I appreciate all the comments I got back from my thread on what to expect regarding an upcoming drive in my S2k of nearly 1000 miles. Judging by all the positive responses, looks like I should be okay.

I would be interested in hearing about your experience with a radar detector on a trip. I don't have one but an thinking of buying the ValetineOne.

Did you find that having a radar detector was a significant plus or a take it or leave it plus?

 

A bunch of us from AZ went on a 800mi trip this weekend. We had 2 Passport 8500 and 1 Valentine. Between them, they saved us from AT LEAST 9 opportunities to get a ticket. Throw in my wife and her Passport 8500 who drove 450 miles without us, and you have another 5 or 6 tickets that we didn't get.

I don't see much difference in quality or warning time between the two models. The Valentine is $150 more expensive, though. IMHO, a radar detector is an absolute must.

Tanq

 

You can read about my radar detector use on a 5700 mile trip at http://www.geocities.com/srnelson_s2000/Overview.html

It's unclear if it ever saved me from a ticket, since I generally kept the speed within 10 mph of the limit except when passing other cars or when out in the desert with nothing around. I also didn't have the very latest, I used an Escort 6800.

I will admit that I felt a little more comfortable driving at 95 mph through the Southern California desert with the radar detector. It also gives a bit more peace of mind when you're not a serious law breaker.

If the police really use their instant on radar properly and don't turn it on until they're sure you're speeding, no radar detector will save you anyway. Fortunately, very few use it that way.

 

I haven't taken a long trip in a while, but my Escort 8500 did save me two weeks ago on my usual everyday route. The police put up one of those radar signs that tell you how fast you are going right by my street. And since it points straight down the street, I could pick up the strong K band signal from the sign literally a mile away. Then when I get within a 1/4 mile from the sign, O would also see a weak K band signal from the Walgreens. But one afternoon coming home, the detector showed a 3rd Ka signal right about there, so I immediately slowed down (not that I was speeding or anything). After driving another block, I came up to the radar sign and behind it was one of those unmarked cop cars sitting there with his radar gun. I bet he was thinking that alot of people with detectors would think they were getting a signal from the sign a not a real cop. So in this case, I have no doubt that the radar detector saved my butt.

So this is a perfect example of why I am a big, big fan of detectors that can show how many signals are going off like the Escort 8500 or Valentine1 (not sure if other detectors do it).

 

I've only had my V1 for about two months but I'm sold on it. The false alarms (X band) get pretty annoying but you can always disable that function if you want. There have been several times when I detect a cop from several blocks away, even before I can see him. I'm sure it has already paid for at least have of its value by saving me from a few tickets (this is a car that is hard to drive slow!!).

BTW, you may want to consider having your detector hardwired. I have my local dealership do it for me (cost about $100) and it looks really sharp. Plus, I think it is much less noticable for would-be theives and cops who like to hassle people with detectors.

 

Do a search on "radar detectors" and "V1" and you'll get days worth of good reading including mounting suggestions. Either unit works very well. Personally I converted from Passport to Bel back to Passport until I finally found my V1 years ago.... wouldn't have it any other way and wouldn't go to the drugstore without one.

Not crazy about that V1 mount shown by carfanatic. May as well tape your cell phone and PDA to the window too in plain view for the world to see. Many good mounts found by doing a search.

Good Luck

 

Another thing to consider for a long drive is a CB radio. I got one for my drive from Austin, TX to Buffalo, NY last month mostly for fun and something to do while being in the car that long.

We turned the squelch up enough that we could still listen to our stereo and hear the stronger signals coming over the CB. Between my V1 and all of the truckers calling out the cops we never had any problems. The CB only cost $50 at Wal-Mart with an antenna and we wired it up to use the cigarette lighter and the antenna is magnetic so it's easy to take the radio out once you get home.

You'll also learn about a whole new world, the trucker's world. It also came in handy in traffic. There were signs in Indianapolis saying that the 4-lane interstate had three lanes closed ahead. We knew that if that was true, we would be stuck in traffic for quite a while. We also didn't want to have to take a long detour if we didn't have to so we radioed for an eastbound trucker and asked him how the traffic was going westbound on I-70. He said it was good, so we stayed on the highway as all of the other cars took the detour.

wickerbill, over and out.

 

My entire adult life I've gotten at least 2 speeding tickets per year and paid through the nose for insurance. Since I got my first radar detector 4 years ago, I've gotten NONE! My insurance carrier considers me a "good driver." (ha!) When I got my Passport 8500 3 months ago, it lit up KA Band about 1/2 mile out of the installers lot. I was going about 20 over the speed limit. I hit the brakes. Sure enough, there was a motorcycle cop hiding behind a bush with his radar gun pointed right at me. That dude paid for itself in under 1 munute!

 

Are there states that outlaw the use of radar detectors? If so, don't they look pretty conspicuous up there stuck to the windshield? Do they get confiscated if you get pulled over in a state that outlaws them (presuming there are states that outlaw them).