So am looking for the best or greatest working speed and radar detector that you can buy. Money is no object at this time. I bought one for $50 bucks and when I drove past Five-0, my detector was not going off- now the cops could have not been running their radar, but I passed a lot of cops and it only went off every so often, so I returned it for a full refund and I am now not running anything.

I am sure some of you will post and say that speeding is bad and illegal and that I should just drive normally, but you guys can kiss my Italian ***. We all speed, some more than others and some faster than others. Sure, I don't do it all the time, but for the most part I do speed. Not to mention going 40 in the MINI feels slow, but going 80 feels amazing. And yes, I am putting others in danger when I drive fast, but stupid slow people/the elderly are putting average drivers in harms way as well. It really goes hand in hand and depends on the situation. I am not trying to sound like pompous ***, but I am just looking for recommendations and not for people telling me what I should or should not do. For example, removing my down-pipe is bad because it is not being detected and non-controlled emissions are escaping and that it is bad for the environment. I don't need GO GREEN people telling me this. I don't care, I already recycled plastics and cans and batteries for that matter and I don't throw tires in the bay. Anyway just recommendations, please. If you could also post features or what detectors you have that would be great.

 

I'd be more inclined to help you, if you weren't a rude *****

Spend the money to get a Valentine One, and work on your attitude.

 

Sounds like you do not understand how speedtrapping and radar/lazer speed detection works...read-up.
Unless you get a jammer, the detector will usually only tell you you just got caught if you have a smart cop....most do not just sit there with the gun on, but use instant on.....so you might get a blip if you a lucky, then see a cop a mile away...of a buzz while they are looking at you...lazer is worse....detection range is worse.
I DO have/use a detector, a 9500i, but unless you do not understand the workings of speedtrapping, it is a way to get a false sense of safety, and get a bigger ticket.

 

I'm not sure why you're standing on a soap box about speeding

The Valentine V1 is the Rolls Royce of radar/laser detection. I have one and am very happy with it. It's payed for itself a couple of times since it's easy to not notice how fast you're going in the MINI. The V1 comes with a good guide about how laser and radar works so you can better understand what the V1 is telling you. Very helpful IMO.

Keep this in mind though. Laser is spreading like the plague and it renders the V1 useless in this area. By the time it detects the laser signal, you're getting a ticket. Period. Laser is incredibly fast, accurate, and becoming more affordable for purchase for many police precincts. Out of the three tickets I got three years ago (before I straightened myself out) they were all violations caught with laser. Sure you can brake hard when you hear the alarm, but then Charlie has already busted you. It's that good.

Then there is the topic of jammers. When I started seriously thinking of buying one, I realized I had a problem. I can say this as a 27 year old high energy man with confidence. During this time a friend introduced me to high performance driving organizations and I eventually found NASA. This is now my outlet for high performance driving. Ever since I started doing this, my record is now clean.

Anyways, this is just advice. It's your driving record but don't get to the point of being reckless.

 

I have the latest revision of the Valentine V1 in one of my vehicle and a Escort 9500ix in another.

A lot of people compare these two detectors and I can tell you they both have their pros/cons. I personally really enjoy the arrows on the V1 but you cannot beat the quietness of the Escort 9500ix.

A detector to me is only a fail safe as a lot of LEO don't have their radars on at all times.

 

Read an article recently that rated the Escort Passport 8500 and 9500 lines way above the Valentine V1. From what I picked up Valentine hasn't really changed their setup since they came out, whereas Escort continues to improve the effectiveness of their systems. I run an 8500 and I love it, it's definitely saved my a$$ on countless occasions. Of course, there's still laser, and there's still cops that know how to get around a radar detector, so you're never completely safe. I just like having as much information as possible while driving.

 

I have a Bel GX65, which is functionally very similar to the Escort 9500ix.
The GPS features (speed camera, red-light camera, published speed traps,
and ability to mark locations) of both of these is very nice, in addition to very
good performance for radar and laser (usually after the fact with the latter, however).
You can get locally relevant updates to the database every few weeks.
I usually only use it when I travel away to MD, DE, or NJ, except for longer
trips here in PA, where only the state troopers use radar, no laser, and no
red-light or speed cameras unless you go to Phila or Pitts (that will probably
change soon, however, as new laws have been passed to extend it to 20 more
cities, including York).
Still not immune to laser and moving instant on of course, but nothing is
unless you get a warning from prior use before you're in striking distance
of it.

 

I have an Escort Redline and am very happy with it....saved me several times on the I5 going between LA and San Francisco. In Highway mode I'll pickup Ka band for about 11 miles. The POP and Laser warning will scare the #*^£€% out of you, but it did save me once. If you turn off the X Band (useless), you know every time it chirps, pay attention. Wasn't cheap at $499, but its saved me at least 3x that already.

 

I have the best one, but with your attitude you can kiss my redneck ***, I'm not telling you what it is.

 

You can't go wrong with a V1 or one of the Escorts.

But, and it's a big but, nothing will save you if you are alone on the road. You really need to use your eyes and actually pay attention. Lot of time your detector will pick up the cop hitting someone well in front of you or behind...you might see brake lights for no appearant reason. You need to be aware.

 

Exactly what I was wondering.

If he was foolish enough to think a $50 radar detector would do him any good then he's foolish enough to get caught speeding.

 

In your case, the cops should be your speed detector. Enjoy the fines.

 

As a fellow Maryland driver, I have no desire to see other cars going 80. Thanks for keeping the cops busy; I won't need to worry about driving 65 or--where appropriate--70. The time I'd save going even faster isn't worth the risk.

 

You mentioned that money was no object. If so then go with an Escort 9500ci. CI = custom installed. It has laser jammers on the front and rear as well as a better antenna for picking up distant radar signals. Once law enforcement hits you with a laser, the unit starts jamming, slow down, hit the mute button and the unit stops jamming so they get a speed reading. I cannot say it works 100% but I can say it has certainly saved me from a few citations. In terms of radar your best bet is to detect stray signals when the car in front of you gets tagged. If you are the only one on the road, no detector is likely to help if they are using instant-on.

I don't know about a soap box on speeding vs. not but I do know of a section of road in Maryland where the speed reduces from 40 to 25 and police will setup after the 25 sign and issue a citation if you are going 3 or more miles over. The switch in speed happens around a slight turn, you cannot see them but they tag you immediately at the point your vehicle passes the 25 sign. Simply taking your foot off the gas and slowing down from 40 - 25 results in a ticket. You have to know in advance about this (start slowing down early) or plan on getting a ticket if you are new to the area. This is clearly a scam to drive up revenue. I have no problem using electronics to avoid speed traps such as this. Not all users of radar detectors use them to fly past other drivers.

So, my vote would be a 9500ci if you can afford it. You are likely looking at $2000+ installed. That covers quite a few tickets and insurance hikes. From experience, I won't own a vehicle without one though. I consider them a good investment.

 

I chuckled

 

Well thank you to everyone that responded with recommendations. I do appreciated all the input. And I am sorry I don't know everything... seems that some people out there do. Why am I on a soap box about speeding, because I was waiting for someone to hop in and give me **** about being on a soap box. Most of you just posted about the what Radar/Laser detector I should get and I thank you for that. Others just don't have any self-control and like to pick fights. The other reason for my doing was because I am writing a paper on people that can post something that can get others going and although the spread was not that large I can still write my paper and provided examples toward my thesis (facebook is a great place to get people going that have no self control).

I mean I did want to get information regarding a detector, but yesterday I just killed two birds with one stone. Thank you to everyone that posted, your input will be used. Merry Christmas, everyone.

 

This is the newest from Valentine.
http://www.valentine1.com/v1info/v1connection/

Since money is no object and yet you bought a $50 detector expecting miracles. Read up Italian stallion and leave the Rocky attitude at home.

http://radartest.com/article_2.asp?articleid=100584

 

I bought a $50 unit when I was in high school and didn't have a good job to get whatever I wanted. Plus I didn't know any better at the time. Now many years later I feel i should get something, when I was just using my vision like Richard was saying.

 

Talk about radar detectors is fine, talk of excessive speeding is not....
....and while doing so you must be respectful and not troll for an argument...
....and had you used the search function you would have seen that a conversation meeting both the basic requirements of Legal and Respect have been easily met many times in the past on the topic of radar detectors.
As this thread has such difficulty with the guidelines and is a topic easily searched, it will just remain locked with this warning.