RaceCarDriver

looking to buy a new Radar Detector. Price doesn't matter. Currently have a Passport 8500, had a V-1 before that, but it was stolen.

I was thinking Passport 9500?

please let me know your opinions.

thanks

Glenn

aj986s

I know its only an opinion....but I like my 9500ix. The updatable speed/redlight camera database is pretty good.

But consider doing a search....been discussed before.

RaceCarDriver

thanks. done the searches, radar technology changes fast, a search from last year is not relevant anymore.

keep the opinions coming....

pmichaelis

The best radar detector is a personal sense of where cops may be located, ie: think like a cop who has a quota to fill. That coupled with any decent radar detector goes a long way. It's worked for me for 52 years of driving.

RaceCarDriver

you're right, I always drive like I don't have a radar detector and have to be cautious.

RaceCarDriver

any more opinions? How about the Passport IQ?

ClintonM3

Seeing you are from NJ, 9500ix is a great bet. Significantly less false alarms. If you are all about highway, turnpike driving, the escort redline has the V1 beat in terms of distance. But highway driving, both the redline and V1 will do perfect.
Escort solo S3 just came out. Suppose to be much better than the S2. Get that if you want wireless, I see that you have multiple cars.
K40 has the cleanest remote install. Escort 9500ci is the best remote install there is, but the installation is much more complicated, so the installer better know what he is doing.

druidix

It's slightly older now, but I've had great success with my Valentine One. Very sensitive, but it is a bit prone to false alarms...

Kaushik

Chipster

I recently bought a car with the Calibre K40 system installed. It has front and rear radar detectors and a front laser detector/defuser. It's not an inexpensive option, but it is very effective. Since it's installed, you never have to worry about turning it on (or off).

Chip

TachiF

Best radar by far: VALENTINE ONE Radar, expensive though BUT the only radar that really works...

Chipster

The K40 really works - and no silly suction cups.

jordanturbo

I have had a few Escorts and a Valentine V1. I don't know why people think that the Valentine is expensive because it was a fair bit cheaper than my Escorts. I did like the arrows on the V1 but overall I prefer the Escorts. I have had the 8500, the 9500i the 9500ix, and the 9500ci.

In my Subaru STI, I had the 9500ci remote unit with radar and laser detectors as well as a laser jammer. I also had custom mounted a Radar Jammer imported from the UK, a police scanner with the encrypted police frequencies and a CB radio. Unless I went full retard it was almost impossible to get caught in it but it was quite excessive and expensive.

Now in my Porsche, I just have the 9500ix and the shifter Z4 laser jammer hard wired in. this is more than adequate in my opinion and will save you on most tickets. The only reason I Would go back to the 9500ci remote mount is because it is cleaner looking and more stealthy for provinces and states where detectors are illegal and the 9500ci also detects Ku band radar which is only used in Europe right now but will likely be coming over to North America in the near future but at around $2-3000 for purchase and install it is not necessarily worth it over the 9500ix + shifter ZR4 combo at around $1000 for both.

Either way I would recommend something in the Escort Passport 9500 line because of the GPS features. It will remember hot spots and fixed radar camera locations. it will log and cancel out false signals (eg recognize and automatic door and remember it for future cancelations) I also like how if you have a programmed cancelation it will still pick up a different signal on the same band. IE I GPS a false K band signal from a dealership security system but it recognized the different K band of a Photoradar vehicle sitting outside of it. I think this GPS feature is far more convenient than the arrows that the direction the radar is coming from.

rhart

I have 3 different detectors in my Twin Turbo. (I just like fiddling with the diff brands) Vi is still the most sensitive and like the ad says once you have the arrows you can't live without them.

Rick
www.BarnfindsAndDeals.com
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MiamiC70

On my 2nd V1 and even though desperately needs an update I am still a BIG believer. I just started using the V1 with a RadarActive iphone app and hardware box and looks promising as adds realtime and GPS to a V1.

jwh445

I have an 8500. I use mine only on the Interstate, that's why I did not get the GPS enabled unit. I figured I would not be encountering sources of false alarms in the outskirts of towns. One complaint, and it may be user negligence; when I stop for a short period of time, then start driving again, the unit seems to false alarm constantly. I turn it off and on several times, and eventually it begins working correctly.