I have been thinking about getting a Radar Detector. OK, I sometimes go a little faster then I should. Can someone tell me the kind of Detector to get that works the best? There are many brands out there and if I pay good money, I want one that will do the job. Thanks.

 

Valentine. The best bar none.

 

That's the one I would buy. It's not only the best on the market, but upgradeable as technology progresses. You would order this one directly from the vendor for about $400 bucks. Do a search elsewhere on this forum, we've discussed detectors a lot in the past.

 

Agree that the Valentine is great, I have one in my truck, hasn't failed me yet. In my Crossfire though I wanted a cleaner look and to hide the sensors, plus with the convertible having the Valentine was asking for trouble, that would be a quick cut the roof and grab. I went with the Beltronics RX75 plus. It was exactly what I was looking for. Small mountable display all the sensors I've tucked away making it hard to tell I have one. If you go to a dealer as Bel states its $1,000, bought mine on Ebay for $450 (installed myself), I don't like other people doing stuff like that, never meets my standards.

 

Escort... It is also upgradeable... and works like a charm... consumer tests show it parallel with the Valentine ... And it doesn't look like a steel box.

 

The Valentine One is it. Accept no substitute. This subject has been discussed before on this site as well. Do a search and you will find the thread pretty easily.

 

I have had a Valentine One in my Corvette going on 4 years. It has saved me countless times. By far the best detector on the market, and very easy to use. Well worth the cost. Its also a lot of fun to spot the cops before they spot you, even if your not speeding.

 

Valentine One. It is the only one that I know of that tells you where the cops are (front-back), how many and where is the latest one.

 

Say what you will about the V1, but the Escort detected all the same threats at all the same times as the V1. The escort has various programming capabilities too, and can visually show you strength and band of a signal, as well as turning on and off certain types of detections. I’m no sales person, but if you spread out the features of each unit, the escort gives you more for the money, not to mention it’s a little cheaper in some places.

V1 does have the advantage of the arrows... but its just plain butt ugly, and i just felt like it was a gimmick. If he sneaks up behind me and radars me, while I’m moving, then i deserve a ticket for not looking in the mirror now and then.

 

More for the money until you get that ticket that the V1 would have saved you. I've had cops following me must be triggering occasionally on coming traffic but enough to let me know he was there. He got tired of hiding behind other cars and roared by me. The cost of one ticket is so astronomical on insurance rates and ticket cost it is not worth the few bucks saved. But I agree it is butt ugly. I have had cops hiding over hill just after where it looked like one copy was writing a ticket. The radar detector was still telling me new signals ahead. Sure enough over the hill was a pig with a radio standing behind a bridge abutment with 4 pickup cars just down the road.

 

Butt-ugly is in the eye of the beholder. Once you've had the arrows you'll never go back. It's that good. Really.

Am I a bit biased? Yes I am. I've had my V-1 since 1994 and it has saved me more times than I can remember.

 

This may be a loaded question... but how do you know its the "best" if you have never owned the rest...?

I have.

 

I've owned an Escort and a V1. In my opinion, the Valentine is better. Ugly or not.

 

I would recommend a remote radar/laser detector. The unit is mounted behind the front grill. One wire goes through the firewall to the receiving unit. Chrysler was nice enough to provide a hole in the firewall with a plug. I mounted the receiving unit under the dash on the right hand side and hard wired it into the fuse box.

I like this set up over a visor or windshield mount since it is hidden from thieves and if you happen to be pulled over. I mount it low so you cannot see the detector lights from behind the vehicle. A friend of mine is a cop and he said that if he pulls someone over and they have a visible detector, they will get a ticket. I also like the receiver mounted low so it does not impede my view out the windshield or have wires dangling down.

 

Sterling,

What model detector did you get?

Thanks!

 

I can see most people like Valentine One here in the forum.
I have done a lot of reading on the internet and from what I have read the top three are Escort 8500 - Valentine One - and Bel RX65.
I went with the Bel RX65 and mane reason is that I found a place on Ebay selling them new for $209.00 and if you look around you will see that is a good price.
I want to thank everyone who answered my Thread.

 

SailorEd,

I Have a Bel-Tronics 815STi Radar- Laser- Safety Detector.

I like it alot!

Sterling

 

Glad to see you decided to try one. Please give a report on it after trying it out for a while. Good luck and many happy miles to you.

 

Valentine One.

 

Have used Valentine for more the 5 years. No...repeat...no tickets...the best.