Whats a good radar detector

[itsnotmydaddys]

im looking for a good radar detector thats not gonna break the bank what would you guys recomend. ever since i got the ls i find that my foot keeps getting heavier. also if oyu have one howd you install it. did you just run it normally or did you hide the wireup the drivers post.

 

[Quik LS]

there are two camps:
- Valentine One
- everyone else - the best Passport 8500 (can add a optional ZR3 laser shifting kit)

http://radar-detectors.com/google/default.asp?wcw=google
http://www.radartest.com/
http://www.motortrend.com/features/consumer/112_0402_radar/

seems that people with a Valentine will never go back. I want a 8500 X50

 

[SoonerLS]

im looking for a good radar detector thats not gonna break the bank what would you guys recomend. ever since i got the ls i find that my foot keeps getting heavier. also if oyu have one howd you install it. did you just run it normally or did you hide the wireup the drivers post.

I know a lot of people really like the Valentine-1, and it's been the gold standard for over a decade. (As I recall, it's also the only one that's designed, built, and sold by a company which doesn't also make the police radar units...) Surf on over to www.autoweek.com; they've had a couple of articles on them recently:
http://www.autoweek.com/article.cms?articleId=101216
http://www.autoweek.com/article.cms?articleId=100602

 

[steve]

I have been in the trucking buisness for 30 years. I have 25 trucks and they all have upper end Bel units in them. I have a BEL 985 in my Lincoln Mark VIII lll LSC. Installed it right above the rear view mirror by using Velcro on the unit and on the headliner of the car. I went to Walmart and found a piece of material that matched the headliner and tucked one end back under the headliner on the left side of the BEL 985 and then stretched the other end over the unit and stuffed it up under the headliner and windshield. This makes it practically invisible for the outside. The unit comes with two cords, one straight and one curled. I used the straight one and pluged into the cigar lighter in the console and snaked it around under the dash and up the window to the unit. I chose Bel because we have tried about all of the units in the book. We have actually had as many as four hooked up in various trucks just to see which one was the most reliable. The Valintine was a close second but it was still slower to pick up alerts compared to the Bel. Bel sells all prices of units but go for the upper end units if you got the change. The also have a stealth unit you can mount on the front of your car. I hope this helps you. I have saved myself atleast 50 tickets after installing my Bel. Just make sure you get upper end units of what ever company you chose. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR! Let me know what you decide. Steve.

 

[genechaz]

If you want top of the line with the earliest detection possible, go with the Passport X50, or Bell 65. (the Passport and Bell look different, but are both owned by the same company now. The test results are identical, so most reviewers believe they have the same electronics on the inside.) Valentine is also very good, but has not done as well in independent tests in the last couple of years. If you can settle for a good radar detector for a good price look at Whistler. The Whistler Pro 73 can be purchased for around $150.00. In comparison tests the Whistler Pro 73 usually comes in just behind the Passport 8500 X50 and Bell 65, but only costs about half the price.

 

[Quik LS]

and the Passport 8500 connects to the Z3 laser shifter - which is one of the only laser defense systems ever tested that works.

 

[MrWilson]

NOW, why would you need that???
i say the cobra 7500 or w/e it is in the gold box. I and 2 friends have it, and we havent gotten aticket yet!

 

[GrayGhost1]

I just recently bought the Valentine 1 because of the indicator arrows. The Passport 8500 doesn't have this feature so you never know where the radar is coming from. After having the V1 for the past 4 weeks I have to say it's just about paid for itself. I mainly drive on the highway to work which is aoub 30 miles one way. The Tennessee Highway Patrol love those fast LS's! Of course not mine anymore! I'd recommend the V1 with without question.