DB's997

My old Passport 8500 used to be good, but now it picks up so many bumper signals from cars on the highway that it is useless. Maybe a software update would fix? Now I just use Waze, if find it to be 100 % on cops sitting on side of road with radar/lazer taps.

Dennis C

You should contact Escort. The latest TSR software might help with that issue.

I recently had the opportunity to use the MAX2 on a road trip from Denver to Dallas. Overall, it was very effective and it didn't give me many false warnings due to radar signals from passenger vehicles. The more annoying thing was alerts from the Escort Live network that were no longer valid.

Wayne Smith

V1 installation using the OBD II interface with remote display and bluetooth. Main unit mounts to the right of the mirror and remains dark since the remote display is used. Power line is inserted into spiral wrap where it tucks into the headliner (spiral wrap adds size to keep the cable from falling out). Cable without wrap tucks into the front side of the driver's side A pillar and continues out of view along the dash seam, door weather stripping, and above the fuse box to the OBD II interface so it is invisible. The interface automatically powers and turns off the unit as well as letting you set a lower limit where it stops operating. The Bluetooth hangs behind the panel. The remote display mounts to the steering wheel with cable mostly hidden in route to the OBD II. Without doubt, the Escort install is cleaner, but also more intrusive as well as 4 times or more the cost. But I'll admit, with side by side comparison, I believe the Escort warns earlier, and can include the laser shifter. So we aren't comparing apples with apples.

Dennis C

Here's the BlendMount installation that I did. I am very happy with it.

david

Sorry for the delay...here are a couple of pics of the interior install...did you need any of the exterior?

Motams

I have had a V1 for almost 20 Years of ownership and have 3 different ones for various cars.

There is only 1 option as it pertains to a car enthusiasts & radar detectors - Valentine 1.

Whenever I get into a enthusiasts car and I see they have something other than a V1, I take a deep breathe, sigh and lose a little car respect for them.

StormRune

So what are your thoughts on the new Escort Max 360, now that it has directional arrows that not only shows direction but radar type in each direction, GPS with auto-learning false alarm suppression, and the Escort Live interface? Do any perceived advantages of your V1 outweigh all of those?

Motams

So the fact it took Escort decades to add directional arrows tells me V1 was right from the beginning. When you look at the Facts and Performance since the mid 1990s V1 was always a leader (Since I got my driver license). Distance, Angles and threats especially K Band (In rural Illinois K Band is the radar band of choice). The laser performance is not the best, but if you are getting tagged by Laser nothing is going to save you, especially with instant on. In the end what matters most is DISTANCE or Time prior to being tagged, even 3 seconds or 10 ft can make a huge impact on your outcome of getting a ticket.

Much like the reason I bought a 911 or even a Benz for that matter. They are the best at what they do and have been for Decades. Porsche is Sports Car Engineer Excellence, While Mercedes is truly Automotive Engineering Excellence. I would much rather own and buy something that has time and time again proved itself versus the "new latest and greatest technology.(Tesla ) " The V1 Savvy eliminates all my false alerts as the audio doesn't sound under 35mph and living in Downtown Chicago that works perfectly.

That said the "Waze" app almost removes the need for a Radar detector all together, but I would take my V1 and Waze over any other option. Part of it might be personal preference but I have numerous friends who are into cars and building them, all but one of them have a V1 and I will let you guess which one is the only one who has received a speeding ticket. . (He has an Escort). In the end the idea of having GPS on a radar is nice but the majority of us end up driving the same route over and over and having a radar alone will cause you to pay attention to certain areas, as that where the "Boys in blue" like to hide. So whats the point of adding GPS as its more to go wrong and probably another subscription to pay for (If not yet, eventually).

I will be a V1 owner for life, between myself and my friends I just know/have too many stories about how it has saved us numerous tickets.

hot nikon

So sayeth the Lord.

semicycler

Seems like the Escort Max 360 finally blends the best of both technologies - GPS lockout of false signals with arrows showing the direction of the threat. I suspect Valentine's arrow patent has finally run out. I have no desire to be an early adopter here, but I'm interested to see reports of how well it works compared to the top models out there. Perhaps I will "trade up" in the not so distant future.

StormRune

I'm one of those idiots who loves the latest/best tech so I've got a 360 on pre-order. They should start shipping this week. (My son is very happy with this too... he's asked for dibs on the Max).

Most of the other tech still functions the same way as on the Max and I've been very happy with that. The addition of the extra antenna and directional arrows is an incremental change for me so I should be able to concentrate on the value of the new information. I'll let you know how it goes after I get some road time with it.

I guess I'm just another V1 blasphemer to some I had one for years but got tired of all of the false alerts along the roads I frequented. The GPS lockouts solved all that.

Bob1963

I own the Escort 9500ix and I am very happy with its performance.

ADias

Expensive arrows at $649.95 vs V1 at $399. $250 for a GPS feature makes no sense. The current V1 (latest firmware) has virtually no false alarms in my sigs dense region.

ezdriver

I have been trying to decide which detector to buy as I have owned a V1 for many years and loved it. This thread helped me decide so I just place my order for a V1.

By the way, my previous V1 unit was stolen from my car back in 2011 while it was parked in the driveway of my rented house at that time. My Garmin GPS unit was also stolen in the same incident. No such worry where I now live.

sandwedge

Call me dense but I never did get all the hype about arrows. I had a V1 once but didn't find the arrows useful. If the thing starts blaring, who in his right mind will keep speeding while trying to evaluate the message the arrow sends? If it's even accurate. I had more annoyance warnings with the V1 than any other detector I've owned. So instead.... I can stand to back off a bit for 30 seconds or whatever it usually takes for the whole episode to pass, arrows or no arrows.