Radar Detectors Worth it?
#1
Radar Detectors Worth it?
I'm just in a dilemma whether to get a radar detector first or continue with my suspension work.
if i do go with a radar first, is v1 much better than the escort? is it true that v1's the only detector that can detect all around you?
thanks.
if i do go with a radar first, is v1 much better than the escort? is it true that v1's the only detector that can detect all around you?
thanks.
#2
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: I've shaken off the sands of SouthWest Asia and returned to Houston and Gulfport, MS
Posts: 498
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I drive 1000 Interstate miles every other week. I will not venture onto the highway without my V1. It has saved my driving record and my bank account. Worth every penny of the $399 it cost.
Now, is it that much better than the closest competitot (Escort at $299)? Depends.
The V1 is the only detector that clearly tells you whether the bogey is ahead, aside, or behind. This can be immensely valuable. (tells you that the bogey was in the opposing traffic lane, for example). It also gives a very clear indication of the number of bogeys and the radar type.
I've also read reviews that say that the V1 is far better at picking up laser beams that are a little off center.
Other detectors may be more compact or more stylish or easier to program and use. Just do your homework and make your choices.
Now, is it that much better than the closest competitot (Escort at $299)? Depends.
The V1 is the only detector that clearly tells you whether the bogey is ahead, aside, or behind. This can be immensely valuable. (tells you that the bogey was in the opposing traffic lane, for example). It also gives a very clear indication of the number of bogeys and the radar type.
I've also read reviews that say that the V1 is far better at picking up laser beams that are a little off center.
Other detectors may be more compact or more stylish or easier to program and use. Just do your homework and make your choices.
#3
yea ive been doing research for weeks now, nd i finally decide to check if i can get direct answers
i was leaning to the v1 aside that the price is pretty high, but id definetely get something better if its gonna save me.
i was leaning to the v1 aside that the price is pretty high, but id definetely get something better if its gonna save me.
#4
What am I doing here?
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: 2017 Miata RF Launch Edition
Posts: 3,606
Received 649 Likes
on
510 Posts
Radar; yes.
Laser; feh.
Most detectors under the $300 mark will easily pay for themselves in one ticket. V1-tiered detectors paying for themselves will probably depend on how much of a hit you take with your insurance.
Laser; feh.
Most detectors under the $300 mark will easily pay for themselves in one ticket. V1-tiered detectors paying for themselves will probably depend on how much of a hit you take with your insurance.
#6
I like rusty spoons
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 1,959
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
NOOOOOOO
I got $700 in speeding tickets (pulled over twice) in one day with one of the top of the line detectors (BEL RX65 - http://radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=9090). Sold it after that and decided just to give up on speeding
But if cops in your area don't have INSTANT-ON radar then it might be useful. For me it wasn't.
I got $700 in speeding tickets (pulled over twice) in one day with one of the top of the line detectors (BEL RX65 - http://radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=9090). Sold it after that and decided just to give up on speeding
But if cops in your area don't have INSTANT-ON radar then it might be useful. For me it wasn't.
#8
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Liberty Hill, TX (Austin)
Posts: 886
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Get a detector, but learn how to drive with it. You cannot just run out front hauling *** with impumity. You'll get nailed for certain. Make sure it has laser detection as well.
#9
'05 Titanium 6sp
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: St. Paul, MN
Posts: 368
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Laser detection doesnt matter. If your radar detector detects a laser, its already too late, you're busted. A laser detector will only detect a laser shot at your car, so it wont pick anything up if its not shot at you. But if the cops in your area are old school, meaning, using radar guns without the "instant on" feature, it may be of use to you. Old school radar guns took a few seconds to warm up before they could get your speed, and radar detectors would detect this "pulse" and you would have that 2-3 seconds to slow down. But now days, radar guns have an instant on feature that allows the gun to already be warmed up, without your detector knowing, and ready to catch you without the 2-3 second delay. People will always claim that their radar detector saved them tickets but if the cop has a proper gun, there's no way to get around it other than just being lucky.
#10
Buy either a Bel Pro RX-65 ($270), Valentine 1, or Escort 8500 x50. Apply Laser Veil to your lens, and if not illegal in your state, license plate/cover, and you should be well protected. It will give you 3-5 seconds to slow down. And, as Chrisbert said, learn to drive with it. You can speed, but try not to be smoking down the highway passing everyone..easy way to get tag (especially if they have copters/planes doing the radar). Rather, use your unit to help you follow someone who is doing the smoking...or....if you don't want to take the chance, just only go 10mph over the speed limit.
#11
Apexing at Oak Tree
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: The Blue, Educated State in the North
Posts: 717
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Hightshoe
Laser detection doesnt matter. If your radar detector detects a laser, its already too late, you're busted. A laser detector will only detect a laser shot at your car, so it wont pick anything up if its not shot at you. But if the cops in your area are old school, meaning, using radar guns without the "instant on" feature, it may be of use to you. Old school radar guns took a few seconds to warm up before they could get your speed, and radar detectors would detect this "pulse" and you would have that 2-3 seconds to slow down. But now days, radar guns have an instant on feature that allows the gun to already be warmed up, without your detector knowing, and ready to catch you without the 2-3 second delay. People will always claim that their radar detector saved them tickets but if the cop has a proper gun, there's no way to get around it other than just being lucky.
Moving onto K and Ka bands. These types of radar reflect and scatter greatly when they hit another vehicle. This is what your detector is seeing that can save your butt. You sitll have to be alert and watch for coppers when you are driving. Don't go driving on some back road with no other cars around blasting @ 90mph, you'll get nailed.
#13
Registered
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: los angeles, ca
Posts: 463
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I haven't had a ticket in 8 years following one simple rule. Never be the fastest guy on the road. If i'm alone on the highway i'll stick at 75-80. It usually doesn't take long for someone to come up on me at 85-90, and then i just follow them a couple 100 feet behind.
#14
2005 Black RX-8 GT 6M
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Jose Area
Posts: 6,350
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by map
I haven't had a ticket in 8 years following one simple rule. Never be the fastest guy on the road. If i'm alone on the highway i'll stick at 75-80. It usually doesn't take long for someone to come up on me at 85-90, and then i just follow them a couple 100 feet behind.
#16
As I understand it, as long as you're traveling with other cars, "instant on" radar is not a problem. With a Valentine One, at least, you'll pick it up when it's fired at some car ahead of you—even well ahead of you. But yes, if you're the only car around, no radar detector can save you from "instant on".
#17
I splurged and bought a Valentine V1 - hefty price tag but well worth it. Has saved my *** many many times, in conjunction with the awesome braking of our RX8, coming down from 120 to 70 in just 3 seconds or so :-p
Others are correct you cant just slap it in and run out and do whatever you want, you have to learn where the spots are that trip off common xband and K signals (things like door openers, alarm systems in shopping centers)
It's not that useful driving around the city (but i never speed in the city) on the highway driving between dallas and houston though, I can do 100+ mph consistently with a much much reduced chance of getting busted. Makes my trip so much faster, instead of 4.5 hours on the road, i only spend about 3.5
If you take the time to understand it and use it in CONJUNCTION with your own sense of danger and whats going on, it makes life easier its a TOOL not a free ticket to go 100mph everwhere
Others are correct you cant just slap it in and run out and do whatever you want, you have to learn where the spots are that trip off common xband and K signals (things like door openers, alarm systems in shopping centers)
It's not that useful driving around the city (but i never speed in the city) on the highway driving between dallas and houston though, I can do 100+ mph consistently with a much much reduced chance of getting busted. Makes my trip so much faster, instead of 4.5 hours on the road, i only spend about 3.5
If you take the time to understand it and use it in CONJUNCTION with your own sense of danger and whats going on, it makes life easier its a TOOL not a free ticket to go 100mph everwhere
#18
Pining for the Fjords
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Fort Wayne, IN
Posts: 688
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by dannobre
I've had less tickets without a detector than i had with one. I found that I pay better attention to what's going on around me when ai'm scanning for bogeys...than when I drove along thinking the detector would save my ***.......
Danno, I've been wondering what that car is in your avatar. An old Ligier or Prost F1 car, perhaps?
#19
Pining for the Fjords
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Fort Wayne, IN
Posts: 688
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by toxin440
on the highway driving between dallas and houston though, I can do 100+ mph consistently with a much much reduced chance of getting busted. Makes my trip so much faster, instead of 4.5 hours on the road, i only spend about 3.5
#20
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Liberty Hill, TX (Austin)
Posts: 886
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Hightshoe
Laser detection doesnt matter. If your radar detector detects a laser, its already too late, you're busted. A laser detector will only detect a laser shot at your car, so it wont pick anything up if its not shot at you. But if the cops in your area are old school, meaning, using radar guns without the "instant on" feature, it may be of use to you. Old school radar guns took a few seconds to warm up before they could get your speed, and radar detectors would detect this "pulse" and you would have that 2-3 seconds to slow down. But now days, radar guns have an instant on feature that allows the gun to already be warmed up, without your detector knowing, and ready to catch you without the 2-3 second delay. People will always claim that their radar detector saved them tickets but if the cop has a proper gun, there's no way to get around it other than just being lucky.
#21
Yes, get a radar detector. Just make it a good one (one of the 3 that icyur2 suggested, although I prefer the V1).
As has already been said, it is worth it IF you use it as an aid rather than thinking you may now drive like an maniac simply because it is in your car.
As has already been said, it is worth it IF you use it as an aid rather than thinking you may now drive like an maniac simply because it is in your car.
#22
Even with instant-on radars, it seems like it would help, IF you've got some cars in front of you. Like the gun is off, but as soon as the cars in front of you get within range of the cop, he turns the gun on, giving you ample warning. Probably not so good if you're the first car in the pack.
I read in a car magazine somewhere where they referred to that technique as "having a rabbit", like in greyhound races.
Originally Posted by map
I haven't had a ticket in 8 years following one simple rule. Never be the fastest guy on the road. If i'm alone on the highway i'll stick at 75-80. It usually doesn't take long for someone to come up on me at 85-90, and then i just follow them a couple 100 feet behind.
#23
I've never quite understood the purpose of radar / laser detectors. Do they detect the presence of squad cars or helicopters in motion that have some kind of radar? Or is it only to detect the presence of the cops hiding in the bushes with a speed gun pointing into traffic? In my 10 years of driving around Los Angeles and Orange County, I have yet to get a speeding ticket on the freeway, let alone see a cop pointing a radar gun into traffic.
#25
Club Marbles Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: DFW, TX
Posts: 3,252
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by toxin440
I splurged and bought a Valentine V1 - hefty price tag but well worth it. Has saved my *** many many times, in conjunction with the awesome braking of our RX8, coming down from 120 to 70 in just 3 seconds or so :-p
Others are correct you cant just slap it in and run out and do whatever you want, you have to learn where the spots are that trip off common xband and K signals (things like door openers, alarm systems in shopping centers)
It's not that useful driving around the city (but i never speed in the city) on the highway driving between dallas and houston though, I can do 100+ mph consistently with a much much reduced chance of getting busted. Makes my trip so much faster, instead of 4.5 hours on the road, i only spend about 3.5
If you take the time to understand it and use it in CONJUNCTION with your own sense of danger and whats going on, it makes life easier its a TOOL not a free ticket to go 100mph everwhere
Others are correct you cant just slap it in and run out and do whatever you want, you have to learn where the spots are that trip off common xband and K signals (things like door openers, alarm systems in shopping centers)
It's not that useful driving around the city (but i never speed in the city) on the highway driving between dallas and houston though, I can do 100+ mph consistently with a much much reduced chance of getting busted. Makes my trip so much faster, instead of 4.5 hours on the road, i only spend about 3.5
If you take the time to understand it and use it in CONJUNCTION with your own sense of danger and whats going on, it makes life easier its a TOOL not a free ticket to go 100mph everwhere
Thanks for this post. This thread makes me want to get a V1 or something. I don't wanna be pulled over by a blonde lady cop again for not having my front plate, and given a ticket, rather than a warning, as if I'm threatening the safety of other people.