JimJ Posted February 20, 2004 Report Share Posted February 20, 2004 I'm thinking of getting a radar detector. This is from Valentine 1 web site. Are they the best? August 2001: Three-hundred horsepower and a clean record I'm the proud owner of a 2001 Cadillac DTS. I pay enough in registration fees and taxes without paying more in "supplementals" to a greedy state that writes one million traffic tickets a year.I was driving south on Vasco Road, a serene two-lane highway in northern California, surrounded by windmill farms and rolling hills. I accelerated to overtake a slow dump truck when V1 showed two Ka radars ahead. I got such an early warning that a gentle brake was all I needed to avoid even a hint of suspicion.Sighted: One California Highway Patrol car on the right. But V1 still said two radars ahead.Coming around the bend I saw a CHP officer on a motorcycle. The glare of the hot inland sun off his white helmet made him almost invisible, but with the help of my trusted Valentine One I saw him well before he could "see" me.Just down the road, two more motorcycles, and radar. After I passed, V1 reported a shot in the back. Motorcycle takes off, blue strobe lights flash, the rider's right hand points to the side of the road…for a pickup truck! Direct hit! The fallen driver pulls over to sign his supplemental tax bill.Any ordinary detector would have just beeped for a speed trap like that. Valentine One gave me real intelligence that allowed me to keep my wallet in my pocket. My driving record has stayed clean for the past four years and my insurance rates are reasonable. For a 27-year old driving a car with 300 horsepower, that's an accomplishment!Jack Singh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marika Posted February 20, 2004 Report Share Posted February 20, 2004 I too am interested in getting a detector and I've heard that the Valentine detector is the best around. Hope this topic grows a bit more with posts from people "in the know". If you really want to make people safe drivers again then simply remove all the safety features from cars. No more seat belts, ABS brakes, traction control, air bags or stability control. No more anything. You'll see how quickly people will slow down and once again learn to drive like "normal" humans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob D Posted February 20, 2004 Report Share Posted February 20, 2004 Jim, I don't have a radar detector yet..(it's on my long list important things to get..) But when I spring for one it will be a Valentine 1, without a second thought. After much research, and personal testimonies from friends, they by far are the best. It looks like yours just about paid for itself.. '93 STS.. opened, dropped, wide...fast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hud Posted February 21, 2004 Report Share Posted February 21, 2004 Jim, I have two Escort units. One is a Passport 8500 (in my wife's SUV) and the other is an Escort Solo (uses batteries, no wiring needed -used in my 02 DTS). If you can get the February issue of Motor Trend, they did a test on six different units- Valentine, Escort, BEL, Whistler, Sensoro, and Cobra. The top three, BEL, Passport, and Valentine all finished within .5 of each other. The other three had problems. I used a Cobra several years ago, but like the Passport better. If you can get the article, it's worth reading. They have saved me lots of $$ on tickets and insurance over the years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadillac STS Posted February 21, 2004 Report Share Posted February 21, 2004 i have a whistler 7400..i think its a 7400? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JIMDTS Posted February 21, 2004 Report Share Posted February 21, 2004 I have a passport and I'm happy with it.When you first start using a radar detector pay attention on how it alerts you and what is around you before you depend on it. Some of the radar traps the police set are pretty clever.I have seen some radar traps were they will use 3 or 4 police cars in a row maybe a mile apart As you come up on the first car and pick it up with the detector you would think now I can get going again then you are picking up the second car thinking you are still detecting the first car and bam they get you. I almost got in one of those traps but when I stared to pick the second police car I didn't speed up and made it though the trap but you do have to learn how to read the detector..Or if you get other traps were there is a radar car is hiding and you can't see them and they have instant on radar the detector is worth less as you go by they just hit the car with the radar and radio in and the chase car down the road will pick you up..I have been lucky with mine Just learn how to read it and go from there. Good Luck Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyG Posted February 21, 2004 Report Share Posted February 21, 2004 I have a Uniden 360 Laser SST..superwideband. I don't even bother to pug it in any more. A box of Kleenex would be more useful in real life. It's probably NOT the fault of the detector. It picks up well and gives clearly discernable tones for the various alerts. It's just that by the time you recognize the fact that it IS a cop.....it's too late. The scenario usually goes someting like this for me. Driving down the road at a VERY SLIGHTLY elevated speed, like 71 in a 65, the thing goes off! You say to yourself, is that a microwave oven? Is it a motion detector in a store? No! It's a cop....sound too steady and "chirpy". Look over into oncoming traffic and sure enough there he is...would have had me anyway. I surmize radar detectors this way. They make me drive slower! Your always afraid that they will go off. Never underestimate the amount of a persons greed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KHE Posted February 21, 2004 Report Share Posted February 21, 2004 I've owned Escort/Passport detectors for years but the next time I buy a radar detector, it will definitely be a Valentine One. I am tired of Escort's planned obsolesence....Oh, now the 8500 has upgradeable software but it still doesn't have the directional arrows. One thing to remember when using a radar detector is to ALWAYS make sure there is at least one car in front of you (bear bait....) - the cop will always clock the first car he sees...that gives you time to react when the detector goes off... It's easy to find some bear bait - just start driving 80 on the interstate and sooner or later the bear bait will blow by you....let it get 1/4 mile ahead and then adjust your speed to match. The cop will zap him first but you will have time to slow down when the detector goes off. Kevin '93 Fleetwood Brougham '05 Deville '04 Deville 2013 Silverado Z71 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KHE Posted February 21, 2004 Report Share Posted February 21, 2004 Yeah - despite what the detector manufacturers state, the laser detection just informs you that you will be pulled over and ticketed... Before instant-on radar, you could get away with speeding with a detector. Kevin '93 Fleetwood Brougham '05 Deville '04 Deville 2013 Silverado Z71 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill K Posted February 21, 2004 Report Share Posted February 21, 2004 I have a Bel 985 that I hard wired the plug in the headliner. So no cords hanging around. It is mounted so that its behing the tinted area of the w/s and not visiable from the outside. It just comes on when I start the car. As states previously the Bel is very close to the Valentine in performance and does so for much less $$. A couple of other things I like is the "Quick On" where it only beeps once to let you know its on. Also the "muteing" function automaticly beeps two time or so and voice tells you "K-Band" and then it just "clicks" faster as you approach the redar. The continous beeping is a pain and I dont want to have to hit the mute button each time it goes off. This is a really good feature. I personaly will stick w/the Bel because it warns you in plenty of time to slow down and it fits where I want it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TDK Posted February 21, 2004 Report Share Posted February 21, 2004 Radar Dector? Never had one always had a "Sponser" instead. In case you're wondering, a Sponser is some fool that is bound and determined to stay ahead of you. Usually plenty around no matter where you are. If you need to "cultivate" one, choose a male driver under 50, pass and then slow down like a jerk. If you don't get shot, they'l probalby do anything to stay ahead. Radar is just another reason for the Cop to write the ticket instead of a warning. They really get tired of and watch that crap (detectors, tinted windows, no seat belts, stupid driving) and when (not if) you do get pulled over you're in their court buddy! Add power to leave problems behind. Most braking is just - poor planning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimJ Posted February 21, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2004 Thanks for all the advice. I just ordered a V-1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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