Best Radar Detector - Subaru Enthusiasts Car Club of the Sierras

Dewey · 2007-05-06, 11:35 AM

Im in the market for a radar detector and i dont know what to get... any suggestions?

Kevin M · 2007-05-06, 11:40 AM

Valentine 1 fanboy here. Highly recommend it.

Dewey · 2007-05-06, 11:43 AM

i like the v1 but i just dont like all the false alerts it gives... im thinking about the escort passport 8500 x50

Kevin M · 2007-05-06, 11:45 AM

False alerts are better than missed alerts.

Dewey · 2007-05-06, 11:46 AM

good point, but what do you think about the passport?

Dean · 2007-05-06, 12:03 PM

V1

MattR · 2007-05-06, 02:00 PM

V1

sybir · 2007-05-06, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dewmudgeon

good point, but what do you think about the passport?

I think I'd rather have my V1

Lots of parts that people swear by are "better performance through marketing."

The V1 simply isn't hype. It's superior to almost anything else on the market and the directionals seal the deal (for me, at least).

wrxkidid · 2007-05-07, 12:30 AM

i personally like my 80$ cobra from bestbuy.

im not sure it has gone off once when there was really a cop around. chris you experienced that first hand.

btw. you need a car to have a radar dector in in the first place

im a dick ill stop.

MPREZIV · 2007-05-07, 06:30 AM

I was never dissapointed with my Passport. I hardly use it anymore tho, 'cause I just decided to slow down...

NevadaSTi · 2007-05-07, 06:33 AM

I have a Passport 8500 x50, when I first got it, I think it payed for itself about three times over. I don't use it anymore, because my Mustang isn't as fast as my STI.

Double Phister · 2007-05-07, 07:35 AM

Any good detector is better than no detector at all. I would stay clear of the cheapos.

People are usually split between the V1 and whatever the latest passport is.

I've been a user of the V1 for over 10 years. One failed. I just sent it in for a software upgrade and got a new one.

I wouldn't call them false alerts. Just more information. You can edit some of the automute settings or completely disable the lower bands if you don't need them.

kidatari · 2007-05-07, 07:48 AM

I used to have an Escort 8500, and I loved it. Now that Deede and I have a V1, I find myself wanting the 8500 back because I prefer the interface. With the V1, you just have a bunch of LEDs blinking for the bands that radar is being detected on, it just seems harder to read, especially with the volume down. I also liked that the Passport had a mute and alert LED on the cigarette lighter cable. It was very handy.

Not to say that the V1 doesn't excel in other areas, but I wish there was some more thought into the user interface. The arrows are nice, but I think that there are better solutions out there than the V1. Check out the Passport 9500 that just came out. It has the ability to lock out false signals via GPS. Definitely a neat feature.

Hope this helps.

sperry · 2007-05-07, 08:30 AM

The V1 has two patented features that make it superior to other detectors: the forward/rearward receiver, and the bogey counter. It tells you how many radar transmitters are out there, and what direction they're coming from. Once you get used to the display, it gives you a ton of information quickly. There's no such thing as a "false alert"... when you see x-band next to you, you know it's the doors at the Walmart your passing. When you see Ka band in front getting very powerful rapidly, you know it's a cop in oncoming traffic... etc, etc.

Other brands approximate the V1's features, but none will ever totally match it because the V1's features are patented. Hell, all the other detectors have to pick up radar that's behind you by seeing it reflected off the stuff in front of you!

My only problem... there's no V1 with a remote install kit. My SVX's windows have metallic tint, which makes my V1 nearly useless behind the windshield. That's why I bought Josh's Bell RX75 (which is a stealthy remote mount deal). I'd love to comment on it, but it's still sitting in a box in my garage waiting to be installed. The reviews say it's a good detector, so while it may not have the features I really like on the V1, at least it will be out from behind the glass on the car so it will work. All I need is a free Saturday to pull the bumper off the car and install it.

100_Percent_Juice · 2007-05-07, 08:46 AM

I have had a lot of speeding tickets in my life and I have come to the conclusion that a radar dector is not for me. I just need to slow down and go the speed limit. Because when I say a lot of speeding tickets I mean, if my wife and I had a baby girl I wouldnt have to paint the room pink I could just walpaper it with my speeding tickets.

Double Phister · 2007-05-07, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kidatari

I also liked that the Passport had a mute and alert LED on the cigarette lighter cable. It was very handy.

There's an optional remote display that will black out the main unit display and gives you a second mute button.

I flush mounted one in the benz on some switch blanks.
I have another one somewhere in the garage waiting for a home in the STi.

When I use the V1 on my bike I have a audio out box setup so I can mute with my left thumb (V1 is mounted on right side of bike). Audio is pumped into my helmet intercom system.

Double Phister · 2007-05-07, 03:21 PM

There is a lot of talk about the 9500 gps muting on other boards though.

Dewey · 2007-05-07, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrxkidid

i personally like my 80$ cobra from bestbuy.

im not sure it has gone off once when there was really a cop around. chris you experienced that first hand.

btw. you need a car to have a radar dector in in the first place

im a dick ill stop.

yeah, but i have a f-150, i still can speed

wrxkidid · 2007-05-07, 05:21 PM

this is true.

dont be a cheapass like me. id say the passport. taylor has that one and besides the fact it gives random laser alerts in the middle of the forrest its really nice.

tysonK · 2007-05-07, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrxkidid

this is true.

dont be a cheapass like me. id say the passport. taylor has that one and besides the fact it gives random laser alerts in the middle of the forrest its really nice.

nevada

wrxkidid · 2007-05-07, 08:20 PM

california when it happend.

did you get your car back?

NevadaSTi · 2007-05-08, 02:19 PM

My passport started doing that lazer thing also. Typically at one intersection by my brother's house out in Topaz. About a month later, it started sporting messages of Service Req. It makes me wonder if that is an indication of when the Passports are going out. BTW, mine was bought on or around March 5th of 2005. Two days after I bought my STI.

Bob Danger · 2007-05-08, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 100_Percent_Juice

I have had a lot of speeding tickets in my life and I have come to the conclusion that a radar dector is not for me. I just need to slow down and go the speed limit. Because when I say a lot of speeding tickets I mean, if my wife and I had a baby girl I wouldnt have to paint the room pink I could just walpaper it with my speeding tickets.

Word. The best way to avoid speeding tickets is to not speed... or being fast enough to out run whatever vehicle the cop has.

Kevin M · 2007-05-08, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Danger

Word. The best way to avoid speeding tickets is to not speed... or being fast enough to out run whatever vehicle the cop has.

Bob Danger · 2007-05-08, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BAN SUVS

What the hell is that?

2007-05-06, 11:35 AM	#1
Dewey EJ251 Real Name: Chris Dewey Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Reno Posts: 520 Car: 98 RSTi Unicorn! Class: Street Modified	Best Radar Detector Im in the market for a radar detector and i dont know what to get... any suggestions? __________________ Sponsored HEAVILY by BC Tuning.

2007-05-06, 11:40 AM	#2
Kevin M EJ22T Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Reno Posts: 9,445 Car: '93/'01 GF6, mostly red Class: 19 FP	Valentine 1 fanboy here. Highly recommend it. __________________ FWD is the new AWD

2007-05-06, 11:43 AM	#3
Dewey EJ251 Real Name: Chris Dewey Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Reno Posts: 520 Car: 98 RSTi Unicorn! Class: Street Modified	i like the v1 but i just dont like all the false alerts it gives... im thinking about the escort passport 8500 x50 __________________ Sponsored HEAVILY by BC Tuning.

2007-05-06, 11:45 AM	#4
Kevin M EJ22T Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Reno Posts: 9,445 Car: '93/'01 GF6, mostly red Class: 19 FP	False alerts are better than missed alerts. __________________ FWD is the new AWD

2007-05-06, 11:46 AM	#5
Dewey EJ251 Real Name: Chris Dewey Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Reno Posts: 520 Car: 98 RSTi Unicorn! Class: Street Modified	good point, but what do you think about the passport? __________________ Sponsored HEAVILY by BC Tuning.

2007-05-06, 12:03 PM	#6
Dean Señor Cheap Bastarde Real Name: Dean Join Date: May 2003 Location: $99 Tire Store Posts: 9,294 Car: $.04 STI Class: Fast,Cheap & Reliable=STI Deal, did somebody say Deal? Oh, Dean, yeah that's me.	V1 __________________ I am a Commodore PET --- Now get off my lawn you kids...

2007-05-06, 02:00 PM	#7
MattR El Matador Real Name: Matt Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 10,660 Car: 2012 Toyota Tacoma Class: ?	V1 __________________ "Dallas..We have a problem.”

2007-05-07, 12:30 AM	#9
wrxkidid EJ205 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Incline Village, NV Posts: 1,232 Car: 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd. 5.7l Class: None :/ Cory, just put a 4g63 in it.	i personally like my 80$ cobra from bestbuy. im not sure it has gone off once when there was really a cop around. chris you experienced that first hand. btw. you need a car to have a radar dector in in the first place im a dick ill stop. __________________ Mosey down the road.

2007-05-07, 06:30 AM	#10
MPREZIV Token Real Name: Le Stig Afrique? Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: sitting next to a big yellow box Posts: 3,589 Car: 2001 Impreza 2.5 RS Class: 05 TDSP No, I won't work on your car. F your car*	I was never dissapointed with my Passport. I hardly use it anymore tho, 'cause I just decided to slow down... __________________ "...these condoms have a topical anesthetic to reduce sensitivity, so you can last longer. What a paradox. You can't feel a thing, but you can f*ck for HOURS..."

2007-05-07, 06:33 AM	#11
NevadaSTi EJ251 Real Name: Brian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Minden, Nv. Posts: 989 Car: 1994 Toyota 4Runner Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once	I have a Passport 8500 x50, when I first got it, I think it payed for itself about three times over. I don't use it anymore, because my Mustang isn't as fast as my STI. __________________ The last living thing on earth will be me. I'll step on the last cockroach.

2007-05-07, 07:35 AM	#12
Double Phister EJ22 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Elk Grove, CA Posts: 450 Car: 2005 WRX STi "I'm sideways and in control... I look good."	Any good detector is better than no detector at all. I would stay clear of the cheapos. People are usually split between the V1 and whatever the latest passport is. I've been a user of the V1 for over 10 years. One failed. I just sent it in for a software upgrade and got a new one. I wouldn't call them false alerts. Just more information. You can edit some of the automute settings or completely disable the lower bands if you don't need them. __________________ Dan - '05 Black WRX STi. My Mods

2007-05-07, 07:48 AM	#13
kidatari EJ22 Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 291 Class: Low lol internet.	I used to have an Escort 8500, and I loved it. Now that Deede and I have a V1, I find myself wanting the 8500 back because I prefer the interface. With the V1, you just have a bunch of LEDs blinking for the bands that radar is being detected on, it just seems harder to read, especially with the volume down. I also liked that the Passport had a mute and alert LED on the cigarette lighter cable. It was very handy. Not to say that the V1 doesn't excel in other areas, but I wish there was some more thought into the user interface. The arrows are nice, but I think that there are better solutions out there than the V1. Check out the Passport 9500 that just came out. It has the ability to lock out false signals via GPS. Definitely a neat feature. Hope this helps.

2007-05-07, 08:30 AM	#14
sperry The Doink Real Name: Scott Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 20,335 Car: '09 OBXT, '02 WRX, '96 Miata Class: PDX/TT-6 The way out is through	The V1 has two patented features that make it superior to other detectors: the forward/rearward receiver, and the bogey counter. It tells you how many radar transmitters are out there, and what direction they're coming from. Once you get used to the display, it gives you a ton of information quickly. There's no such thing as a "false alert"... when you see x-band next to you, you know it's the doors at the Walmart your passing. When you see Ka band in front getting very powerful rapidly, you know it's a cop in oncoming traffic... etc, etc. Other brands approximate the V1's features, but none will ever totally match it because the V1's features are patented. Hell, all the other detectors have to pick up radar that's behind you by seeing it reflected off the stuff in front of you! My only problem... there's no V1 with a remote install kit. My SVX's windows have metallic tint, which makes my V1 nearly useless behind the windshield. That's why I bought Josh's Bell RX75 (which is a stealthy remote mount deal). I'd love to comment on it, but it's still sitting in a box in my garage waiting to be installed. The reviews say it's a good detector, so while it may not have the features I really like on the V1, at least it will be out from behind the glass on the car so it will work. All I need is a free Saturday to pull the bumper off the car and install it. __________________ Is you is, or is you ain't, my con-stit-u-ints?

2007-05-07, 08:46 AM	#15
100_Percent_Juice (40 percent vodka) Real Name: Joel Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 4,446 Car: 2004WRX Class: Baby-Hauler/GroceryGetter	I have had a lot of speeding tickets in my life and I have come to the conclusion that a radar dector is not for me. I just need to slow down and go the speed limit. Because when I say a lot of speeding tickets I mean, if my wife and I had a baby girl I wouldnt have to paint the room pink I could just walpaper it with my speeding tickets. __________________ "A power nap is when you sleep on someone who is weaker than you." - Dimitri Martin

2007-05-07, 03:21 PM	#17
Double Phister EJ22 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Elk Grove, CA Posts: 450 Car: 2005 WRX STi "I'm sideways and in control... I look good."	There is a lot of talk about the 9500 gps muting on other boards though. __________________ Dan - '05 Black WRX STi. My Mods

2007-05-07, 05:21 PM	#19
wrxkidid EJ205 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Incline Village, NV Posts: 1,232 Car: 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd. 5.7l Class: None :/ Cory, just put a 4g63 in it.	this is true. dont be a cheapass like me. id say the passport. taylor has that one and besides the fact it gives random laser alerts in the middle of the forrest its really nice. __________________ Mosey down the road.

2007-05-07, 08:20 PM	#21
wrxkidid EJ205 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Incline Village, NV Posts: 1,232 Car: 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd. 5.7l Class: None :/ Cory, just put a 4g63 in it.	california when it happend. did you get your car back? __________________ Mosey down the road.

2007-05-08, 02:19 PM	#22
NevadaSTi EJ251 Real Name: Brian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Minden, Nv. Posts: 989 Car: 1994 Toyota 4Runner Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once	My passport started doing that lazer thing also. Typically at one intersection by my brother's house out in Topaz. About a month later, it started sporting messages of Service Req. It makes me wonder if that is an indication of when the Passports are going out. BTW, mine was bought on or around March 5th of 2005. Two days after I bought my STI. __________________ The last living thing on earth will be me. I'll step on the last cockroach.

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