Radar Detectors - V1

[Houdini]

I hate to resurrect a hotly debated topic, but I bit the bullet a month or so ago and bought a V1.

So far, the thing is incredible. In cities, even in full logic mode, it can get annoying, but for freeway, rural 2-lane, etc., it is amazing. It seems to see over hills, around corners, etc. And the warning times are awesome. I know the Escort X50 is damn good and $100 cheaper, but after having the V1 for a month, I don't think I could live without the arrows. Especially when you're driving around or even stopped, you hear a beep, and have no freaking idea where to look, this thing points right to the "bogey." It seems to be as good as they say they are, and to my surprise, it's actually a lot SMALLER than I expected. It's wider than most, but not nearly as deep as the Escort or others. The newest one covers both POP bands also (not exactly important). And the attention to detail in construction, from the suction cup system, with a little lever to break the seal, to the auto dimming at night, is amazing. Now to save up for a laser jammer.....

[Jenny]

Cool, will have to recommend this to my mom. She was having me price them and was looking for the Escort X50. Bleh. heh Do you have a link to yours and cost?

[Houdini]

www.valentineone.com

$400

[Jenny]

*cough* Never mind. lol She can't spend $400. :(

[speedracer120]

Any good radar detector is worth its weight in gold. The anger that's not generated, the court trips, insurance rates, a lot of things figure into buying a detector. Shoot, I even speed less with one.

[rollhard]

i have the escort passport 8500. I read all those reviews how its supposed to be one of the best detectors, etc...Im not really impressed. Ive used it for about 2 years now and the range not far at all. Maybe I should try the V1? Anyone with the passport have similar issues?

[Mike_N_Ike]

I hate to resurrect a hotly debated topic, but I bit the bullet a month or so ago and bought a V1.

So far, the thing is incredible. In cities, even in full logic mode, it can get annoying, but for freeway, rural 2-lane, etc., it is amazing. It seems to see over hills, around corners, etc. And the warning times are awesome. I know the Escort X50 is damn good and $100 cheaper, but after having the V1 for a month, I don't think I could live without the arrows. Especially when you're driving around or even stopped, you hear a beep, and have no freaking idea where to look, this thing points right to the "bogey." It seems to be as good as they say they are, and to my surprise, it's actually a lot SMALLER than I expected. It's wider than most, but not nearly as deep as the Escort or others. The newest one covers both POP bands also (not exactly important). And the attention to detail in construction, from the suction cup system, with a little lever to break the seal, to the auto dimming at night, is amazing. Now to save up for a laser jammer.....
Had mine a year or two now - don't know how I lived without it for so long.

[speedracer120]

i have the escort passport 8500. I read all those reviews how its supposed to be one of the best detectors, etc...Im not really impressed. Ive used it for about 2 years now and the range not far at all. Maybe I should try the V1? Anyone with the passport have similar issues?

Yeah, I have range issues too. And false laser alerts on certain windshields. But moving to PA, I still appreciated the warnings however short, saved us more than our fair share of tickets in MO, IN, OH...

[tupacboy]

now if only the V1 could jam those camera's in intersections... :)

[guiseppewv]

Any good radar detector is worth its weight in gold. The anger that's not generated, the court trips, insurance rates, a lot of things figure into buying a detector. Shoot, I even speed less with one.

:stupid:

One ticket and you have spent the same amount (cost of ticket and insurance increases for 3 years) if not more than you would have for the radar detector.

[thresher]

Great V-1 story: buddy tells me I have to drive his 928 while he takes his 911 to the track 80 miles away. We need a driver while the tech guys lock up the 911 over the weekend, right? So, he throws his "extra" V-1 in the 928 (Porsche guys-lol) and off we go. This was in '97, never used one before.
About 25 miles into the trip, we're ripping through the Texas hill country at about 90+ and the side radar signal goes off(!). I see his brake lights go off, I hit the brakes and we go over the hill and there are two state troopers sitting on the side running each way. Nice, right? Not done.
About 3 miles later, we pick back up to 85-90 and the radar goes off: BLEEP! Says it's behind me! I hit the brakes and low and behold, that state trooper had snuck up behind us and had tried to radar us from behind!!! Sucker. We were able to brake down in time, because he u-turned and took off the other way. Mark never travels without 'em. Me, I am too nervous to use them. But, yeesh, it was exciting. And saved me a bunch of money on my car insurance without having to switch to geico. :)

[tailgater]

Great V-1 story: buddy tells me I have to drive his 928 while he takes his 911 to the track 80 miles away. We need a driver while the tech guys lock up the 911 over the weekend, right? So, he throws his "extra" V-1 in the 928 (Porsche guys-lol) and off we go. This was in '97, never used one before.
About 25 miles into the trip, we're ripping through the Texas hill country at about 90+ and the side radar signal goes off(!). I see his brake lights go off, I hit the brakes and we go over the hill and there are two state troopers sitting on the side running each way. Nice, right? Not done.
About 3 miles later, we pick back up to 85-90 and the radar goes off: BLEEP! Says it's behind me! I hit the brakes and low and behold, that state trooper had snuck up behind us and had tried to radar us from behind!!! Sucker. We were able to brake down in time, because he u-turned and took off the other way. Mark never travels without 'em. Me, I am too nervous to use them. But, yeesh, it was exciting. And saved me a bunch of money on my car insurance without having to switch to geico. :)

I love your stories all of you. I've had my share from escort to passport and now to passport 8500 since 2000. I go home to Missouri, Texas every other Christmas from Sunny Sun Diego. The question is, can you have the V1 hidden and not set up on the windshield and still very effective? Inspite of my question, it's time for me to save some money for a V1. Have a safe and fast driving everyone. Watch out for drivers who don't know the rules of driving being inconsiderate of other drivers.:bandit: :woohoo: :thumb: :)

[guiseppewv]

I love your stories all of you. I've had my share from escort to passport and now to passport 8500 since 2000. I go home to Missouri, Texas every other Christmas from Sunny Sun Diego. The question is, can you have the V1 hidden and not set up on the windshield and still very effective? Inspite of my question, it's time for me to save some money for a V1. Have a safe and fast driving everyone. Watch out for drivers who don't know the rules of driving being inconsiderate of other drivers.:bandit: :woohoo: :thumb: :)


I have the V1 remote unit sitting on top of my steering column and the main unit is just to the right of my rear-view mirror. B/c I have the remote unit the main unit stays "blacked out" all the time. Works great. Nobody knows that I have a radar detector unless they have been in the car when it goes off.

[sizemic1]

now if only the V1 could jam those camera's in intersections...

You get what you deserve if you're running red lights. I wanna ram every single person I see cruising through the intersection when MY light is green!

[tailgater]

I have the V1 remote unit sitting on top of my steering column and the main unit is just to the right of my rear-view mirror. B/c I have the remote unit the main unit stays "blacked out" all the time. Works great. Nobody knows that I have a radar detector unless they have been in the car when it goes off.

Thank you very much for that info, Guiseppewv.:) :cheers: :bandit:

[Houdini]

Thank you very much for that info, Guiseppewv.:) :cheers: :bandit:

yeah, i don't have the remote unit yet. that's my next purchase. i wanted to make sure i liked the unit before shelling out the extra cash. it would make it a lot more stealthy, as i've had people tailgate me trying to leach off my detector. my favorite alert is "J" for junk. meaning it detected a junk detector in the area. :)

[guiseppewv]

I have the remote unit hardwired in both of my cars and I just take the unit out of 1 car and put it in the other. The remote unit is a must have. I love it.

[psycho-]

I've been "saved" multiple times from traps, rear rolling approaches, etc. The thing that sorta bugs me (not too much) is that there is too much junk radars out there that emit junk signal. In california, the only real one you want to watch for is Ka on the freeway, as the CHP only really use Ka.

Otherwise, I agree...the arrows and sensitively alone make the V1 worth its weight in gold. Why buy anything else?

[guiseppewv]

You know you can select the "logic" feature to ignore the X and K, right?

[psycho-]

Yeah. I keep it on just in case.

[psycho-]

Esp. since cops on local roads can use K and X.

[OremuS]

Is it just me, or is DarkFury missing on this thread? I seem to remember that he is a big proponent of the Escort X50/Bel 995 series detectors.

Need input....Paging DF....Paging DF.

[DarkFury]

Is it just me, or is DarkFury missing on this thread? I seem to remember that he is a big proponent of the Escort X50/Bel 995 series detectors.

Need input....Paging DF....Paging DF.
Not even gonna enter the "viper's nest" here...

<intentionally staying out of it>

[Airencracken]

X is almost always fake. K is used by local cops.

[OremuS]

Not even gonna enter the "viper's nest" here...

<intentionally staying out of it>

I had a feeling that you had already seen it and decided that this one had been argued enough times already.

If anyone else is interested, just search the forums for it. There are a couple of threads about it.

[Leon]

X is almost always fake. K is used by local cops.


Yeah, that seems like the case 99% of the time. However, I did have my X band alarm go bonkers on me before... and it was caused by a motorcycle CHP! Man, these cops need to upgrade their stuff!

[guiseppewv]

Esp. since cops on local roads can use K and X.

I set it on "logic" not "advanced logic" so the X stuff is filtered out but even then if the detector thinks the source is a threat it will alert you to it. I have never had a real "X" threat filtered out by my V1.

[rollhard]

You get what you deserve if you're running red lights. I wanna ram every single person I see cruising through the intersection when MY light is green!

Man, i dont know how that really works. Shouldnt they ticket the driver and not the vehicle owner? What if you let someone borrow your car and they run a light? You guys know how that works?

[tailgater]

Man, i dont know how that really works. Shouldnt they ticket the driver and not the vehicle owner? What if you let someone borrow your car and they run a light? You guys know how that works?

At least borrowed and not carnapped!

[InfiniteNothing]

Man, i dont know how that really works. Shouldnt they ticket the driver and not the vehicle owner? What if you let someone borrow your car and they run a light? You guys know how that works?Owner gets tickets but they can kinda pin it on someone else. (Owner gets pictures of the driver at the time).

[thresher]

:D http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/4466/radarlove7vb.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

davestrobele<this guy did it!Great artist> :)