RX813en

So i was looking into the radar detectors to try to see which one is better, and since i dont wanna buy a 40 dollar one, i wanna get my moneys worth and get either the Solo S2 or the Valentine V1. The Solo S2 has the "wireless" advantage which i REALLY like, but ive seen a lot of ads for the V1 in a lot of magazines. Im hoping some of you guys have either one or the other and can give me some feedback and help me out with my decision.

Spoolin8

iTrader: (2)

ive had literally every single detector out there and the solo sucks when it comes to range and you need to always change the batteries.

My top fav are

V1
Passport 9500i
Passport X50

Best bang for the buck IMO is the beltronics 940 (its like 150 and for the price is really good)... However if you can afford all the bells and whistles the V1 never disappoints

StealthTL

iTrader: (1)

Bels and Passports (they come out of the same company) all have a FATAL flaw - they work very well for a couple of years. Then they stop, giving just a 'Calibration Required' message. You have to send them back for service to the company, and it ain't free.....

You can reset them a couple of times until they just quit and give the message 100% of the time.

Bottom line - they are a scam.

S

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

I LOVE my 9500i. And who says you need to have an ugly wire on your radar detector?? Check out my thread, it's hardwired. No ugly wires, no changing batteries.


https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-interior-audio-electronics-24/escort-passport-9500i-installed-113643/

GaMEChld

I respond by referring you to a previous endorsement I gave the V1 in a different thread.

https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...8&postcount=15

I think I hit on all the good stuff about it in that post.

RX813en

Thanks guys, i kinda already had my mind set on it, but wanted to make sure i was making a good investment

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

the V1 is a great detector, stay away from the Solo.

Joose

I have the V1, and I am glad I didn't waste my money buying any other detector.

And their website is very informative about how to properly use it / other radar detectors

LandYatch

I have a Valentine 1 in every car I have. Once you have the directional arrows, you will never go back.

That being said, most highway cops in Houston now have laser. You have a really expensive device telling you that you now have a ticket.

I have been looking at the laser jammers, but the jury is still out on those.

8 years of V1's (we have three) and no problems at all.

I have mine velcro'ed to the top of the rear view mirror and it is hard wired into the overhead wiring (moon roof hot)

Socr8tes

My V1 has saved my butt more than once...

RaDaRkInG

The Valentine One blows the Escort Solo S2 out of the water and it also beats every other radar detector you can buy in the under $500 radar detector category. Battery operated detectors are sleeping 85% of the time to conserve batteries so good luck detecting radar from far away, instant-on radar, POP radar, radar around a curve, radar over a hill, etc. Look how poorly a brand new Escort Solo S2 performed compared to a Valentine One at the latest radar detector test.

http://guysoflidar.com/august-2007/r...ctor-test.html


This is why battery operated detectors suck:

http://valentine1.com/cordless/


The jury is not still out on laser jammers, the Laser Interceptor has been the best laser jammer for the past two years.

http://guysoflidar.com/july-2008/laser-jammer-test.html




http://guysoflidar.com/march-2007/la...mmer-test.html

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

RadarQueen, nice of you to visit us again with your usual

Remember this???

greg985

^ Lmao

V1 Ftw

Elara

Seriously! Wtf???

GaMEChld

Lol, bantastic.

RX813en

wait, are you saying that the V1 wont pick up laser?

GaMEChld

V1 does pick up laser, but because of the properties of laser (not scattering on impact like radar does) you will most likely not get advance warning of people getting lasered ahead of you. You will know you got lasered, but by then you are already tagged, so you can't really slow down and avoid a ticket, unless maybe you just happen to be next to an exit and you try some evasion, but I doubt that works out.

z10

Hands down the V1, I've owned one for 15 years, been updated once, repaired for free when it was 9 years old. Great customers service.

Spend the money, you won't be sorry.

Z10

RotaryP7

I have a Cobra.

Spin9k

V1 all the way. They work, they can be updated. If they break, in my experience they don't charge for repair, even if meg-years old. I've sent two back in 15 years along w/cc info and they both come back **no charge**. You gota love a company that believes there product should work forever or they just fix it!

CarAndDriver

My dad loves his V1 and has had one for many years.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

the V1 is awesome but I think you guys need to look closer at the newer Passport radars. The sending V1's back for upgrades is awesome but the passports now have firmware / software updates via USB.

I updated mine from inside my garage just a few weeks ago.
You really can't go wrong with either (I've said this many times) but I prefer the route that passport is taking with their RD's. GPS, false signal lockouts, Red Light camera warnings, etc.

Just don't go cheap when it comes to an RD, this is definitely a 'you get what you pay for' kind of buys.

PSTNLSS

iTrader: (3)

Valentine One is worth the $423(399+shipping).

I have mine mounted above rearview mirror where it can clearly see out front and rear windows. I have it hardwired as per DIY in the DIY section. Cops doing radar in my town are few and far between. But since I have had it I've seen a legit 5 cops doing radar maybe more. One was at about 1:15 in the morning and he was in a local body shops lot doing radar. The speed limit on that road is 25mph and I cruise at about 42mph. So that alone would have paid for the radar detector.


V1 has maintance to update and the arrows are crazy!

shazy

Damn, you aren't allowed to have radars in Canada. If there was, I would've been the first one to get it.

RotaryP7

^ Get the Bel STi and hide it on top of the windshield.