Ian964

I'm going to pick up my 964 Turbo in about 6 days. I really can't afford to get many speeding tickets or my insurrance is going to sky rocket. Right now I have a perfect record and i'm 23 so its not bad at all (1700 for both my cars)

Is it worth getting a really good radar detector like the valentine one? People have been telling me that they are worthless now because everyone uses laser, what are your suggestions. other then don't speed

Bill Gregory

You may want to consider what the locals use in New Hampshire. Laser is being used (don't know about NH), however many locals are still using tried and true radar. While you might wonder about spending hundreds of dollars on a radar detector, what's the financial impact of one ticket?

BarryG

I have a BEL 985 and an Escort 8500 One in my car the other for my wife. I wouldn't go anywhere without them.

horst

Go V-1! It also has laser detection capabilty, but of course like the instant on, once you are hit, you are dead. you do get some benefit in that it will usually also pick up radiation aimed at other cars, in which case you MAY have time to throw the anchor out. As mentioned above, most PDs are still using the tried & true Ka. On my recent trip to NJ the V-1 saved my a** several times, and I got the laser alert only a couple of times, usually near an airport. I suspect those were radiation associated with air traffic, in some way.

Drew_K

Ian,

I did a head to head test of the Escort 8500 and Valentine 1 a while back and posted my findings. Do a search under my name and you should find it. In short, the V1 is better if money is no object.

Ruairidh

V-1 gets my vote.

I'm still looking into Blinder laser blockers - just canna find an enthusiastic endorser

horst

I have never heard of "Blinder" but suspect they may be a Dumbo's Feather. All the "laser defenses" I have read about were bogus. The only (slight) help I have read about is to lose your front license plate, and keep your headlights on high. I don't use my front license plate, but have it on the floor in the back, just in case. If stopped by Officer Friendly, my line is " Gorsh officer, here is the plate. My wife ran into a curb, and bent the bracket. I have a new bracket on order, but you know what it is to get parts for these furrin cars!"

Jeff Curtis

Recently, I borrowed a friend's Valentine One when I went down to Florida to visit family and pickup some body parts I found for my baby.

...let me tell you, it only took about 2hrs in N.C. to be TOTALLY convinced that I could lock the cruise on 85. That thing picked 'em out of the bush like no tomorrow.

I realize that with laser, you have to depend on returns from other vehicles in front of you...if you're the lead car, and there's no others for a mile in front of you - YOU'RE IT!! <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" />

I don't think laser was aimed at me the whole trip, down and back.

I've never had a great radar detector, so I must say that the 26hrs I drove round trip were an educational experience. The weirdest thing I figured out is that I was getting a return off another radar detector...there was this Jeep Cherokee that was behind me, the Valentine would beep once in awhile, and point to the rear...the guy would pass me now and then and it would beep and point to the side then the front.

It drove me nuts until I looked over and saw that he had a radar detector as well - I had read that this happens sometimes??

I eventually slowed down for awhile so he would get way in front of me...to get rid of the occassional beep and use him as my LASER shield!! <img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" />

Bill Gregory

[quote]<strong>It drove me nuts until I looked over and saw that he had a radar detector as well - I had read that this happens sometimes?? </strong><hr></blockquote>
Jeff,

If someone has a cheapo detector, it can throw out signals ('local oscillator emissions') a good detector will pick up. It doesn't seem to happen as often as in the 70's, but it still happens. It's a little maddening since you don't know if the law is sneaking up you or not.

BradfordD

I would suggest you look into the K-40 Electronics radar detector system...

I have the K-40 "Undetectable" built-in system (came with the car!) that I have recently upgraded with the K-40 "Laser Defuser Plus"...

The "Undetectable" install places a radar receiving unit behind both of the front and rear bumpers and LED diodes on the square dash panel plate next to the ignition key... On/Off, City/Highway and volume **** is under the dash... Works very, very well and is totally invisible to anybody but the driver.

The "Laser Defuser Plus" install was for the front of the car only and the laser shooter was fitted behind the mesh below the bumper. The laser sends out a continuous signal that "cuts you out of the picture"....

All backed up with a "We pay the tickets" guarantee...

Expensive??? You bet'cha...

Does it work?? Oh Yeah!!! Like a champ! <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />

maverick

I have been using a V-1 for about a year now. I won't leave home without it. If you notice you are getting false Lasar warnings check if there is a new Chevy Trailblazer near you. Their tail lights emit light at a frequency that is close to lasar. No joke check it out, when they brake on goes the detector!

Eric-17

Hi:

I use the top of the line Bell. While I like it and use it religously, I wish I'd just gone ahead and bought the Valentine....

I too regularly pick up signals from el-cheapo detectors... Not a big deal. I agree with others that Laser is out there, but with budget cuts many departments are still using radar. Practice defensive driving and be smart about it. Remember, your young and cops are much less likely to cut you any slack because of it.

Congrats on the new Turbo! I've had to put my first 911/964 purchase off for awhile (recently single again-bummer) so I'm stuck driving my Beemer fast... And safe of course

Have fun!
Eric

Rocket Rob

I have used Valentine 1 since its release in '93. I have upgraded to the laser version in '99. I believe the V-1's ability to point to where the radar source is critical. It also lets you quickly determine if the source is real or not. False alarms frequently appear in front initially, then move to side and then rear. True threats appear from a consistent direction.

I run my V-1 in most filtered mode always (Advanced Logic) and rarely recieve false alarms in my urban daily commute. I do see other cars with detectors going off but mine is silent.

In the 3 years I've had the laser model, I've only encountered a laser source once. In California, radar is the dominent threat. Give the Valentine 1 at try. I believe you will be very happy with it.

<img src="graemlins/soapbox.gif" border="0" alt="[soapbox]" />

Bob Haase

Actually, I hate to admit this, but the best defense against speeding tickets here in the USA costs less than $10 on E-Bay. Not that I would do this, mind you, but a firefighter's sticker, or volunteer firefighter sticker seems to make Porsche's quite a bit less "ticket prone." The unwritten rule among local and state police is to leave firefighters a wide berth on this. It isn't fair, but it is true nonetheless.