Conensus on Radar Detectors?

[Pennyman]

As the title states, Are they a worthwhile investment, or a toy that punk-ass kids use to give themselves a false sence of security? Somewhere in between?

I have one. Escort Passport 8500. Figured I didn't wanna pay another $100 for some arrows on the V1. I like it, but around town it doesn't help much. Helps the most on roadtrips, as if I was speeding anyway with a 4 speed...

[91CRXsiR]

i had a cheap one back in days like 7 years ago and never got a ticket once while driving w/ it on..

[S14DB]

I would also get a Blinder 2 head Laser Jamer.

[TurK]

v1 rocks dude....dont make it sound simple by just sayin arrows....once you live with the arrows youll wonder how you ever did with out.

[sncs14]

Escort Solo S2 for three+ years now. I drove with out it for a week once and got a ticket (even though I really wasn't speeding). Now I turn it on right after fastening my seat belt every time I go somewhere..

[w0nderbr3ad]

+1 for the valentine1. i've had friends who were saved from getting caught. i need one lol

[Irukandji]

how about this: don't speed so much that you get pulled over. I just drive to the flow of traffic.

[HyperTek]

yah i dont see whats special about redar detectors... You should be able to see the freaking cop if one is around. If your car is silent you shouldnt need one. but then again, that could probably save someones ass from getting thier hood popped if they can evoid poopoo in the first place huh

[Ghettokracker71]

Originally Posted by HyperTek

You should be able to see the freaking cop if one is around.

Perhaps if where you drive has no hills,trees, or curves for a cop to hide behind. That is to say,that going around curve,going up/down a hill,or foliage can provide a cop enough cover to radar your ass before you see him...besides if you see him,hes probable seen you first.

Too bad radar detectors are HIGHLY illegal in virginia. I am not all about spending a couple hundred(or however much they cost to purchase one.) and then get a ticket with a fine of around $300 and have the damn thing taken away from me,should I get caught.

Although I still think I can get away with hiding one. Maybe when I have some cash to spend.

[redsuns3838]

i had one a few yrs back, forgot the brand. it worked decent
got me out a few tickets, and then sometimes it didnt react in time. basically i wised up just drive the speed limit and dont be an asshole. its not JDM tyt to speed.

[sxse240]

The Valentine is the only one worth having. Once you have the directional indicators, every other radar detector is just retarded.

[ESone3]

from what I hear, that Escort 8500 is on top of the food chain right now. Its $100 cheaper and it does everything the V1 does minus the arrows. But really, who needs it? If it goes off, slow down! Doesn't matter where your being tracked from.

[Dunkee]

+1 for valentine. Catches laser too as well as the arrows. I'm always being tagged by undercovers over here. It's def worth having but you still have to be careful and not drive like an ass.

[j00ni3]

i was thinking about it... but in nyc there are too many dt's.... drviing in yellow cabs that it's really not worth it... for me at least... all they do is drive behind you match your speed and boom your are caught... which sucks ARG

[the head]

Screw valentine

K40 Undetectable FTW with front and rear laser/radar pickups and front rear laser jammer
Best thing about it is all that is in the car is three LEDs and a rotary switch...windshield mounts are Uber ghey

Have one in every one of my cars and they save my ass alot.

[Pennyman]

^^^ I agree the windshield mount is ugly. Ideally, I'd run a phone cable up the A-pillar and mount it in that little spot between the rearview mirror and the top of the windshield. At least there it's a tad less noticable...

[Dunkee]

Is kinda ugly but them other front and rear bumper detecters are $$$. I mounted mine by the apillar above my gauges. It works.

[the head]

Originally Posted by Dunkee

Is kinda ugly but them other front and rear bumper detecters are $$$. I mounted mine by the apillar above my gauges. It works.

The K40 runs about 475 installed...V1s are 400 on average what is 75 bucks when you are paying that much

[tastyratz]

2 things.

1. I have a passport 7500 and a solo s2. ive owned 2 or 3 other radars in the past. passport 7500 is great, reacts in plenty of time in many cases and not too many false alarms. Solo s2 doesnt have alot of false alarms, or any alarms at all really. seems to be slow to react in many cases but thats the nature of the beast - wireless means batteries and to save power it cycles on and off.

2. laser detection is a moot point on a windshield mount detector anyways. the reason lasers so deadly to us its the ability to detect it. When a cop lasers you he aims the laser at a reflective part of your car (i.e. headlights/lic plate/ shiny intercooler) on the highway that laser beam from far enough away to barely see him, is actually only about a foot wide when it reaches you. Unless he aims at your roof and hits your radar detector it wont go off. when the radar detector goes off he already nabbed you. laser detection is useless - jamming is the only way with in bumper jammers. Since laser is the way everythings going, jammers would be an investment.

3. not all laser jammers are the same - the earlier blinders arent worth a paperweight I talked to one of the engineers on the phone one day for awhile and it looks like the newer ones seen alot of improvement.

4. all radars need line of sight. windshield mount units are inferior to hidden ones because theres always obstructions in the car, and tint also interferes with functionality. they also are gonna make you beg for a ticket if a cop sees one whether its illegal or not - its a sign your a regular speeder so hide it when you get pulled over.

5. whats the cost of a good radar, even a decent one not exotic... few hundred bux? how much will that speeding ticket REALLY cost you if you get caught just 1 time? dont forget its not the hundred -2 - 3- etc that you pay on the ticket that kills you. its the years of insurance premium that costs the most.

6. my radar detector has saved me from getting a ticket atleast a dozen times over the years - if not many more. cops are sneaky and speed limits are generated for revenue more than safety. 55 was a safe limit 20 years ago, now 65-75 is probabbly just as safe as 55 was back then with advances in automotive technology that allow better braking-turning-etc.

the head: who makes the k40? ive never heard of it. can you buy it without buying it installed cheaper? I can easily put it in myself if I purchased one.

[tastyratz]

the head: I just did a little more looking. for a new k40 with the add on laser jammer your looking at probabbly 800+ without install. where the hell did you see it for 475? theres a base windshield mount unit you can get around that, but if you wanna get the concealed one WITH laser jamming I cant see how it could be built for less than hundreds more than the price you gave

[lucky7]

theres a whole lot of nothing by where i live. the police like to hide with all their lights off in their black squad cars in the middle of the night. my old ass cobra has saved my ass too many times to count. the thing is a pile of shit, but i dont feel comfortable without it.

[Pacman]

Lets not forget, he's in Cali. We have yet ANOTHER law against the jammers you guys speak of. They're illegal in the state of CA. Detectors can still get you in trouble with the law. My neighbor was telling me about a friend which had one, and he got a $1,000 for havinng one.

[gfisch]

I think they are absolutely worthwhile. I have had a V1 for 4 years and have not gotten pulled over once in that time (had many before that). It does depend on what type of driving you do though. it is important to know what they are good for and what they are not.
I do a real lot of long highway drives on Rt 95 and the NY Thruways and I couldnt imagine driving without it (Ive even gone back to get it when i forgot it in the other car).
But, they are useless for laser detection, I dont even know why they bother to include it. Only advantage is that it lets you know if youve been scanned or not so you dont have to have this paranoid looking over your shoulder the next 10 min you speed by a hidden cop that was asleep.
Also, from my experience, pretty much useless around town. Too many false alarms to be useful. usually turn it off.
As for the V1, I think teh arrows are well worth the extra $. The first week I got it I ended up in a situation just out of their ad. Passed a speed trap, and within a mile was another one. Worked beatifully with arrows pointing both ways in the middle of them.

[Cloud9]

Originally Posted by Ghettokracker71

Perhaps if where you drive has no hills,trees, or curves for a cop to hide behind. That is to say,that going around curve,going up/down a hill,or foliage can provide a cop enough cover to radar your ass before you see him...besides if you see him,hes probable seen you first.

I have the escort 8500 and it picks up cops about 1/4 of a mile away, i went on a road tirp from cali to minnesota last mont and driving through the moutnains it went off and then 20 sec later the cop was around the turns/hills. So i would always recommend it no matter what the area is like unless there illegal (to much hassle)

[tastyratz]

i know radar jammers are illegal but i think laser jammers arent illegal (yet if ever) and DEF worth having. It will be less likely to be illegalized based on the nature of functionality because the reason radar jammers are illegal has to do with the fcc....planes...other stuff

[S14DB]

Radar Jammers are illegal cause the radio bands are controlled by the FCC.

Laser jammers are perfectly legal cause you can't regulate light. Some have tried to do a interfering with a police officer. But Laser Jammers are hard to catch cause they shut down after a couple seconds to hide itself. It goes off, you slow down, it shuts down for a minute. Cop with think it's an error not jamming.

http://www.radarbusters.com/products...rs/default.asp

[the head]

delete me dpost

[the head]

Originally Posted by tastyratz

i know radar jammers are illegal but i think laser jammers arent illegal (yet if ever) and DEF worth having. It will be less likely to be illegalized based on the nature of functionality because the reason radar jammers are illegal has to do with the fcc....planes...other stuff

Laser jammers are not illegal because Laser transmission is regulated by the FDA not the FCC therefore it is ok to interfere with the signal.

Ratz
I looked into my records and the last one i had installed was about 625 total( the 475 was just the f/r detector without jammers on another one of my cars) the 800 plus I am assuming is thier new wireless k40 carbine unit...I havent tried one of those yet. Also my pricing is due to the fact that I am an electronics distributor so my installer gets deals on parts by cutting me deals on products I dont want to deal with aquiring on my own.

[tre]

I find them bad luck. Plus IF you do get pulled over its almost like a gauranteed ticket if hte cop sees it.

[the head]

which is why you get a remote unit installed because the cop will never know what the three LEDs in your dash are for...provided he can even see them