Thinking of buying a radar detector, your opinions...
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 138
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From: Portsmouth
Matt's 2 cents.
1. It's too big. When i fact overall size is smaller than the competing product.
>I like the shorter V1 over the longer snout of the Escort. The shorter design puts more of the display in my peripheral vision than the longer 8500. It also has a larger display area.
2. It's ugly. Well, I am not trying to impress anyone with the look of a radar detector (or my car for that matter). So as long as it works the way I want it to, I don't really care.
>The Escort's case is plastic the V1's is Magnesium. The matte finish of the case and matte finish on the display of the V1 does not reflect any glare. As a passenger my friends 8500s have nearly blinded me. The V1 also allows you see the volume knob setting at a glance. Has a more expensive look and feel in my book but this is subjective.
3. Its too expensive. It's about $100 more than the best of the rest. For some people that's a legit issue. Not everyone has an extra hundred laying around. If given a couple of weeks or a couple of months, most people could find another $100. I say wait if you have to. If it's really an issue, buy the best you can afford.
>The V1 is a great value. It offers dual radars detectors in one chassis and you can also completely hide a V1 out of sight with a the optional full concealed external display for $439, uninstalled. If you want to completely hide an Escort product and not loose any display properties you are looking at $1049 installed for the SR7 and you are only getting a singe radar horn with no directional arrows.
As I said before, buy what makes you happy. For me, the V1's sensitivity, the company's customer service record, the locating arrows, and my belief that it was the best product available, made the decision easy for me.
>I agree. Both the Escort and the V1 offer great range, although most magazines give the nod to the V1. In the end buy what you like. My needs called for a completely hidden radar but I still wanted to move it car to car. In the end I received a V1 as a gift and have fallen deeply in love with it.
-Matt
-Matt
1. It's too big. When i fact overall size is smaller than the competing product.
>I like the shorter V1 over the longer snout of the Escort. The shorter design puts more of the display in my peripheral vision than the longer 8500. It also has a larger display area.
2. It's ugly. Well, I am not trying to impress anyone with the look of a radar detector (or my car for that matter). So as long as it works the way I want it to, I don't really care.
>The Escort's case is plastic the V1's is Magnesium. The matte finish of the case and matte finish on the display of the V1 does not reflect any glare. As a passenger my friends 8500s have nearly blinded me. The V1 also allows you see the volume knob setting at a glance. Has a more expensive look and feel in my book but this is subjective.
3. Its too expensive. It's about $100 more than the best of the rest. For some people that's a legit issue. Not everyone has an extra hundred laying around. If given a couple of weeks or a couple of months, most people could find another $100. I say wait if you have to. If it's really an issue, buy the best you can afford.
>The V1 is a great value. It offers dual radars detectors in one chassis and you can also completely hide a V1 out of sight with a the optional full concealed external display for $439, uninstalled. If you want to completely hide an Escort product and not loose any display properties you are looking at $1049 installed for the SR7 and you are only getting a singe radar horn with no directional arrows.
As I said before, buy what makes you happy. For me, the V1's sensitivity, the company's customer service record, the locating arrows, and my belief that it was the best product available, made the decision easy for me.
>I agree. Both the Escort and the V1 offer great range, although most magazines give the nod to the V1. In the end buy what you like. My needs called for a completely hidden radar but I still wanted to move it car to car. In the end I received a V1 as a gift and have fallen deeply in love with it.
-Matt
-Matt
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,584
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From: Baton Rouge, LA
i agree that people on both sides of that fence constantly toss barbs at each other over the issue...
however, if you look back - i've always stated that i felt they were both very competant detectors. in fact, the only time i can remember ever saying anything negative about the V1 was my statement that the V1 wasn't worth the extra $160+ dollars to me.
regarding your points?
1. agree - in fact, both are close enough in size that bringing the issue up at all is a bit silly. the V1 has a larger front profile, the 8500 is longer. so, which is bigger is really a perception of size.
2. agreed - ugly don't matter to me, as long as it gets the job done.
3. here is where i do disagree. it IS expensive, and the price is being locked down by the manufacturer. and if you do some hard shopping, it's not just $100 more. in my case, it was $161.50 more than the 8500, which is 66% more (161.50/245) than my 8500 (or a savings of 40% off the V1 (161.50/406.50)), and that's no small difference in price. especially when you consider that everytime the two have been compared - they are within a very close margin of each other in performance.
in the end -- the V1 and 8500 are very very close in sensitivity, both seem to have good customer service, and the 'who is best' is not really all that clear. so, for me and many others -- those arrows at a 66% markup just aren't worth it to us.
it's just ridiculous that we keep rehashing this OVER and OVER and OVER...
however, if you look back - i've always stated that i felt they were both very competant detectors. in fact, the only time i can remember ever saying anything negative about the V1 was my statement that the V1 wasn't worth the extra $160+ dollars to me.
regarding your points?
1. agree - in fact, both are close enough in size that bringing the issue up at all is a bit silly. the V1 has a larger front profile, the 8500 is longer. so, which is bigger is really a perception of size.
2. agreed - ugly don't matter to me, as long as it gets the job done.
3. here is where i do disagree. it IS expensive, and the price is being locked down by the manufacturer. and if you do some hard shopping, it's not just $100 more. in my case, it was $161.50 more than the 8500, which is 66% more (161.50/245) than my 8500 (or a savings of 40% off the V1 (161.50/406.50)), and that's no small difference in price. especially when you consider that everytime the two have been compared - they are within a very close margin of each other in performance.
in the end -- the V1 and 8500 are very very close in sensitivity, both seem to have good customer service, and the 'who is best' is not really all that clear. so, for me and many others -- those arrows at a 66% markup just aren't worth it to us.
it's just ridiculous that we keep rehashing this OVER and OVER and OVER...
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 329
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From: Tallahassee
PJK3, sorry for the rehash. I've never posted here about the V1 so I plead innocent! 
I didn't realize the V1 unit was $166 more expensive. I can see where that might not be considered good value by someone uninterested in the arrows or the rearward looking radar.
Enjoy your 8500 and best of luck to you.
Over and out.
I didn't realize the V1 unit was $166 more expensive. I can see where that might not be considered good value by someone uninterested in the arrows or the rearward looking radar.
Enjoy your 8500 and best of luck to you.
Over and out.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,584
Likes: 1
From: Baton Rouge, LA
nah... i wasn't really going after you, but at the larger bandwagon in general (both V1 and 8500 folk).
and since the V1 is $399 + $7.50 S&H and the 8500 can be found in a few places (primarily SBHCorp) for $245 shipped -- that's where i get my $161.50 difference.
if they were closer in price, i might have sprung for the arrows and the accompanying rear facing radar detection... but the Expert and Spec Modes on the 8500 make up for a lot of the losses you take when giving up the arrows.
and since the V1 is $399 + $7.50 S&H and the 8500 can be found in a few places (primarily SBHCorp) for $245 shipped -- that's where i get my $161.50 difference.
if they were closer in price, i might have sprung for the arrows and the accompanying rear facing radar detection... but the Expert and Spec Modes on the 8500 make up for a lot of the losses you take when giving up the arrows.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,584
Likes: 1
From: Baton Rouge, LA
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,776
Likes: 1
From: Chicago (ex London UK)
PJ and Y2K...(and all)
just to confirm....
- I bought my X50 from sbhcorp for $250 SHIPPED.
- Detector was delivered by UPS in under 7 days.
- X50 K and Ka band noticeably better range than the 8500
- I have full 1 year manufacturers warranty
- THIS HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY ESCORT
- My product has been registered (serial # with them)
SPECIAL NOTE:
Escort WILL not honor ANY ebay purchases. Brand new 8500 and X50s purchased on eBay are not covered by their warranty. As long as you did not buy the detector new from an ebay seller, you are covered by the Escort warranty.
again, THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY ESCORT THIS MORNING.
Hope this helps!!
just to confirm....
- I bought my X50 from sbhcorp for $250 SHIPPED.
- Detector was delivered by UPS in under 7 days.
- X50 K and Ka band noticeably better range than the 8500
- I have full 1 year manufacturers warranty
- THIS HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY ESCORT
- My product has been registered (serial # with them)
SPECIAL NOTE:
Escort WILL not honor ANY ebay purchases. Brand new 8500 and X50s purchased on eBay are not covered by their warranty. As long as you did not buy the detector new from an ebay seller, you are covered by the Escort warranty.
again, THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY ESCORT THIS MORNING.
Hope this helps!!
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 863
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From: LA County
I owned both, honestly both are equally the same in terms of pros and cons. The only major drawback on the V1 is the unability to detect Ka-POP. Arrows are just some +'s and -'s but not detecting POP i think is a big feature that V1 miss.
