Last question first. Yes, it's worth every penny, especially the arrows. Once you use them you'll feel naked without them.

It has definitely saved me money since I hear radar warnings in plenty of time. I've even "beaten" laser a few times but only because the cop was waving the beam around (detector went off, then went silent, finally back on full-time). However, and I can't emphasize this too much, if you're not going to play the WHOLE game, save your money and just pay the tickets. By this I mean that you must be looking ahead for hidden traps, you must learn the dectector's behavior initmately and you must be willing to nail the brakes (which means knowing where you are on the highway so that semi doesn't rearend you). If you're lax in any of these conditions, you're apt to end up with a ticket anyways.

 

very nice guys..

think i'll get one real soon!

 

VI IS KING!! My wife is now a believer of the V1 !!! She is your typical 10 and 2 driver but was not paying attention to her speed one night recently on a dark road near our home. And that thing lit up like a Christmas tree. Fortuneately, she recovered in time, but the guy behind her obviously didn't have a V1

 

very nice story hioctane! everything is telling me to get one hehe.

 

I also have V1. I purchased two suction cup mounts - one for each car. So I take it to which ever I'm driving. With the S, I wired up the V1 using the included internal wiring kit - very neat - no exposed wires.

Even with the V1 (the best detector), you can still get caught. It's happened to me twice. Both times, I wasn't paying attention. First time was laser - my first reaction was, where that false alarm come from? Well, it wasn't false. But V1 has also saved me countless number of times. By the way, both times, I left the detector on the windshield and the officer clearly saw it and was not taken away - it's legal to have it.

I have now learned the tricks of the cop's trade. Knowing how to properly interpret the alarms from the V1 at the same understanding the conditions and limitations of how speed detecting equipment can be used definitely helps. Also, helps to know potential ambush spots (around bends in the road, behind bridge supports, hilly roads, etc.)

So get a V1, learn its language, drive fast (but smart), and you won't get a ticket.

 

Also, I recommend you read all the useful tips on proper usage on their web site.

Heh, another thing to add. V1 is tough as nails. In my very first auto-cross, it rained very heavily. Before it started raining, I had taken it off and stashed it in particially covered box. I got home and realized that the thing was sitting in a pool of water in the box. I turned it on - nothing. I was almost going to throw it out. But I decided to open it up and let it dry out for a few days. And works just like before!

 

Not taking anything away from the Valentine but I've found the Escort 8500 to also be a reliable unit.

 

Many folks have related that comparison. It seems that the major difference is the arrows - and I would be hard-pressed to do without...