Hello

I know there are many post on this but confused my all of them
I have a 2006 997

Which Radar do you recommend ?
i assume something built in somehow

 

No need at all to have a built in. Been using detectors for decades, all with suction cups on the windshield, that can be easily moved from car to car. I currently have a Valentine 1 - the best one I've ever had. Sadly, I think they are suddenly out of business. And I do not think Waze is a substitute for a radar detector, only a supplement. I rarely use Waze, except to look for delays on the highway where I'm headed.

 

I've had an Escort Passport 9500ix for I think close to four years now. I tend to utilize the performance of my car (within reason) but not a single ticket during these years. This thing has paid for itself more than once. Not the least expensive option on the market but as with everything else, you get what you pay for. No need to have it built in but I like having it mounted to the rear view mirror and hard wired to the interior lighting cluster above it (see attached picture) better than the suction cup solution.

 

Like anything, the technology on both the gun and detector side moves on. Plus conditions change over time (e.g. noise / false alerts due to the newer prevalence of blind spot monitors).

So best to look at the latest detectors:


Karl.

 

Detectors are like option on your Porsche. Everyone has a different opinion and you will never get a definitive answer. Go to YouTube, watch a few different videos on the latest detectors and make your choice, you won’t go wrong.

You definitely do not need to get one custom installed unless you want laser jammers, then those need to be installed. Simple radar detector, go with a new handheld one.

 

I have a detector in every car and almost all of them are different. Passport 8500, passport 9500, Passport Max 360, valentine 1 with junk filter, calibre built in, etc.

My recommendation would be the newest Passport with directional arrows. Has the most features, least false alarms, has GPS so you can lock out false alarms, and still shows you the location of the source radar which was really the only reason the V1s were desirable at their time.

Mirror mount hardwired in to the roof console for power is my preferred mounting method and then also get the escort Dashcam that uses the same power supply and piggyback right onto the detector mount. I have this setup in 2 cars - super clean and highest functionality.

 

I’ve been using the Valentine 1 for 26-27 years now and I’ve had it updated several times. It has saved me more times than I can count, but let me down once in rural Alabama to something that never triggered it. The software is up to date as late as 3 years ago and I’m still puzzled by what got me. I’m very pleased with it and the laser detection works, the directional arrows help me with awareness and it’s very durable.
Perdido

 

They could have got you with Vascar or other timing device. Vascar is a very old system that is pretty deadly. Two switches on the dash... one is for the Trooper car, the other is yours. Trooper sees you pass a point, flips switch, sees you pass a second, switch is thrown. Then as Trooper passes these same points, does the same.. compares... knows your speed. This system can be used in a variety of ways. Another example is trooper passes two points and flips his/her switches, then goes and sits and waits. Flips switches as cars pass these two points. It is deadly system.

Peace
Bruce in Philly

 

I’m a fan of Escort products. I ran a Passport Max 2 for a few years with a Blendmount, and I really liked it. I ended having a Passport Max 360 Ci installed in my current car because I like the stealth, and I like the fact that I don’t have to take the detector down every time I park the car. As mentioned above, the detector that you choose provides one data point in your overall strategy to avoid being caught in a speed trap. It’s not an infallible solution.

 

I have had most of the Escorts and a V1. Recently sold my Max 360. Great detector, just quite big and heavy and after having it for 4 years I figured it was time to try something new.

V1 should be updated soon, they have been out of stock for a year since they are updating. Radenso is coming out with a new detector that is going to hopefully eliminate false alerts, should be sub $1000 and will be a windshield mount.

I recommend following what Vortex radar says on Youtube, one of his videos is above.

I am thinking about buying a new V1 though when it comes out. I think that it fits the interior of the 997 very well. If I don't go that direction, I would go either Uniden R7 or R3. R7 has arrows. R3 is a bit smaller.

 

Ive had great success with the Uniden R3, even with laser detection. Heard the new R7 is even better.

 

Why do you say that Valentine Research is out of business? Their website still takes orders. True the V1 is out of stock. If they are out of business, that is a sad day.

 

I've been using Escort radars for many years and currently using their Max 360. It has great features like GPS where it remembers false alarm locations and do NOT beep. Also has arrows showing which direction the cop is at. I also added the Escort M1 dash cam that nicely attached and plug into this radar for recording videos. It's a great setup and I love it.

 

there was another thread about this in OT. That’s what the word was there. I sure hope they are still in business. I want to be able to get the updates for mine.

 

My 4 year old 9500 ix has memory too and stores locations of false alarms. No arrows though but I admit I never understood the value of arrows. If the thing goes off full blare, who will continue to speed while analyzing where the cop is sitting and if it's worth slowing down for? Fans of the Valentine always pointed to the arrows as invaluable and a strong advantage over other brands. Never got a good answer as to why though.

I'm obviously missing something here since even if I had arrows I would choose to slow down for a minute rather than keep on speeding while trying to figure out what the arrows were telling me. Maybe the arrow is pointing to the Gulf Of Mexico if I'm driving along the beach but then you have to wonder why the thing alerted in the first place and if the arrow function is working as it should.