I read somewhere that the passport 8500 are being sold at discounted prices. Can anyone tell me where? Also, the wireless unit passport, are they any good?

 

Not sure about the discounted prices, but when spending that much anyway I would just go for the Valentine. Also, the wireless units suck from what Ive read. When the power diminishes so does it sensitivity.

 

Wait until April to purchase an Escort. At WCES in Vegas they were showing a new Escort 8500 X50? I think it was called X50. It looked the same as the current 8500 but they claimed 50% more range. It is also available with a blue or red display and will ship in April. $299 for red display $329 for blue.

I have a Valentine One myself. The 8500 is great but in a convertable the squat, glossy display of the 8500 makes it very hard to read during the day compaired to the large matte finish of the V1. Once you have the arrows you can never go back to a regular detector.

The V1 is $100 more but if you keep it for at least 4-years thats only $25 per year for the arrows.

People with 8500's buy V1's people with V1's keep buying V1's. Both have great range.


-Matt

 

Have a V1 myself. Ive had EVERY single radar by EVERY SINGLE manufacturer. (not the 8500) Love my V1 to death. Saved my ass wayyyyyy more than $400 worth. Once you live with a counter and arrows, youll never go back.

 

Get the V1!

 

here's where to get the 8500 on the cheap. ($245 shipped):
http://forums.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.p...&threadid=89679

here's a recent great discussion on the V1 vs 8500 debate:
http://forums.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.p...sport+Valentine

 

Also, remember, too much range is not good. You will learn to disregard the warning (if you had say....a 3 mile range), and get caught. The best warning distance is 3/4 of a mile. Enough time to slow down, and enough time to look around. With a long range....you will get a beep, slow down, and start looking for the cop. Following 1.5 miles, you will say false alarm and keep going.

 

"The best warning distance is 3/4 of a mile"?!?!?!

Are you serious? What if the cop is in ahead of you doing instant on and the car in front of you is a mile away or more (not uncommon at night)? With only .75 mile range you would never know until it is to late.

This is the beauty of the V1's arrows. A weak warning with the front arrow "lit" is much more serious threat than a warning with the rear arrow. With ordinary radar detectors you have to take every waring serious.

Matt

 

I have never had a problem reading my 8500.

Sorry Dave, I had to laugh when you said you have had every single radar detector, then admitted to not having had the one we are discussing. I get your point, but the 8500 is NOT "every other radar" detector out there.

The arrows would probably be pretty cool, but it costs an extra $100 and is big and bulky.

I have an 8500 and am VERY happy with it. If I can get one of the new ones in a few months with the blue for cheap, then i probably will. I am an 8500 owner that would buy another 8500 and am not looking to buy a V1.

 

Whats the latest V1 to buy out there anyway?