to the sun shade. Does the clip get in the way if a passenger needs the sunshade?

Tx

If you have a detector and get pulled over, then throw the detector away, right?

Best Radar detector is to keep your foot off the pedal.

No need to buy one.

You shouldn't speed in town. Hope you guys learn that soon.

You still can get in an accident or hurt someone walking or on a bike.

Just got the Escort Passport 8500 x50 red. From what I've read here and elsewhere, it seems like it's hard to go wrong with either the Escort 8500 or the Valentine 1. I was going to do the hardwire myself but I was at Circuit City and I was chatting with the install guy there. They did mine for only $27! Not bad. I told him where I wanted it and it was a done deal. He even preserved the included Smartcord (not direct) and just tucked it into the dome light area.

i have a k-40 remote...has saved my *ss many time over the last 2 years but i haven't found any detectors that function well on the stretch of i-95 between new haven and greenwich...so many false readings...perhaps it is the cameras? i just turn it off and hope!

Best Radar detector is to keep your foot off the pedal.

No need to buy one.

You shouldn't speed in town. Hope you guys learn that soon.

You still can get in an accident or hurt someone walking or on a bike.
Dont take this the wrong way, but this is NOT an anti radar/speeding thread. If you wish to voice your opposite opinion dont hijack this thread, start your own.

Oranje -- how do you have the unit mounted? I was working on this over the weekend (I have very similar unit, not exactly the same) and thought that is would bounce around a lot if mounted high. Looks like you clipped it to the sun shade. Does the clip get in the way if a passenger needs the sunshade? Tx
I have the unit mounted to the passenger visor and had the wire run up the driver pillar, along the headliner, to the passenger visor. If a passenger needs the visor, (very rare) they need to unclip the unit.

Link to thread on my install (http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=27221&highlight=8500)

Cheers,
Oranje

Dont take this the wrong way, but this is NOT an anti radar/speeding thread. If you wish to voice your opposite opinion dont hijack this thread, start your own.

No kidding...just looking for info.........no need to start talking about the safty aspect of the radar of Emergency V on the highway---letting you know that there may be a problem ahead.

i have a k-40 remote...has saved my *ss many time over the last 2 years but i haven't found any detectors that function well on the stretch of i-95 between new haven and greenwich...so many false readings...perhaps it is the cameras? i just turn it off and hope!

The first owner of my car had the deluxe K40 front/rear RADAR/LASER unit unstalled in the car ($1400+). It sux. I tested it against one of my V1s and ended up switching it off and using the V1. With the detector mounted high up on the glass it can't be seen from the rear and I have the remote display - just as "stealthy" as the K40 but works LOTS better - tons more range in either direction.

Dennis

Dont take this the wrong way, but this is NOT an anti radar/speeding thread. If you wish to voice your opposite opinion dont hijack this thread, start your own.
Thanks, Cam.

I have a Valentine. It ain't cheap. But it has a built in direction indicator! So you know where the Bears are. Front , back or on the side, as well as a signal strength and type, as well as several differant modes.

Passport 8500 X50...don't leave home without it!!!
:D
Amen brother - drove 7 hours round trip total from Greensboro to Augusta for the Masters - the score -

cops - 5 attempts, 0 successes

The trick is to not be stupid and be the lead car anyway - I drive around 9-12 over in a 65 zone, but I try to stay in the right lane and on the right rear bumper of a faster car (let them draw the radar). However, we have some sneaky HP's here that sit on the shoulder, lights off, and use rear radar to get right lane sneaks. I was fortunate that I won that one (77 in a 65 when he gunned me). I also wonder if the foglights draw attention after dark - I'd love to hear some comments on that if anyone has experience with or without. :D

Mounted Escort Solo S2 Battery Powered No Wires :)
I like your choice of detectors, but placement just to the left of the rear view gives you quicker response. You can see/hear it more quickly (it's not very loud at max volume) and you can turn your radio up some and still hear it. I've seen the light come on peripherally sometimes while I had my stereo up and never heard the alarm at max volume.

radar detectors are great for driving in places you are unfamiliar with, other than that once you know the lay of the land, and every hiding spot the best thing is your eyes and caution. i have a 52 mile commute to work ( i use the civic hx 50 mpg :) ) and i regularly get it 90mph + on the interstate. only tnhing that bothers me is the cops driving on the other side sneaking with traffic. other than that it's very hard for them to hide and since it's florida it's nice and flat and they are very easy to spot.. even at night. Once I get out of my home range though I tend to get back to 75-80 range and keep a lower profile.

radar detectors are great for driving in places you are unfamiliar with, other than that once you know the lay of the land, and every hiding spot the best thing is your eyes and caution. i have a 52 mile commute to work ( i use the civic hx 50 mpg :) ) and i regularly get it 90mph + on the interstate. only tnhing that bothers me is the cops driving on the other side sneaking with traffic. other than that it's very hard for them to hide and since it's florida it's nice and flat and they are very easy to spot.. even at night. Once I get out of my home range though I tend to get back to 75-80 range and keep a lower profile.

Don't they still use planes to catch speeders? I know they did 18 years ago when I lived there. If that's the case, radar doesn't help.

I've written it a few times here before. A detector may save you once or twice - and I will gladly admit that mine saved me 3 times - but it will not be save. At least not in the S.F. Bay Area.

- a friend got measured by a plane or helicopter, they aired his description down to a cop waiting ahead and he got pulled over

- cops can just do a visual estimate of how fast you go and the judge will side with them

- cop may be following you in a neutral car. Usually a white vehicle from Ford or GM. In 2003 I was once pulled over by a blue Pontiac Grand Prix. Looked like 10 years old - but had the red/white blue lights stealth installed (on the grill or next to the rear view mirror, I forgot).

I stopped using my radar detector and just put $300 a year aside for speeding ticket.

-Peter

Don't they still use planes to catch speeders? I know they did 18 years ago when I lived there. If that's the case, radar doesn't help.

I believe they still do on the turnpike... got nailed a few times back in my college days going back and forth between Gainesville and WPB.