Speed Racer

I had a remote display for a V1 kicking around and wanted to place in my RX-8. For the last couple of months I have had it mounted in my ash tray but it was just too low to be helpful. So I decided to move it up a bit. What do you guys think of this install?

Speed Racer

Close-up of the remote display.

MrWigggles

That location would still be a little too low for my tastes but it is a very clean install.

I like it.

-Mr. Wigggles

mikeb

that is so sharp
awesome job

Wave

Very nice.

Speed Racer

Thanks and I agree that it is still a little too low but I couldn't think of a better place to mount it. Any suggestions?

manbar

Ducktape it to the dashboard.

mikeb

ducktape
I hope you are kidding

Jazzman

That is very nice. I wimped out and just put some velcro on the bottom and set it to the left side of the dash.

1stRX8

I wanted mine as close to the speedo as possible. After all when it beeps, I need to know how much [or if] to brake.

mikeb

1st rx8,
that looks good right by the speedo

8_wannabe

Why does it need to be near the speedo? You're driving an '8; you already know you're speeding... Just kidding! Still, for sheer asthetics I really like Speed Racer's install. Finally a good use for that bottom slot.

khoney

I found a great spot for it in the middle of the rear storage compartment. It looks great and I can see it when I .... uh... oh, ****.

Squidward

question about valentines..

how good are they???

I bought a top-of-the-line Bel 980 radar a few years back and within a month I got a damn ticket.. this was in seal beach on PCH going north.. It is plain flat land with no obstructions.. it was at night and I was going 65 in a 60mph zone, and the f*cking biotch gave me a ticket for going 5 over.. unbelievable.. Sports cars can go way over 5mph if you barely push the car...

Anyway to make a long story short, she was there off the road, it was dark I didn't see her, and the radar/laser detector didn't do squat to warn me.. She got me on laser gun.

I was pissed to say the least, not just about the $130 ticket, but the $250 I spent for that POS detector...

Still bothers me to this day..

So how's the valentine working out for you all???

rx8daniel

laser it tough to detect early enough for any detector. Been discussed before here (do a search...) - but - they can turn it on only when they want to (see you coming, easier in the dark) and laser doesn't 'spray' a lot since,well, it's a laser beam... so where laser may be present, prudence will work better than the best detection device(s).

rx8daniel

those of you w/ V1s, where are you placing the detector regardless if you have the remote display or not?

Speed Racer

I have mine at the top of the windshield and just to the right of the rear view mirror. That way the V1 has the best view of the what lies ahead and behind.

PUR NRG

Nicely done. Where did you mount the main unit and how did you route the wire from it to the remote display?
________
Bestsquirt69

Speed Racer

The main unit is at the top of the windshield and just to the right of the rear view mirror. I wish that I could conceal the main unit better but it wouldn't work as well if I placed it in an obscure location.

The wire from the main unit is tucked into the headliner and then it is routed down the driver's side A pillar underneath the plastic trim. From there it travels under the dash to the power adapter. One wire is tied in to the ignition (so that the V1 shuts off when the car is turned off) and the other heads off to the remote display in the center console.

Dugless

Great job!!!! How much room was behind that panel and can you remove it without taking the entire center console apart?

I'm think of puting SAT radio controller there.

wleonard

...have to agree with that one.

Ive had both Valentine and Bel 900's. The Valentine was gangted, but I like the Bel better (less falsing, same detection) and I dont need to know how many targets - one is enough.

If you are the intended target of laser or instant on Ka, you are gonna get popped. If the cop is not lasing others in front of you, your dectector is not a cop mind reader and doesnt know he is waiting just for YOU.

Thats why the best detectors are rated on their "spurious" detect capability. Cathing the faintest glimps of the poor sap getting lased, microwaved in front / behind you.

If your all by yourself on a dark empty road hauling ***, use your cop smelling internal gut radar.

My gut has saved me more times than the Valentine and Bell's combined.

RotorMotor

Hey speed, how exactly did you go about cutting the hole for the remote display? Was it difficult?

Dugless, I don't think it's possible to remove that panel without removing the center console (unless Speed figured out some way that I haven't heard of). That said, taking the console apart isn't that difficult. There are instructions in this thread. Getting just to that panel is pretty easy. Getting the rest of the facia off is difficult as you'll read in the thread. Well, it's not difficult, but I had a hell of a time finding a bolt that I had to remove until I got a little help from BrotherVoodoo.

Speed Racer

RotorMotor,
I used a Dremel tool to cut the hole out and just made sure that I started a little small so that I could slowly work up to the right size. It takes a little longer doing it that way but your results are normally better.

As for removing the panel I just followed the instructions that were posted for the MP3 player install. I imagine that you would be able to pop the panel out without removing the rest of the radio/center console but you will not have enough room to route the wires into the dash.

jdaled

To get that lower faceplate off without removing the entire console... just take a coin and stick it in along the bottom edge of one of the radio buttons, press upward carefully, and that should pop it right out.

A jumbo size paper clip will work also, fwiw.

Omicron

NICEly done, SpeedRacer. So nicely, in fact, that I'm almost tempted to buy a Valentine 1 just so I can duplicate the work.

But now question for you: Is the V1 designed so you can remove the faceplate/indicator panel and mount it in a location other than the antenae assembly, or is this from a "remote mount" unit that is designed to have the antenae mount behind the grille of the car?

Thanks...