Check out this site, good info and links:

http://www.consumersearch.com/www/automoti...tors/index.html

I guess they didn't make the V1 a top pick becuase it didn't handle "pop" mode well (short burst).

 

thanks for the good advice

actually, the weird thing was, i was getting a lot of false K signals. regardless, i'm ok with the false signals as long as it catches the right ones early enough

 

Since that article came out, V1 added POP detection.

 

We have both an 8500 X50 and solo S2. The cordless S2 is in my wife's car and the X50 in mine. I was following her closely one night and could clearly see that her S2 was significantly delayed in issuing a KBand warning while my X50 had gone off several seconds before. We we at a stop light and the police car was approaching us. She was in front of me.

While the S2 is great from a convenience perspective, it does not compare to the X50 in performance.

My concern about a detector in an S2000 is inviting theft. Even if the detector is not left on the windshield, the suction cup marks leave a clue.

I am interested in the SRX install for this reason even if it performs less than an X50 or V1.

A speeding ticket is cheaper than a new top.

 

had the 8500, and went to the 8500 X50 to get the POP. there was a notable improvement in sensitivity across the board...

ironically, i've found the POP mode for the X50 to be just about useless in the city, as it falses quite a bit.

the arrows are quite cool, and i'd love to have them, but the bogie counter doesn't hold a candle to the 8500's expert mode. (being able to see not only the number of signals, but the signal strength of each? very sweet!)

for me, it came down to price. i got my X50 for $250 to my door. the V1 would have cost me over $420 to my door. the 70% increase over the X50 just didn't make the arrows worth it to me...


like others have said before me tho -- you've gotta run the X50 in expert mode and w/ loud alerts.

to the person who commented on the swaying cord from the accessory plug -- check out ruexp67's sig and his bit on the Passport 8500. he's got a bit on how to hardwire the 8500. it's easy and very nice to have.

regarding worry about theft? i just leave my suction cup mount stuck to the glass, and the hardwire dangling whenever i leave the car (top up or down). it tells people -- yes, i have one. no, it's not in here.

 

The Escort SRX, where you put sensors in the bumpers and a small control panel in the car, is supposed to be as good if not better than the 8500. That's what I read about it in the past.

I'd love to get something like this, especially with the Lidar jammer. Since I live in California, they don't sell them here. My one foray into Arizona with a few stops at some electronics places while in-state didn't dig one up either.

 

I have the Escort SRX, and in my opinion, its the ONLY way to go in the s2000. Hardwired in, and can be hidden behind the radio door. Plus, has laser shifter function. Trust me, the laser detectors (8500, V1) are useless in protecting you from laser speed finders. Thats why I now have the SRX.
JT

 

FWIW.
I've had a Solo since May 04. It has saved me several times, twice on the way up the 101 to Concorso last August. It sits on the dash to the left of the instruments. I put these sticky pads called e-grips, that I found at Radio Shack, on the bottom that hold it in place in all but the most extreme bumpy left turns. When I'm parked, it goes into the lockable storage compartment between the seats to keep it out of sight when the car isn't covered, which is never.

It has warned me around corners and with x and k-band disabled, it's quiet until set off, no false alarms. Batteries last about a month of daily 2 to 3 hr use. When the batt level gets just below half, I change 'em out.

I take it on trips for use on rentals and it sits on every dash I've run into without a problem. I'll never have a wired detector again.

 

before you say you'll never own a wired detector again -- you really should do a bit of investigation... the wireless units (including the Solo) have been tested to have up to 50% less warning time/range than wired versions.

just fyi.

 

I just bought an 8500 and love it. I'm already annoyed by having the cable stretch across the entire length of the cabin though, so I'd like to hardwire it. The directions written in http://www.s2000.org/mods/radar/
seem great, except they don't show an "after" picture with the detector mounted. I'm in one of those lucky states where it's illegal to use a detector...I don't think I want it up there on the top of my windshield. Is it very obvious?