ZuffenZeus

Well, just wanted to post a question for discussion seeing how I was driving my 996 up to the mountains without my radar detector and wasn't intending to speed, just didn't watch my speed when it dropped from 65 - 45 mph. Yep, our trusty state trooper clocked me going 59 in a 45. Of course, going 59 in a Porsche feels like you're standing still and so I didn't feel like I was speeding. And get this... I was also driving with a group of normal cars and was selected among the rest to be "an example". Yay me!!! Yep, that's the "Porsche-tax" syndrome. He was probably thinking, "Yea, let's get the 'Porsche guy' and make an example out of him!" Uggh!

Anyway, I've used many radar detectors in my time, but find the Escort Max series to be some of the best to help avoid getting speeding tickets. I love the fact that when you're driving in a town you're not familiar with, the Max will alert you when you're going over the speed limit and when you approach one of those awful speed camera intersections, the Max will alert you to slow down. The sensitivity is really good on all radar bands, but of course, nothing really can prevent you from getting tagged by Lidar laser detection, with the exception of either a Laser Shifting device OR simply using Escort Live. If you don't know about Escort Live, it's the new generation equivalent of flashing your head lights to alert drivers about speed traps. The Escort Live community can send alerts on the Escort Live iPhone or Android mobile application. Anyone can download the app and monitor, but only subscribers can contribute. I just wish I had it when I was driving to the mountains. I also just purchased an Escort Redline and quickly noticed that the dual antenna design is much more sensitive than the Max series, but is for designed for highway driving than city since it doesn't use the same method of alerting the driver such as built-in GPS speed alerts, but it can connected to Escort Live via their optional cable which will give you updates on speed changes, speed cameras, and such.

Well, my big question for discussion is...

What kind of radar detector do you use? Please explain why you use that brand and any experiences that you could share with the RL community is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!!!

sfv_rider

I am partial to the Valentine V1. I use it in cars and on bikes, and it's served its intended purpose on many an occasion.

Sucks that you were singled out for the ticket amongst a group of potential recipients, but ya gotta pay if you wanna play.

sjg1138

I love my ESCORT 9500xi. Its ability to remember signals that it should ignore is terrific (very few false alarms). The Valentine 1 is probably better at detection (and they tell you the direction the signal is coming from), but ESCORTs are way more user friendly.

Dennis C

Escort Passport MAX II.

dgi 07

V1. I like the arrows. but I am partial to the K40 "difuser"

Alot of my customers cars have them and they have saved my *** more than a few times for high speed driveability complaints.

Triple Black

+1 for the 9500ix

ZuffenZeus

Valentine 1 would be my second choice, but they seemed to be lagging behind with false alert filtering, GPS lock out, etc... but their unit's sensitivity is in line with the Redline, but the filtering is lower and I've heard that is one of the biggest complains which causes the user to ignore the real alerts because it goes off all the time. I'm not knocking it, but just got to know the tool you're using so that it is useful and not an annoyance.

Tell me more about the K40. I've seen this company for some time on Rennlist, but wondered what a unit costs and how it compares to the Redline, Max, or V1. Your thoughts? Thanks!

Astro

Valentine V1 for me as well, although the last few years have become a pain with all the new blind spot detection features on certain cars setting it off all the time. I checked into upgrading it with Valentine because they have a fix for this, but for the price they're asking, I might as well buy a new one.

Macster

You have to be very observant. BTW, getting singled out is not new. I've been pulled over -- State trooper in AZ -- and he told me holds sports car drivers (and LEO's) to a higher standard. I'm sure he's not the only LEO who feels this way.

As he's telling me this I'm thinking there are more mini vans and similar cars on the road be driven in ways far worse that me going 10mph over the limit and that they constitute a far greater threat but kept my mouth shut and as it turned out accepted the warning.

On the road often I spot a LEO sitting just inside a slower speed zone awaiting the unwary so I'm always careful to have my car's speed at the lower speed *before* I enter the lower speed zone.

BTW, because tickets are issued in such a subjective manner, I fight every ticket. In most cases I enlist the help of an attorney who's office specializes in tickets (most often though it is the biggies like DUI) and so far in every case the ticket has been dismissed. The officer fails to show up.

As for radar detectors I've owned a V1 since sometime in 2000. At the time my research had it to be the best unit. It has been a fine piece of equipment and saved my bacon many times. It helps keep me situationally aware which saves me from possible accidents too not just tickets.

I've never owned any other detector and would I buy another detector I'd get another V1.

VanSant62

Looking into an Escort 360 as I got popped last Wednesday evening. They gave me a ticket for 87 although I was a bit above that. They saw me flash my lights in the far left lane to signal a slower driver to move right. Any 360 users?

Fracture

V1 and Waze

2+ years ago the first two weeks I owned the car, I was always 17 or so over

have calmed down quite a bit and learned to pick my spots

no paper to date

ZuffenZeus

I was tempted to get a Escort Max360 since it's the best of both worlds (i.e. V1 and Escort Max), but it's crazy expensive at over $600. I've been a Beltronics/Escort customer for many years and they sent me a discount code for the Redline. I've always wanted one of those units and happy to finally get it.

One thing that a lot of people *don't* talk about is the types (i.e. sound, vibrate alert, etc.) of the alerts. One of the problems I had with other detectors, including the V1, is the beeps tend to blend into the ambient noise of the car. Guess it's also my poor hearing, but I have to turn Beltronics and V1 loud to hear the beeps over the road noise and radio. However, the Redline and Max series use grunt type tone sounds which really punch through the ambient noise of the car AND if you have Escort Live enabled, your phone will vibrate too. I know the V1 has an optional speaker system, but still, I prefer the sounds of the Escort series over other brands.

jhbrennan

So it always begs the question - is my 911 a safer vehicle doing 80 in a 70 than an 18-wheeler doing 80 in a 70?

ZuffenZeus

The fact that Federal Law allows truckers to move up to 80,000 pounds of weight on interstate highways, proves that a semi traveling at 80 mph with that much weight can do MORE damage than a 3000 pound sports car going the same speed. I would even argue that a sports car is better equipped to avoid accidents. But the problem is the attitude of the average sports car driver vs. the professional driver in a semi. I worked at a truck stop and most of those guys are very compliant to the requirements and laws associated with their profession and they understand their livelihood depends on safety and dependability as a trucker. But unfortunately, the average guy in a sports car are known to drive recklessly on the highways. Thus, causes all sports owners fall into a stereotype and may explain why we're pulled over more than the average Joe in a Prius.

Semi-trailer accidents are very common too and when those suckers lose control it causes a tremendous amount of damage and loss of life. Just found this online for GA:
http://www.mlnlaw.com/articles/georg...nt-statistics/

TonyTwoBags

I have an inexpensive Whistler from the auto parts store. In the city it's a nuisance with the false alarms, but it's worth its weight in gold on the highways. I've traditionally relied on being situationally aware, but the ability of the 996 to defy local ordninances forced my hand into radar detector ownership.

Last weekend I was working on a personal best high score out by the salt flats, only to get 3 alerts that ended up being police on the return leg of the journey :O. Fun times.

For now the Whistler works and has directly saved my hide as many times as I let it.