[QUOTE]Originally posted by S2KCouple
[B]Yea, right.

 

you don't have to use batteries, you can buy a cord for the solo2. And I think the solo2 is just a cordless version of the 8500 from what I've read (about it's innards anyways.) Although I could be wrong.

look up reports on the v1 and the escorts (and the bel 985, which performs quite well). v1 only beats others in laser detection, and once you've detected laser, you've already been clocked. laser detectors are pretty useless unless you're using a jammer.

go here: http://www.radartest.com/

and here: http://www.speedzones.com/

and here: http://www.radarbusters.com/

happy radar hunting.

 

Glad you got the V1, it is the only "RADAR locator" on the market and once you use the arrows you will realize that all other detectors just beep

I own two V1s, one for each car - I have the remote display and have them hard-wired in. I have purchased 4, but I sold my two "old" ones - one to someone here on S2KI and one to a guy on a BMW mailing list. Both new owners are very pleased with their "new" V1s for a discount and I think would agree that it is the only one to have.

www.radartest.com is a joke, I don't know what Craig Peterson's problem is with V1 but his review is a joke. He tested using an older and larger unit (I guess Valentine would not give him a new one for free to test) and a lot of his comments just are not true. Ask any V1 owner. I think he makes money by selling his logo to be put on RADAR detector boxes and get quoted in the ads, like the 8500 box and ad.

http://www.speedzones.com is a little better, but they tend to like/love about anything they test They also make money by selling "Speedzones approved" logos to the makers.

http://www.radarbusters.com - "RADAR Roy" just has the web page up to sell you a detector - since V1s are direct only there is no way you are going to get the straight story on them.

Roundel (the BMWCCA magazine) or Car and Driver are the best sources of RADAR tests - of course they make money selling ad space to the detector makers too

I think the Escort 8500 is a really nice unit - if I could not afford a V1 or it did not exist I would probably have the 8500. It does a lot of things well, and includes an audio jack and remote display. Adding these to a V1 makes the price difference a lot more. It has close to the range (in some cases maybe more) of the V1 and seems to do a better job of sniffing out false alarms.

IF the new Solo S2 has the 8500 performance in a battery operated detector, then it would be worth taking a look at as well.

I have had a lot of detectors over the years, the orignal Fuzzbuster, Cincy Microwave, remote Whistler, remote Bel, Bel, and the V1s. Nothing beats the arrows.

Dennis

 

DWynne -

I'm curious as to why the Valentine is better hands down against all others, when it loses 4 out of 5 tests in K and Ka? From what I've read most test techniques are similar. I can't say I can point to anything in the test of C&D that would favour the V1 or any others, nor vice verca, though most test show significantly different results.

Educate me, because V1 just updated their software recently (right?) and I am impressed with their claims (so it should be even better?). Are all these places really that biased?

I'm not arguing, genuinely asking, because I'm replacing my older radar with a new one, and I was leaning towards the V1, but now I've read so much testing that basically puts C&D and V1's word against all others, but the owners seem really happy.... hmmmmm....and those arrows ARE cool.....

I mean, these sites and others typically hold the public's ear on such matters and it would be good to know if things aren't quite what they seem......

*edit* - my point is you may have swayed me back to the V1, you're not being paid off are you?

thanks

 

Like I said above, the Passport and Valentine 1 are so much ahead of the competition that any difference between them are minimal, when looking at the big picture.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by wicky
[B]DWynne -

I'm curious as to why the Valentine is better hands down against all others, when it loses 4 out of 5 tests in K and Ka?

 

This is great info, and that's a great story. I guess what I meant to say was 1 outa 3? You're explanation of the bogey counter in action really outlines the usefullness of that. I always like the idea of knowing how many, but for some reason it didn't register the way you put it. You couldn't see the second guy yet, so you watched your butt. Cool.

It's the one I truly liked in my heart, and probably the one I'll go with. I've seen the reports you've posted, and I guess the other tests got me second guessing. I'm glad I ran across this post, now, becaues I was leaning towards the escort, but I'm not concerned with the price difference, and I was getting real close to dropping some cash.

thanks for clearing my head!

 

The 8500 also has a "bogey counter" of sorts with their Expert Mode display. It can detect 2(or 4) separate signals for each band and display them at the same time.

The "arrow indicators" are nice, but who is going to NOT step on the brakes when it simply beeps? If most V1 users actually look at their detector to see where the signal is coming from before they step on the brakes, I think they'll be having a discussion w/ that traffic officer very soon.

Bottom line is that they're both good and they use somewhat different methods to display their data. You can't go wrong with either.

I just step on the brakes whenever it beeps, then I look.

 

i agree with joe_s2k.....why pay $100 more for some arrows...all i need to know is if there is a cop....no need to know where, because eventually i will see him....lights flashing or not!

 

Those tests are biased, maybe, coming from valentine1.com? As for Car and Driver...you know...they also tested the S2000 quarter mile this year to be 14.9 . Not too reliable, if you ask me.