My suggestion is not to get one. With today's radar technology, specifically instant on, detectors mostly just offer a false sense of security.

 

X2 ^ ......
I just let other people do the pace setting and shadow them. 55 in a 45 or 85 in a 75 is the normal around here.

 

Totally disagree. When do you speed, on highways right? Nobody speeds through city streets. You speed on open highways. If that's where you drive a lot then i highly suggest it. I've had the PASSPORT 9500ix for like 5 years now, it's still the most advanced radar defector there is. You can download upgrades from the Internet. It has gps, tells you where red light camera are. Tons of options. Look it up. I turn it on every time, even when I know I'm not going to speed.

Interstate and highway cops leave radar on, which means you know miles ahead of time. city cops, (mostly motorcycles) generally hold radar/laser guns, which means they pull the trigger and simultaneously they have your speed and radar detector goes off, busted.

 

I disagree with the people who say don't bother. For a couple hundred bucks you can see around corners. I haven't been able to activate my personal X-Ray vision yet so I can see through overpasses and rock walls, so I'm forced to rely on radar detectors. Mine has saved me at least a dozen times in the past 10 years. Not all cops constantly use laser or instant on - I can tell, through my detector, that a good number of them simply turn on the radar and kick back and wait for someone not paying attention to roll through, which happens all the time. Furthermore, I pick up signals when the guy in front of me gets hit. That is often enough to drop a couple MPH off and avoid a ticket.

I have had 3 times in the past 5 or 6 years that my detector went off, I slowed down to 5 or less over, some guy went rolling past me, and got pulled over as we went around the corner. It's not a false sense of security if you use a radar detector as part of an overall strategy. If you think you're just going to go 90 and wait for the detector to go off, you're going to get some tickets.

Anyway, on detectors. I have a Bel 916, which is an older model - 12 years old - and it still works flawlessly. I will probably replace it with another Bel detector when it no longer works since I've had such good luck with them. I have also heard good things about the Whistler remote setup, which is nice because you can mount the display anywhere. I'm talking about detectors that only run a few hundred bucks. If you want to go all out you want to probably go with the Valentine or the Escort.

PS: Knock on wood, I have never had a speeding ticket. I have used a radar detector my entire driving life. Coincidence? Maybe.

 

I agree wit KWAS. I bought mine 3 years ago when I had to travel from KS to NY and then FL, it saved me a bunch of times from speed traps along the highway maybe a mile or more away. Hands down the best money ever spent and it pretty much payed for itself

 

Escort Passport Max. Works well and has saved me from many tickets. If you can't afford the Max, the 9500 is in my other car and works just as good. I also had a lot of luck with the 8500 a few years ago.

 

Escort is a great brand, as well as the Valentine 1. But If you don't have $500-$800 laying around like me you may have to settle. Cobra is kind of the generic brand so I wouldn't recommend that just do some research. It can be as simple as googling "Best Radar detector under $150" That's what I did and ended up with the Whistler Pro 78se. Just hard wired it last week and it works fantastic. It detects false alarms fabulously and really gives you the warning you need when a speed trap is up ahead.

 

The OP said absolutely loved. I had a cobra years ago. I had the same experience as the first 2 posters that said they are a waste of money. I thought that as well until I plunked down the money for a good one. At the time it was the 8500. What a difference.

I'm not saying that the ones for under $150 don't work, but you do get a lot more noise from them. A lot more. With mine, they seldom ever beeped, but once they learned, they never beep. If they do, its because there's a cop. That's why you pay the extra money for the 9500 or Max so that you get the GPS and learning mode.

My 2 cents. Take 'em for what they are worth.

 

I've got an 8500. It's a little old now but still works well for the most part. I believe the 9500 is the newest Escort model similar and I plan to buy one soon. Radar detectors have saved me 1000's in fines over the years. Sure once in awhile there are situations where they may not have helped but way more where they have.

 

Definitely in love with this guy (Valentine One).

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I've been using an ~$80 Whistler Pro-58 for the last 8 years, and it has worked flawlessly. There's no reason to spend hundreds of dollars on a radar detector IMO.

PRO-58:

lPOP mode detection (POP is featured on newer radar guns operating on K and Ka bands, acquires vehicle's speed in less than 1/15 of a second)
- High gain optical lens (provides increased laser sensitivity)
- Stay alert feature (tests your alertness on long trips)
- Seven segment icon display: provides band identification and intense blue numeric signal strength indication
- Total band protection (laser, radar, VG-2, and safety bands)
- 360* total perimeter protection
- Patented VG-2 cloaking technology
- Setting saver
- Quiet/auto quiet modes
- 3 City modes
- Vehicle battery saver
- Alert priority
- Safety warning system

 

Valentine One, I have it in both my cars, a bit expensive but well worth it compared to tickets and related increase in insurance costs.
The arrows tell you which direction it's coming from, it tells you how strong the signal is, which band it's picking up, and how many signals it's receiving.
Save me many times when there was a radar trap located in an area where stores automatic door openers would be setting off a regular detector and you would dismiss it as a false alarm, until you see the cop....

 

I have the V1, have had it for 10 years and it still work great.
I will admit I got stopped once, speed trap using laser. In the 10 years it has saved me from countless possible tickets. It's just not the radar detector but you have to use good judgment while driving.
Weather you believe it help or not is a totally different subject. Guy ask about radar detector, give him your opinions on radar detector or don't post.

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I've run a detector for about 25 years now. I really haven't ever been without one since I started driving and they've saved my bacon countless times in all those years. I'm a fan of Escorts, currently running an 8500, but the V1 is also extremely good. I wouldn't hesitate on either of those two brands.

 

Another plus with valentine is you can send it in and have it upgraded. This way you only buy one radar detector and just continually have it updated.


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I would find a used V1... Then start building a LiDAR system most state troopers are starting to turn to LiDAR which is nearly impossible to detect by a radar b4 its too late so basically you will be trying to make your vehicle "invisible" to the radar.... Look it up it's pretty interesting...

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