Radar Detectors
 

I'm after any advice or opinion to do with the idea of purchasing a Radar Detector. I don't drive my Z with a lead boot on all the time, but there are plenty of times when I get stuck behind the 90 year old "Sunday driver" and hit the gas to overtake when the opportunity arises.
Here in New Zealand they are still legal to use, so what I would like info on is - if you use one, what type, do they really work and is it worth getting one?

Thanks for any replies and information offered. :tiphat:

Slow down ure going to fall off ur island!! :mad:

I run Valentine1 in my cars

And get the Blendmount and invisicord if u have a gentex mirror (homelink)

That is the only way to fly. :tup:

I've read that the Valentine 1 or the Escort Max are top end.
How good is your V1, would you recommend it?

i have 2 units for my 2 cars, and recently got the updated ones. they are very good.

i might get another one for my other car.

yep, i recently got one for my STI too. very cool. the 9" cord they sell is perfect.

I currently have three Valentine One units. I have bought a total of five units and I'm not changing brand anytime soon.

just had to one up me, huh? :shakes head:

When did you get STI Kenchan?

Last month. :D

http://www.the370z.com/other-vehicle...perblue-2.html

One up? Please, check your math; I have over-double up you in the number of Valentine One units I have owned ;)

Soon over-triple ...

So what do you do when you live in a place where radar detectors are illegal but you still want one. I didn't even know they were illegal in Virginia until crossing the state line coming from NC and seeing clear as day a warning sign about radar detectors.

I presume you would have to have one hard wired and hidden in the front grill or something.

no cause i purchased 4 units total. i currently have 2 units. :shakes head:





;)

Escort Passport 9500

I must buy more to widen that gap then.

Either a Escort Redline or a Valentine V1. Look at the reviews on www.rdforum.org, you will learn a lot. I use the use Whistler but come to find out that don't work worth a crap.

Escort Max 360

How are you liking it so far and how does it compare to any other high end detectors you have owned (if you have...)?

I bought a used 9500ix and the performance feels a bit like it needs a tune up (or just not as good as I was expecting...compared to my old V1). I don't feel like I can go back to a V1 and have to deal with the constant chatter.. so I have been considering the Max 360.

does dat 360 have arrows? i need arrows. seriously defeats the purpose of having a detector when u dont know where the signal is coming from.

The 360 has arrows and they work pretty well.

They work better than my wife pointing and then saying "There he is".

I used a 9500ix for about 4 or 5 years and it always worked like a champ.

question for u guys with V1. where are u buying cases for them? i want a small one.. my wife was supposd to make me a draw string bag but she's been too busy with work and no ETA on availability. :crying:

i know escort has these nice cases with zippers.. cant put a V1 in an escort case :mad:
dat'll be like eating japanese with chinese chopstix. :gtfo2:

something like this, but without the silly keychain thing..

Amazon.com: Black Abyss Heavy Duty Hard Cover Carry Case for Radar / Laser Detector :: Escort Passport 8500 X50 :: NuVur ™: Office Products

:icon17:

I've just been reading some reviews on the Max 360. It's getting a combination of good and bad, mainly good, but unfortunately it hasn't been released in NZ yet.

Judging by reviews, the V1 is probably one of the most popular detectors out there. How long have you had yours and would you say that their time is nearly over, or would you still recommend them?

I've been using the V1 for 15+ yrs on both my bike & cars and have been very satisfied. It has paid for itself many times over.

I do some spirited driving in the twisties outside of L.A. and it works like a charm. Has saved me many times.:tup:

Thanks for the info, the V1 was top of my list and every positive contribution puts it as No1 choice but I also wanted some comparisons with newer models because of its age.
How old is your model and is it easily updated.

the oldest one i had was over 10yrs old and i recently sent 2 units into V1 to buy updated one as the proximity radar equipped cars were triggering false alarms. they give u a $100 trade-in for an old one (they give u the whole new package in a box for old trades), and more for more recent firmware ones.

the updated ones i have now do not get triggered by other cars. :D
and yah, i would buy again without a doubt.

Do not confuse popularity with quality and performance.

The TV show American Idol has/had huge popularity yet it is still quite worthless.

I still have the original one I bought in 1999!
It's been sent in for upgrades 2x but, none in the last few years.

I go on V1's site and check periodically if there's any update that'd be useful for me. I haven't checked in over a year...should do that soon.

You're not implying the V1 is worthless, are you?

Popularity also comes with performance.

While I agree that many popular things are awful (see anything Kardashian)
Popularity does not equate to worthlessness.

FI is a very popular exhaust and, definitely not worthless.

I was implying nothing other than the idea that popularity may or may not be correlated with performance. That's all. Many radar detectors do well -- Valentine and Escort each make excellent products.

I got the cobra 6650 for 150$ it does its job, it works like a charm.

Get either the Valentine 1 or the Passport 9500ix really good products.

Could have bought a nice used Passport 8500 X50 for that and had enough left over for dinner and drinks