I've got some road trips coming up and would like to arrive sooner . Since my s2k can do the job, I need a reliable radar detector. I've been considering the Valentine1. Anybody have any opinions?

Thanks....T

 

I had a Valentine 1 once, did great but nothing can protect you from "instant-on" and it seems that several law officials are using this nowadays!

 

Your only defense against instant-on is to pick up the signal as it's clocking cars ahead of you. It's the rare cap around here who waits more than 30 seconds between pulses, so picking them up well in advance is pretty easy (unless traffic is really light). Long range is your only hope. That's why I believe it's a waste of $$$ to buy less than top shelf in terms of range.

I have the V1, and love it. The directional arrows are invaluable for really tracking multiple alerts. The first weeks in my S2000 without the arrows (I installed the V1 by the rear window, but had to wait until my new remote mount arrived) were pretty hard.

I understand that the latest Passport (8500 I think) is rated similarly in terms of range, and is cheaper, though it doesn't have directional indicators. It sounds like you wouldn't go wrong either way.

JonasM

 

i dunno, i just got the radio shack one form my friend, and that thing is really good. Im back here in NJ for spring break and my friend and i were doing maybe 45 in a 35 and suddenly the thing went crazy and INSTANT ON had been blinking vigourously on the detector...automatically i slowed down....i think the radar detector is 150 and i can get u the model number when i come back to NC..

-anu

 

I have the escort passport 8500, they go for $300. It's done a good job so far, but the instant on radar is still the one that gets most of us. I guess we all still need that brake system that goes from 100 to 55 in less than 1 second. I just ordered the Passport SRX today, it mounts in the grill, and on the rear license bracket, and has a small display, I'm going to put on the steering column cover in front of the instrument panel. This unit goes for $800 - $1000 depending where you get it, double that for a dealer install. I'll let you know how it works, after it has been installed and tested. The V1 is awesome too, between the 8500 and V1 you really can't go wrong.

 

I got the Passport SRX installed yesterday. It outperforms the 8500, but not by much. I left the 8500 on the windshield to see the difference in the two. The SRX beats the instant on by very little, but the k band picks up about a 1/4 mile farther away. For once I was actually out looking for radar, and I found it, in 3 different places. The best thing about the SRX is that it's hidden, and other drivers don't see a radar detector, and want to follow it. It has 3 laser units, and they are supposed to shift the laser signal, so the police will not get a signal, and the radar works the same as the 8500, only a little modified. I like it, but it's a bit pricey. If money is an issue, I'd recommend staying with the 8500 or the V1. I also added XM radio, and a Pioneer head unit with a DVD player, still waiting on the monitors to be installed in the visors. They're only 5" but look pretty good. I was worried how the XM antenna would look, but after it was placed on the trunk lid. It actually turned out good. Mine is Spa Yellow, so the black antenna blends with the rest of the black on the car. I'd post pics but have no idea how. Vince