Best Radar detector

TSD · 14 October 2002

At the risk of starting a holy war, has anyone had experience with the Valentine1 and the Escort 8500 ? The reviews are confusing and for every pro you can find a con for each model. I have only owned the NSX for 2 weeks and already have been followed (clocked) and gunned (while he was going the other way) I fear without adequate protection, my license will be toast.

I am very interested in your opinions.

L5-S1NSX · 14 October 2002

V1 all the way I have had mine for a long time it has saved my bacon ..hehe

also I just today finished the install of my In Mirror Mount V1 , it's total stealth and very sweet , check it out there are some treads V1 mirror valentine , Jim who makes this does very fine work!

greetings from Seattle

croni · 14 October 2002

V1
...Hands down.

nsxtasy · 14 October 2002

Valentine 1, period.

For more than twenty years, Car and Driver has performed the most comprehensive and unbiased testing of radar detectors in the business. For their most recent results, click here.

TSD · 14 October 2002

Have any of you also had experience with the 8500 ? On what do you base your opinions. I know there is a lot of "energy" around V1s and 8500s. I am attempting to distill the facts.

Tim

RL in Florida · 14 October 2002

Why dont you get them both to start, and send back the one you dont like after the 30 day trial period.
(Incidentally, I have the V1. I like the arrows)

Rick

TSD · 14 October 2002

A good idea. I was curious to get others input. The problem with 30 days is IMHO, you won't get real world testing that you might get in 6 months o a year of use.

It sounds like the majority on this forum are V1 owners/users so I may have to continue to search for someone who has used both extensively.

Tim

bayareansx1999 · 14 October 2002

V1 !!!

RSO 34 · 14 October 2002

V1

RichH · 14 October 2002

V1

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Live Free or Die

www.nsxuppereast.com

AaronR · 14 October 2002

V1 all the way baby!!!!!!

JohnC · 14 October 2002

Love my V1, but hate the lack of auto-mute. No one else has the directional arrows, and they are useful!

Dr. Gums · 14 October 2002

[I purchased the 8500 based on reports!!!
I was travelling I-75 in S. Fl for a leisurely Sunday in Miami at triple digits and th 8500 worked like a charm, especially with oncoming police. Two vehicles travelling towards one another at high speeds , and yet there was ample time to slow down!

just my .02

flaminio · 14 October 2002

The 8500 is a good detector. It's just not as good as the V1. If second-best is good enough for you, go for it.

How many people telling you to buy a V1 does it take before you're convinced?

-Bob

nsxtasy · 14 October 2002

Originally posted by TSD:
On what do you base your opinions.

On my entirely-positive experience with the Valentine 1, as well as Car and Driver's test results.

Incidentally, the version of the article on their website does not show one of the key results of the article, where, in addition to testing the range of the detectors, they tested the angle at which each detector could pick up laser. The V1 picked up laser at a wider angle than any of the others. It was a nice illustration in print.

EDIT: The original article appears on Valentine 1's website, here. The diagram I am referring to appears on page 2.

Originally posted by flaminio:
The 8500 is a good detector. It's just not as good as the V1. If second-best is good enough for you, go for it.

I agree with Bob's statements here. You may find that the 8500 gives you adequate warning in 95 or even 99 out of 100 cases where the Valentine 1 does. You may decide that it's worth saving $100 by getting second-best. My preference is to spend the extra C-note and get the best. It only takes one ticket avoided to recover that C-note.

Originally posted by flaminio:
How many people telling you to buy a V1 does it take before you're convinced?

Apparently, more than nine.

[This message has been edited by nsxtasy (edited 15 October 2002).]

NetViper · 15 October 2002

I have the 8500 and I don't think you can go wrong with it. It has never let me down. I always have plenty of warning time. The ONLY thing I would like would be the arrows. If arrows are worth the extra money to you, get the V1. If not, you cant go to wrong with the 8500.

TSD · 15 October 2002

I appreciate the strong feelings in regard to the V1. What I was hoping to do is find someone who had tried both. I was trying to base my decision on some rational basis and "V1 all the way baby" doen't meet those criteria

. Thanks to NSXTASY and Dr.Gums and Net Viper for their more detailed opinions.

For Flaminio I have a question: On what do you base your assertion that the 8500 is second best? Have you used both and found the V1 to be superior ? I am not taunting just asking. I really don't care about spending the extra $100, I just want to make sure I am getting the best and right now that isn't clear. You can find many competing publications and opinions that rate either one 1 and 2 so I am looking for actual experience.

Tim

[This message has been edited by TSD (edited 14 October 2002).]

flaminio · 15 October 2002

Originally posted by TSD:
For Flaminio I have a question: On what do you base your assertion that the 8500 is second best?

The directional arrows are the key, IMHO. With the arrows, I feel like I can see the bogies all around me for a mile or so. You gotta feel the power of seeing them in action: arrows point ahead, you drive on, see the bogey by the side of the road (arrow points to the side), you drive on and the arrow points to the rear. You've got a full 360 degree view of the radar environment around you. That kind of coverage is easily worth the extra $100.

-Bob

TSD · 15 October 2002

Originally posted by flaminio:
The directional arrows are the key, IMHO. With the arrows, I feel like I can see the bogies all around me for a mile or so. You gotta feel the power of seeing them in action: arrows point ahead, you drive on, see the bogey by the side of the road (arrow points to the side), you drive on and the arrow points to the rear. You've got a full 360 degree view of the radar environment around you. That kind of coverage is easily worth the extra $100.

-Bob

Excellent! Thank you for your input! I am starting to see the lights er... arrows or whatever

Tim

nsxtasy · 15 October 2002

Originally posted by flaminio:
You've got a full 360 degree view of the radar environment around you.

This is true of the radar environment. However, according to Car and Driver, none of the radar detectors on the market provide a full 360 degree view of the laser environment around you. And this is important, because laser is always used from a stopped point, and often from the side. The graphic I referenced above, from their article, tells you exactly how much of the laser environment around you (the "field of view") each detector provides. The Valentine 1 provides a 269 degree view of the laser environment - 112 degrees in front, and 157 degrees in the rear - and leaves the remaining 91 degrees as a blind spot to the sides. And the Escort 8500 provides a 215 degree view of the environment - 107 degrees in front, and 108 degrees in the rear - and leaves the remaining 145 degrees as a much wider blind spot to the sides.

Originally posted by flaminio:
That kind of coverage is easily worth the extra $100.

And, while this statement was made in reference to a different issue, I believe it's just as applicable to the additional laser field of view of the Valentine 1.

khiroshima · 15 October 2002

This exact discussion is going on in the M5 Forum and the opinion there is the same, V1. BTW, I just put in my order for my second V1 for the "beater". Here's the link: http://www.bmwm5.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=23259

There are some folks there who have both and share their opinions. Hope this helps. Kevin

nsxtasy · 15 October 2002

Good link, good discussion. Thanks, Kev!

whs520 · 15 October 2002

Hi,
I was going through the same dilemma recently, but decided to go with the V1. Everyone I talked to recommends it (except for Andy Buzz, who likes the 8500).
I just got it a couple of weeks ago (Version 1.8- the latest version), and haven't had a chance to test it out yet. I'll be driving 300+ miles this weekend for an NBA game, so I'll see how things go with the V1. Maybe I can make it there sooner!
-Thomas

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'94 Brooklands Green Pearl/Black NSX
5-Speed
#157

TigerNSX · 15 October 2002

I guess that you can also read users' review at epinion.com. Some of them went "in detail" describing/comparing different radar detectors. I personally use Escort, but regardless of what people say, I love mine, and haven't had any trouble!

<a href="http://www.epinions.com/elec-Car_Stereo-Radar_Detectors-All">
Learn about this seller</a>

POWERED by HONDA · 15 October 2002

Originally posted by JohnC:
Love my V1, but hate the lack of auto-mute. No one else has the directional arrows, and they are useful!

You'll be happy to know that there is a way to enable auto-mute on the V1. Go to V1's website and check out the technical documents. You can customize A LOT of settings. But be careful not to mess up the important parts.

Best Radar detector

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